I grew up on a farm in Eastern Oregon. I respected my high hchool teachers, so I decided I wanted to be a teacher too. My family was too poor to help me go to college, but I was able to pay my own way with work and scholarships. I studied Philosophy (B.A.), Poetry (one year in the MFA program) and Math (B.A., M.A. and PhD).

I have worked as a farm hand, a forest-fire fighter, a mailman, an actuary, and a teacher. Some of the places I've  taught are Purdue University, Idaho State University, Universidad de San Luis (in Argentina), Utah State University, King Fahd University (in Saudi Arabia), Eastern Oregon University and Glendale Community College. My present job at GCC is the best so far.

While I was a university professor, I was very active in research (in approximation theory and statistical inference). I published approximately 40 papers and supervised 5 doctoral dissertations. I published poems in several poetry journals.

My last name is of Finnish origin and is pronounced "WHO-oh-tar-ee". Some students call me Dr. Huotari or Dr. Who and others call me Robert; I'm happy either way.

After a nearly 25-year haitus, I've started writing poetry again. Here is one of the poems that I'm currently working on.

Another of my abiding interests is in running. I've achieved age-graded all-American times in the marathon, half-marathon and 10K. In September 07, I competed in my first ultramarathon. I'm the current senior national RRCA marathon champion.

Below is a picture of me gleefully finishing 8th overall at the 2006 Whiskey Row Marathon in Prescott, AZ.