Special sense of loss for a global giant

The name of Bob Galvin may not resonate on the streets of the world with quite the same level of recognition as that of Steve Jobs, but among icons of the Technology Revolution it is no less noteworthy. And it has an additional, special place in the annals of the suburbs.

Galvin died Tuesday at the age of 89.

Galvin, who made his home in Barrington Hills, led Motorola, the company his father founded, for nearly 30 years, and he transformed it from a narrowly focused, if innovative, consumer electronics manufacturer into a global powerhouse that would popularize cellular telecommunications and lay the groundwork for many of the technological innovations that today are woven into the fabric of everyday life.

His entry at the American National Business Hall of Fame notes that Motorola’s annual sales grew from $216.6 million when Gavin took over in 1958 to $6.7 billion in 1987, a year after he gave up the title of CEO. By 1990, sales would reach $10.8 billion and the fortunes of the company would continue to soar throughout the decade.

Galvin’s tenure was marked by repeated transformations as industry and the American consumer stirred wave after wave of technological advance. At each stage, Galvin kept Motorola at the forefront of competitors — and he did it with an unwavering appreciation for Midwestern values of high ethics and hard work and an abiding faith in his employees and his colleagues.

As a result, Motorola would become under his leadership not just a standard setter for technological innovation but also a model for management strategies, producing dynamic, innovative thinking at all levels of the company.

The suburbs have their own reasons to appreciate Galvin and to mourn his passing. For, in addition to his contributions on the world stage, he made an indelible imprint on the face and culture of the region. He chose Schaumburg for the company’s world headquarters not merely because of his Midwestern upbringing, but because of the pride he had in the people who live here and the trust he had in their values, imagination and work ethic. As a result, Motorola’s investments in Schaumburg and in Libertyville, among other suburban towns, helped strengthen the entire region’s economic vitality.

Galvin himself was known as a generous and active philanthropist, especially active in educational causes. He helped open world markets to American products. He advised presidents. He authored numerous books, on topics ranging from history to effective business management.

We noted with sorrow the untimely passing of Apple founder Steve Jobs less than two weeks ago and acknowledged his unique and monumental contributions to American culture. But as we reflect on the loss of Bob Galvin, as he insisted on being known, a deeper, more personal connection defines our mourning. We acknowledge the passing of a giant, and we add to that our gratitude to have had him in our midst.