Bob Riley, A Life Dedicated to Helping Others

Former Local 714 Organizing Director Bob Riley’s permanent expulsion from the Teamster’s Union in 2005 by actions of the Independent Review Board (IRB) is a measure of how far this supposed government “watchdog” has strayed from its original purpose of rooting out crime and corruption.

You are not likely to hear the word “saint” in the rough and tumble world of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, but friends of Bob Riley have used that word to describe their admiration of his lifelong work to raise money for numerous charities including Multiple Sclerosis, Cancer Society, Leukemia Society, The Childhood Brain Tumor Society, Shalom Center a homeless shelter in Kenosha, Wisconsin and the Maryville Orphan Center of Des Plaines Illinois where he raised $1.5 million dollars over a thirty five year period with Father John Smyth.

Riley and his wife Sue were foster parents for 30 years and adopted 8 children along the way,  traveling the world raising money for different causes such as the Farm of the Child, a Honduran Orphanage where they helped fund a new Middle School.  Bob, who has been his participating for ten years with his daughter in an annual 150 mile bike ride to raise funds for the MS Society, has received numerous awards and honors as the number one fund raiser in the State of Wisconsin.  Beyond the raising of funds for good causes such as the Shalom Center, he often works in the food pantry to serve those in need.

Most recently, the Kenosha News did a feature on Riley’s successful climb of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest mountain (19,000 feet) to raise funds for charities such as Shalom Center.  Although the 66 year old Riley in an avid runner who participated in 11 Chicago Marathons and enjoys playing hockey, he admits the climb was grueling. 

The same qualities – the dedication of the well being of others, the energy and people skills – that helped Riley become a successful fundraiser for humanitarian causes, made him a superb director of organizing for Local 714 of the Teamsters Union.  None of this mattered to the IRB when it chose to expel in 2005 him for speaking to his friend of 55 years, William Hogan, who was himself expelled in 2002 for what are widely viewed as trumped charges.  Not even the IRB claimed that Riley spoke to Hogan about union business.  Bob Riley and Bill had met at St. Giles school in 1950 when they were in fifth grade and Bob was godfather to Bill and Ginni’s son James. Bill and Ginni were godparents to Bob and Susan’s daughter Shannon.  Still, the IRB went through the phone records of Riley and Hogan and acted to expel Riley from the union he had served and Local 714 which, he along with Hogan had helped double in size.

“Instead of mob guys, the IRB now spends its time going through phone records and expelling

people like Bob Riley who have served the union with distinction” says friend Bill Hogan.