TRUCKING ICON PASSES AWAY
WELL-KNOWN CALIFORNIA TRUCKER DIES AT 71
On April 1, 2010, trucking icon Bob Wilson was found dead in his truck at the age of 71. Bob trucked hard for 50 years, was married to the same woman for 53 years, and raised five of his grandchildren as if they were his own. Bob was an instrumental figure in starting the Truckin’ for Kids Show & Drags back in 1980, and was famous for his awesome burnouts in his black Kenworth.
Robert Earl Wilson was born on January 12, 1939 in Edgington, Illinois. After turning 18, Bob married his lifelong partner Shirley and then went into the Army, where he spent four years fighting in the Korean War. Upon his return, Bob and Shirley moved to California in 1960, in search of better work opportunities. That same year, Bob started trucking and never looked back.
Over his 50-year trucking career, Bob hauled all sorts of freight and had all kinds of trucks. The largest his fleet ever grew to was about 10 trucks and 11 trailers (mostly tanker trailers). The bulk of Bob’s business came from Eastman Kodak in Los Angeles - he hauled a lot of their chemicals in his tankers and some dry van freight as well. In 2006, he lost that contract, which forced him to retire. But retirement didn’t sit well with Bob - in fact, it made him sick.
After a year of medical troubles, Bob went back to work, hauling dirt for Charlie Green, and lo and behold, he got better. A year later, when the dirt job was completed, he began driving locally in Southern California for Hoosier Air Transport, a company based out of Indiana. Bob worked for Hoosier for the last three years of his life, and died sitting in a truck, which is probably how he would have wanted it. Doug Day, the owner of the company and Bob’s friend, came to be with the family as soon as he heard the news. Two weeks later, he returned to attend the funeral service.
Bob and Shirley had a home in Romoland (just west of Hemet, CA) but his yard was in Montebello, CA. For years, he would live at the yard during the week and then go home on weekends. Bob’s yard was right next to Vic Caliva’s truck wash, so the two of them spent countless evenings together. In fact, Vic got his start as a truck washer and polisher when he and a friend began cleaning Bob’s trucks for the shows over 30 years ago.
Bob always loved racing his trucks, and was one of the original founders of the truck drags (now known as the Truckin’ for Kids Show & Drags) held at Orange County Raceway back in 1980. Bob became famous for his rolling casino (two 45’ trailers, backed up together, filled with two bars, slot machines and table games), and the killer burnouts he did in his “Ironsides” Kenworth.
Bob bought the KW, which is equipped with a Cummins KT525 engine that produces 1,400 hp to the flywheel, new in 1979. Covered in lights, murals and pinstripes, this truck is an original “old school” rig. Bob’s grandson Scott hopes to refurbish the truck a bit and take it, along with the two casino trailers, to a few truck shows this year.
Bob was a very special man. Everyone knew where they stood with him, and if he liked you, you had a friend for life. We here at 10-4 Magazine had a special connection to Bob, as he was one of the few truckers to grace our cover twice (back in 1995 and 1996). Along with fast trucks and drag racing, Bob loved to watch wrestling and was a devoted lottery player.
After a service was held at Menifee Valley Memorial Park in Sun City, CA, a convoy of about 12 trucks, led by “Ironsides” with grandson Scott at the wheel, traveled to Riverside National Cemetery together, where Bob was laid to rest on April 13, 2010. Bob leaves behind Shirley, his wife of 53 years, his five grandchildren, Scott (32), Robert (31), Rodney (23), Missy (21) and Steven (19), as well as four great grandchildren and countless other family members and friends. The entire industry will miss this trucking icon, who, in the words of Vic Caliva, “had a heart of gold.” God Bless you, Bob.