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Teamsters Local 743 Mourns the Passing of former President, Robert Simpson
Aug 20, 2021
Robert Simpson's career began as a Montgomery Ward employee in 1952. He quickly began actively organizing employees at Montgomery Ward, where he served as a Union Steward. In 1962, Bob was elected as a Trustee of Local 743 and was assigned as an Organizer. In 1966, he became Director of Organizing for Local 743 and six years later he served as the Recording Secretary. In 1971, Brother Simpson was the first spokesman for the Teamsters National Black Caucus at the International Brotherhood of Teamsters 20th Convention. In 1984, Bob was elected as Vice President of Local 743, and in 1988 he was elected as President of Teamsters Local 743, which at that time, was the largest Local in the International Teamsters - representing 23,000 members. In 1991, he was elected as an International Trustee.
In addition to his dedication and commitment to Teamsters Local 743, in 1972, Bob Simpson served as the President of the Chicago Chapter of the CBTU and the Corresponding Secretary and Executive Council of the International Coalition of Black Trade Unionists. In 1983, he was the Co-Chairman of organized labor's support for Harold Washington for Mayor of Chicago. He was a National Board Member of Operation Push, a Board Member of the Teamsters Black Caucus, Little City Foundation, NAACP, A. Philip Randolph Institute and the Coalition of Union Women. Bob Simpson served on the transition teams of Secretary of State Jim Ryan and Attorney General Roland Burris, and he was a close confidante of Congressman Charles Hayes and Mayor Harold Washington. He also introduced former U.S. President Barack Obama to the National CBTU when he was a State Senator.
Teamsters Local 743 will forever admire and remember Robert Simpson for his many years of service, dedication and commitment.
He will be greatly missed by all of us and our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.

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Teamsters Local 743
4620 S. Tripp Avenue
Chicago, IL 60632
  (773) 254-7460

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