Today’s Streaks Alumni Profile features Bob Bainter from the GHS Class of 1991.
Bob is sure an example of the value of students getting involved in sports and activities- manager, scholastic bowl, French Club, Pugwash, Spirit Club, and Student Council.
I got to follow Bob after GHS because of his involvement and service as an official and umpire. He was always the ultimate pro in his approach to his job.
Bob was a leader at GHS. Today, he has taken the leadership he showed at GHS and is a leader in his company.
Scholastic Bowl- Junior Year
Favorite Teachers/Classes
Mr. & Mrs. Moore, Mr. Maurizi, Mrs. Stewart
American Studies, World History
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| American Studies Project |
Sports / Activities
I was a little skinny for sports but wish I’d have done Cross Country because I could run! I did manage football my sophomore year, and kept score for baseball
Scholastic Bowl all four years (only sat the second match of my freshman year and never came out again!), Graduated all time leading scorer, I was captain the last 3 years, and was all-state my Senior year.
French Club, Spirit Club President (I may or may not have been the mascot at one point my senior year😉), Student Council Rep to School Board, Student Council Senator, Boys State Representative 1990, Youth and Government Head Clerk-Bailiff of the Illinois Supreme Court 1989
Favorite Memories Growing Up in Galesburg/ GHS
I was born in Galesburg, but went K-8 in Peoria because my father worked for the former ATSF out of Chillicothe and then of course BNSF after the merger. We moved my freshman year to Galesburg, which was difficult to leave everyone I knew behind, but it really changed the course of my life because I came out of my shell and met lots of new friends, of which a lot of them I still talk to till this day.
My favorite memory of attending GHS was two fold: Winning the state baseball championship my freshman year, and being the nerdy guy on the Sweetheart Swirl court my senior year haha!
Education After GHS
I ended up briefly attending WIU after I graduated but I just didn’t like it, so my friend Todd Olinger convinced me to try going to umpire school. The rest is history…
I was a professional baseball umpire from 1995-2004, advancing to AAA baseball and MLB spring training games. I couldn’t replace those memories with anything else…it was the time of my life.
After leaving baseball, I worked at Best Buy in Springfield until I hired on the BNSF Railway in 2007, where I’ve worked now almost 20 years. I started as a conductor out of Galesburg before becoming the Chicago Division Manager of Field Training in 2014. I then became a terminal trainmaster and Manager of Safety in Chicago before moving to Denver. It’s unique to have two careers that have brought me joy, and I still have a long way to go.
What Are You Doing Today
I’m currently living in Denver, Colorado, working for BNSF Railway as a Supervisor of Road Operations, overseeing road crews and trains from Denver, North to Cheyenne, Wyoming, and South from Denver to Trinidad, CO.
Family wise I’m single and loving it, and while I didn’t have kids, I live vicariously through my many nieces and nephews, including one that I think you’re going to enjoy watching play for the Streaks next season on the varsity level in basketball, Carson Bainter! He’s growing so fast he’s now taller than I am, and the kid can shoot!
Advice to Present Day Students/Athletes
Advice for present students and athletes: Don’t squander the time you have at GHS! You’ll look back one day and fondly remember your time there. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without having been fortunate enough to attend it. In today’s day of digital photography, take as many photos as you can…treasure every moment before it’s gone forever. Athletes, there are only two things you can always control: Your effort and your hustle. Strive to outperform all others, and if you do, you’ll always be successful.
As Someone Involved in Officiating/Umpiring, Why is There Such a Shortage?
The shortage of refs/umpires is, in my opinion, because it’s not worth the criticism and down right assaults of my fellow officials that are unfortunately becoming commonplace. Social media is fanning the flames, and this is one of the reasons, other than my career, that I don’t take the time to officiate anymore.
When I was in pro ball, I knew that we were at least physically untouchable; if someone made contact with me, they paid a huge penalty. I’m not sure what would happen from one day to the next if I worked nowadays. I’d be afraid for my health and well being that some parent might come out of the stands and assault me, and I’m frankly too old for that and it doesn’t pay enough for the hassle.
Around 2010, I was vice-administrator of a group of Rotarians which sponsored and put on the GHS Scholastic Bowl, a very interesting and challenging contest among Illinois schools to see which school could answer quite esoteric questions about a wide variety of scholatic and intellectual subjects that were difficult for anyone, certainly for 17 yr. old kids. We Rotarians who sponsored the contest had the answers but often couldn't understand the questions!
ReplyDeleteBob was the captain of the GHS team. He was the most brilliant member of any team they competed against; could answer any and every question asked. He had breathtaking recall and was intellectually feared by schools far and wide. However, he was not fearsome or mean in any way. Just a nice simple kid who had a rare gift. As I recall the GHS team did quite well both years I helped put on the contest; in fact, they might have won it once.
I thought it was so cool when Bob chose not to go to MIT or Harvard but instead became an umpire. No doubt he added greatly to that profession, as he did to anything.
His picture and star should hang among all other sports heros at GHS through the years!
Peter Gorham
Bob Bainter