Robert Glenn Gibson

1927 - 2021

Robert Glenn Gibson
Pompano - Robert Glenn Gibson, 93, of Pompano Beach, Florida, formerly of Granite City and
Chicago, Il, passed away on August 2, 2021.
Bob was born September 8, 1927, to Glenn and Viola (Amos) Gibson in Flat River,
Missouri.
Bob served as the former Illinois AFL-CIO President from 1979 to 1989. He was named
the organization's first community services director in 1958 and was elected secretary-
treasurer in 1963. The Illinois AFL-CIO named its annual Community Services Award
after Bob. The Gibson Award annually honors a rank-and-file member who goes above
and beyond in their community.
After serving in the Coast Guard during World War II, Bob came back home to work as a
Steelworker at Granite City Steel. Under his tenure as head of the Illinois AFL-CIO,
public sector workers won collective bargaining rights and major unemployment
insurance reforms were implemented. He also ushered in the Committee on Political
Education (COPE) system by congressional district in Illinois-still a valued tool in our
political program today.
Bob was a great leader for all the working families of this state. His legacy of focusing
on service to our communities, as well as his political and legislative acumen, lives on.
He came from a family of 9 brothers and sisters and 3 children Marsha, Randy and Billie,
5 grandchildren and 60 nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 12, 2021, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Sunset Hill Funeral Home, 50 Fountain
Drive, Glen Carbon, Illinois, 62034. Funeral service will take place on Friday, August 13, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Sunset Hill Cemetery, Glen Carbon, Illinois.
Memorial donations may be made to Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd, State Island, NY 10306. t2t.org