On April 2, 2004, the logistics and transportation community lost a dear soul and a steadfast supporter when Robert V. Delaney passed away. Many knew him as the conceiver and co-author of the annual State of Logistics Report. But that was only part of his legacy. He was a generous spirit who freely gave of time and energy to others. He was a visionary who could see and understand what was often invisible to others.

Whether interacting with members of Congress, corporate executives, the media, or students, Bob was a tireless promoter of the business discipline we call logistics. In the words of Larry Collett, chairman and CEO of Cass Information Systems, where Bob worked for many years: "He was instrumental in raising the visibility of logistics across the country. He was a great educator...a guru to so many people who came to him for advice. He possessed the unique ability to see the future and the vital role that transportation played in our national economy and the world's stability."

Long-time friend and former business partner Roger Urban of Urban Wallace Associates offered this perspective on the man: "Government officials and business executives at home and abroad trusted Bob's advice. His intellectual honesty, candor, and big heart made him a close personal friend to many."

Bob Delaney was a supporter not only of the profession but also of the people working in the profession. He was always ready to give credit, offer advice, or provide an opportunity. He was particularly engaging with young people, sometimes very young people. Roger Urban remembers when his five-year old daughter would come to see Bob at his office. "They would talk and have a great time," Urban says. "One time my secretary asked Bob, 'What do you talk to her about?' Bob responded, 'I talk to her like any other adult.' He respected everyone and extended his heart to all he met—regardless of the age. And once Bob met you, he remembered you." Bob had an encyclopedic memory for names and faces.

His 50-year love affair with transportation and logistics provided Bob with a vast reservoir of insights and anecdotes, which he was more than willing to share. Bob was a wonderful storyteller, blessed with an exquisitely dry sense of humor. And while no one kept count of the meetings, conventions, and associations he participated in, it certainly had to be in the hundreds—and maybe even more. Wherever he appeared, Bob spoke with enthusiasm and conviction on the contribution that logistics and logistics professionals were making to the country. Invariably, audiences left his talk with a deeper understanding of the discipline and the people in it.

Bob often recollected the dinner-table conversations he had growing up in New Jersey. With a father who was a police officer and a mother who was a labor organizer for the garment industry, Bob learned early on that you better have your facts in line to support your point. This would serve him well throughout his career. Whether providing input on legislation to deregulate the trucking industry or determining logistics costs for the latest State of Logistics Report, says Roger Urban, Bob always followed the facts.

Bob's dedication to the field began in the early 1950s when he was an operations sergeant for the U.S. Army's 37^th Transportation Highway Division. His unit was responsible for the operation of 2,000 trucks and 7,000 men in Germany, France, and Italy. This experience gave him a valuable perspective on the important role of global transportation, a perspective that he nurtured and broadened throughout his career. Professor John Ozment, who holds the Oren Harris Chair in Transportation at the University of Arkansas, says, "Bob had a significant understanding of the role of transportation nationally and internationally. He was a man of unwavering support for the field. Rarely does a single individual command the respect and admiration of an entire discipline."

With that solid foundation from his military service, Bob went on to make many important contributions to the profession. To cite one prominent example, he was heavily involved in writing the legislation that deregulated the interstate motor carrier and railroad industries in 1980. He also played a lead role in the passage of the Aviation Act of 1994, which ended economic regulation of the trucking industry by the states. Bob also co-authored two books on transportation strategy and distribution operations. His views and articles on transportation public policy have been widely published in both the logistics and general business press.

Over the course of his career, Bob held senior positions at Leaseway, Ryder Distribution, International Paper, Pet Inc., Monsanto, and Nabisco. He also worked for the consulting firm Arthur D. Little and logistics services provider ProLogis. This range of experience made him an invaluable business resource. "Bob was the consummate professional," remembers K. Dane Brooksher, Chairman and CEO of ProLogis. "He gave invaluable personal and professional advice to me." Adds USF Board Chairman Neil Springer, "As a founding board member of USF Corp., Bob was a guiding influence for USF from the very beginning."

Bob made major contributions to professional and educational associations, including the American Society of Transportation & Logistics and the Council of Logistics Management. He was a founding member of the Warehouse Education and Research Council (WERC). A life-long learner, Bob was committed to education. That commitment began when he was a student at the Alexander Hamilton Institute. It continued at New York University's Stern School of Business, where he earned a bachelor's degree and an MBA. Later in his career, he did post-graduate work in economics at St. Louis University and American University.

Bob's contributions in these business and educational arenas certainly did not go unrecognized. In 1981, he received both the John Drury Sheahan Award and the Distinguished Service Award from the Council of Logistics Management. In 1988 Syracuse University presented him with the Salzberg Medallion for his contributions to the transportation profession. The American Society of Transportation and Logistics bestowed upon him the Joseph C. Scheleen Award for Excellence in 1992

Some affectionately referred to Bob as the "godfather" of logistics because of his benevolence, guidance, and wisdom. He was always the "go-to" guy for anyone who needed information in this field. In the manner of a true crusader, he devoted his professional life to the growth, recognition, and respect of logistics. Bob was a leader that other leaders turned to for advice. He was a teacher to educators and a friend to everyone. His tireless advocacy for the people working in this profession will endure for many years to come. And yet while Bob was internationally known and respected, he seemed to be almost egoless in his tireless efforts to promote transportation and logistics and to help others.

Bob Delaney leaves behind family, friends, a fiancée, and a field that will miss him tremendously. I count myself as one member of that very large community.

Thank you Bob for a life well lived and a legacy for current and future generations.