Robert Wayne Glover

Bob Glover Made this World a Better Place before he passed from this world on May 4, 2026. As a Research Scientist at the Ray Marshall Center for the Study of Human Resources, Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin, Bob created national, international, and Austin programs that greatly expanded access to a wider array of post-secondary training opportunities for Americans.

Bob began his career at the RMC, as its first staff member while in graduate school in 1970, serving as Director from 1977-1985, and continuing his work there until his retirement in 2012.

He specialized in studies of education, labor markets, learning and work for more than four decades. His research focused on human resource development, including K-12 education, remedial education and basic skills, postsecondary education, vocational preparation and apprenticeship, school-to-work transition, workforce development in agriculture, industry training practices, employment discrimination and skill standards. He authored many reports, articles and books on these topics over his career.

Bob was a Lecturer at the LBJ School and taught and mentored generations of students, many of whom became acknowledged leaders and experts in their fields here and abroad. Bob always made time for his students and colleagues and enhanced their work with thoughtful comments.

Bob served on several national commissions, including the Carnegie Action Council on Minority Education, which produced the report Education that Works: An Action Plan for the Education of Minorities (1990) and the Commission on Skills of the American Workforce, which produced the report, America’s Choice: high skills or low wages! (1990). He also served as member of the Construction Industry Craft Training Research Team 231 for the Construction Industry Institute (2006-7) which produced several documents on craft training.

From 1978 until 1982, Bob served as Chairman of Federal Committee on Apprenticeship, initially established in 1934, as the national advisory body to the Secretary of Labor regarding issues related to apprenticeship training. He was appointed by his mentor, former Secretary of Labor Ray Marshall. Bob was widely recognized as one of the leading experts on apprenticeship training and wrote extensively on the subject.

Bob was involved in developing the educational structures to facilitate school to work transitions in Central Texas. From 1999 to 2004 he was a founding Member of the Board of Directors of the Capital Area Training Foundation (now Skillpoint Alliance). He also worked closely with LBJ School professors Walt and Elspeth Rostow in 1992 to create The Austin Project to improve the lives of children, youth, and families.

From 2008-2012, Bob served as a key member of the team that designed and implemented Tulsa, Oklahoma’s award-winning CareerAdvance Project, which trains the mothers and fathers of Head Start children for rewarding careers in healthcare.

Bob was engaged in neighborhood service, serving as the President of the Comanche Trail Community Association from 1982-1985. His work led to the establishment of three parks on Lake Travis, including Hippie Hollow, the only clothes-optional park in Texas.

Bob was active in Austin’s Sister Cities program, creating exchanges of students from Summitt Elementary and Anderson High School with students from Koblenz, Germany. In1998, he traveled as a member of the Mayor Kirk Watson’s delegation to Koblenz. He continued to promote cultural and educational exchanges between Koblenz and Austin.

Bob earned his undergraduate degree in economics from Santa Clara University in 1965, and his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Texas at Austin in 1972.

Bob was the first of six children, all growing up in Sherman Oaks, California. His father, Richard (Dick) Glover worked as an Advertising Executive and his mother, Thelma, was a homemaker. He is survived by his brothers, Dick, Chris, and Dave, and his sister Kathy, and six nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister Patti.

Bob met his wife at a dinner party in 1977, and married Toni Falbo in 1981.Toni and Bob had separate careers and research interests, and they shared a mutual appreciation for the work they did. They enjoyed traveling together and hiking. They adopted their daughter, Rachel, from Korea in 1985. In 2021, they were blessed by the birth of a granddaughter, Faith.