Our May 2004 ‘Spotlight” shines on one of our senior members, ROBERT M. LAWRENCE. Bob was born June 3, 1920, in Frederick’s Hall, Virginia. Moving to Warren, Ohio when he was ten years old, he subsequently graduated from Warren G. Harding High School. He attended Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia from 1940 to 1942, when his scholastic efforts were short circuited by the advent of World War II. From 1942 to 1945, Bob served honorably in the US. Army Air Corps as an aerial and ground photographer.

In September 1955, Bob joined the NYC Transit Police Department, He worked in District # 2, the OU, Special Events Squad (where he was a Provisional Sergeant), Districts #20 and 22. During some very turbulent times in our country, Bob served as the 6th President of the Cerberean Society, from 1965 to 1968. In 1970, he was a delegate to the National Council of Police Society’s. In that capacity he organized a week long seminar in Atlantic City, NJ. The seminar had five workshops, the subject matter being the conditions prevailing between Black and White police officers. In 1973, Bob competed in the NY State Police Olympics. He received a Gold Medal as a member of the winning Transit Police Masters Mile Relay Team, a feat notable when one considers that at age 53, Bob was giving up 10-13 years to most of his competitors. Bob retired from the Transit Police Department in 1978.

During his police career, Bob returned to his academic endeavors and enrolled at CCNY in 1957, earning an Associate degree in Police Science. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree at Baruch College. In February 1985 Bob received a Master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA) at John Jay College. He was a tutor for the Human Resources Administration from 1970 to 1975. After his police retirement, Bob began a second career as a teacher for the NYC Board of Education. From 1984 until 2003, Bob taught at Thomas Jefferson, Bushwick, Lehman, Adlai Stevenson, Andrew Jackson and Jamaica High Schools.

Bob was widowed in 1988, has two daughters, three sons, six grandchildren and one great grandchild. He has been a long time resident of Roosevelt, NY. Bob credits his maternal grandfather as the major motivator in his life. This was the person who taught him about respect, finishing what you start, and striving for the top third in any complement. Consequently, as a high school teacher, he was called “Mr. Lawrence”, and he addressed all of his teenaged students as “Mr.” or “Miss”. As a man who has been here for four score plus years, Bob Lawrence has seen a lot, done a lot and been through a lot. He uses the expression “rowing up stream” when he talks about some of the obstacles he has faced. But he has never stopped rowing, a testament to his grandfather’s teachings. Talk to Bob Lawrence. No, on second thought, don’t talk. Just listen and learn!