Birth date: Dec 6, 1942 Death date: Apr 21, 2016
BILLINGSLEY, Robert “Bobby”, 73 a lifelong Tampa resident passed away peacefully at home April 21, 2016. Bobby was born to the late William and Betty Billingsley on December 6, 1942. He had lived on the family homestead that had b Read Obituary
He was one of a kind for sure I loved being around him the times that I was. He could be so funny without trying hard to be. I have known him every since I can remember. He and my Dad Jack Surrency went way back. Love You Bobby Jackie Surrency
I meet Bobby when I was about 13 yrs old going to river ranch with the ole man and Ron Houston. I continued to hang out with Bobby as I got older and hanging out at his farm . It was a learning experience for me. I learned so much from Bobby as I aged and he was like a father to me. We fussed and argued but we would sit back and laugh about about it afterwards. He showed me the way of life and helped me become the man I am today. I would give anything to go back and be with Bobby getting up every morning at the crack of dawn to feed the horses and goats, or breed a horse or deliver a baby colt. It really tore me up when I went and saw Bobby after he had his strokes, because Bobby was cowboy tuff . If you fell off a horse, Bobby would say damn it son I'm taken all the chances git back up there. I really do miss Bobby a lot and all the memories we have built together on and off his farm. Your going to be missed by a lot people Bobby I love you man R.I.P
I met Bobby when I was 19 years old and your brother Billy at the same time. I am 65 now and you both were my friends for all this time. I did not get to see you much over the last 20 years but you and about three hundred other construction workers led by Ironworkers Local 397 showed me at nineteen what unionism was all about. We were building the Nuclear Plant at Crystal River and I got caught operating the largest crane on the job something that I had been told not to do by Ted Raulerson my General Foreman. He pulled up beside me and told me to get the three Ironworkers down off the Iron and get in the truck he was taking me to the gate.
I did as I was told and brought Johnny Boyd, Mac Black and Charley Cullens down off the Iron. A discussion between Harley Dennis, Bo Streety and Bill Bellamy all Ironworker supervision ensued. Before long the Superintendents from the General Contractor were involved and things were pretty tense. J. A. Jones the GC was represented by Ed Shows and John Hodges and they did not deter my foreman from his decision. Before long about three hundred Union members of all kinds were around the situation. This went on for a long time with me still sitting in the seat not knowing what was going to happen. I knew that I was fired since I had been warned that as a first year apprentice I was not allowed to run the crane. My Operator Harley had been given a choice of getting a new third or fourth year apprentice yet he chose to keep me. Things got pretty loud and my foreman kept reminding everyone that they were not my boss I worked for him. As I sat there wondering what was going to happen the crowd started to separate in the back like Moses parting the sea. All I could see was a white hat walking through the crowd with his head bowed. As he got to the discussion his lips moved and I think he simply said, "What is the problem." He stood there for a while each took their turn explaining what was going on. Without saying a word he turned and climbed up on the tracks of the machine and then the catwalk right beside me. He Said, “Looks like we have a problem Ray." I said yes Sir Mr. Halley (Bennett) it looks like I am on my way to the gate." He said, "I have been hearing you have been running the crane for a while now and doing pretty good at it. Have you hurt anyone?" I replied, "No Sir." He said, "That's a good thing but we still have a problem, a first year apprentice cannot be running this crane." I said, "Well I guess I am on my way to the gate." He did not say anything for a minute just looked out over the crowd and then said. "No keep on doing what you are doing and I will tell Ted that we will start paying you third year apprentice pay as of today. Try not to hurt anyone." With that the Project Manager for Florida Power on most of the Power Plants they had ever built turned and climbed down and told Ted Raulerson my foreman that I was to get third year pay starting today. The situation was far worse than I knew because of the crowd. In it was Bobby and Billy Billingsley, Dick Jones, Ed Dees, Curtis Highsmith and so many Iron Workers, Carpenters, Laborers and other crafts and each of them were adamant that if I was fired and not allowed to operate the crane they were all leaving with me. I spent my entire apprenticeship on that job four years. Some say I made a great crane operator over the nineteen thousand hours I spent in the Operating Engineers Local 925 and if that were true it was because of the Unionism exhibited that day and the faith in me by the men that put their lives in my hands every day. Everything that I have done since those years is based on what I learned during those years. There is and never will be a doubt in my mind that the people that stood up for me that day lives on in my mind with my greatest respect. Bobby was one of them. He was my friend and I will never forget any of the tradesmen that I loved to work with. You taught me how to create good things leaving no one out.
I will always remember the time I stood next to my favorite Uncle Bobby in a family group picture and just before the picture was taken he leaned over and stuck his tongue in my ear! He always told me if I ever needed anything or him no matter what, when, where, or why, that he would be there for me. All true my life I have had a certain "security" knowing he was there. Now I will have to remember he is with me in spirit! I miss you so much Uncle Bobby!
Love you Daddy, may you be at peace
We love u guys gonna miss this old so very much.
Dad it's so hard to believe your gone.. And your Juliette had puppies the night you left us! I'll be keeping the boy and naming him after you! I hope your at peace now. Love you- Your Brown Eyed Girl-Heather💔
