Rail advocate Bob Guy named Galesburg parade marshal

SMART Transportation Division Illinois State Director Bob Guy has been named grand marshal of the Galesburg Labor Day Parade, recognizing more than 30 years of labor advocacy and railroad industry leadership.

According to a community announcement, Guy will lead the parade at 10 a.m. Sept. 7 along Main Street in downtown Galesburg.

The parade, hosted by the Galesburg Trades & Labor Assembly, is billed as the nation’s oldest continuous Labor Day parade and draws union members, families, marching bands and community organizations each year.

Guy said the selection carries added significance because he has attended the event with SMART-TD members in Galesburg for more than a decade.

A Lincoln native, Guy began his railroad career in 1994 as a brakeman for Southern Pacific after following advice from his grandfather. He worked on the former St. Louis segment of the Chicago & Alton Railroad main line linking Chicago, Joliet, Bloomington-Normal, Springfield and St. Louis.

His involvement in union leadership began soon after entering the industry. Guy was elected legislative representative for UTU Local 234 in 1996 and later served as alternate state director. In 2004, he joined then-State Director Joe Szabo and Assistant Director John Burner in Springfield to represent railroad employees and their families. He became assistant legislative director before being named state legislative director in 2009 after Szabo was confirmed to lead the Federal Railroad Administration.

Labor advocacy and transportation leadership

During his tenure, Guy participated in efforts that helped expand Illinois-supported Amtrak service and secure passage of the Railroad Employees Medical Treatment Act and the Safe Walkways Act.

He has also served as an Illinois AFL-CIO vice president since 2009 and helped support organized labor’s campaign for approval of the Illinois Workers’ Rights Amendment, according to the announcement.

Guy’s transportation policy work has included appointments to the Northern Illinois Public Transit Task Force and the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission. He was reelected chair of the interstate rail commission in 2019.

He continues to advocate for railroad workers and rail safety at both the state and federal levels. According to the announcement, Guy is currently leading SMART-TD Illinois efforts to raise concerns about CSX Transportation staffing reductions at Barr Yard in Chicago and potential effects on railroad employees, freight operations and the region’s rail network.

Family roots and labor commitment

Guy has lived in Springfield since 1999 with his wife, Cindy. The couple have two children, Taylor and Bobby, and two grandchildren, Bralynn and Blaine.

He said union leadership is rooted in protecting employees throughout their working lives and into retirement.

This story was produced by reporter Nida Tazeen, NTazeen@usatodayco.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.