Robert “Bob” Crawford Honored with 2024 F. Tom Roberts Memorial Volunteer Award for Dedication to Railroad Safety Education
WASHINGTON, DC, March 12, 2025 – Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), today names Robert “Bob” Crawford of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma as the recipient of the 2024 F. Tom Roberts Memorial Volunteer Award, recognizing his outstanding dedication to railroad safety education.
Started in 1994 in memory of a man who dedicated the majority of his life to reducing or eliminating death and injuries along railroad tracks, the F. Tom Roberts Memorial Volunteer Award honors an individual who has demonstrated outstanding dedication to safety in the number of volunteer hours committed to Operation Lifesaver annually, the nature of volunteer activities performed and other personal contributions to the Operation Lifesaver program. For more than 20 years, Crawford has embodied this mission, educating thousands of children and adults about rail safety through engaging school programs and community outreach.
Crawford began volunteering with OLI in 2003, focusing on civic groups in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Over the years, he expanded his efforts to reach roughly 8,000 students across the state, using interactive train displays, safety videos and hands-on learning to reinforce critical rail safety messages. Today, at nearly 80 years young, he remains Oklahoma’s most active OLI volunteer, reaching more than 700 students annually. His program has also expanded to include driver’s education students, reinforcing rail safety awareness among young drivers.
“Bob’s passion for rail safety education is truly inspiring,” said Rachel Maleh, Operation Lifesaver, Inc. Executive Director. “His dedication has made an impact in his community as well as throughout the state of Oklahoma. We are honored to recognize him with this award and thank him for his many years of volunteering with Operation Lifesaver.”
Beyond the classroom, Crawford is a familiar presence at model railroad shows, where he delivers quick but impactful safety messages and distributes educational materials. Just recently at an October 2024 train show in Oklahoma City alone, he reached approximately 1,200 children and adults over a single weekend.
