Robert (Bob) Tongate

I am married with two children, two step children, and three grand children. My wife, Reanah, and I are currently living in Grand Rivers, Kentucky, a small tourist town nestled between two of the largest manmade lakes in the US.

My childhood was spent in a rural area of western Kentucky near the Ohio River. Summers were a time for farm work and exploring the surrounding country side. The winters days were passed by school work and reading. Reading was a passion that allowed for exploration of the beyond.

After high school and various construction jobs I enlisted in the United States Air Force. The four service years included more exploration while traveling and an awakening that there were many different cultures sharing a common country.

I began my career in the aluminum business January 1973 as a maintenance utility worker and held various positions throughout the following 31 years. These positions included, several machine operator roles, maintenance superintendent, human resources manager, and at the time of retirement in 2004 as the Hot Mill Manager.

I held positions within the United Steelworkers local union, including steward, negotiator, vice-president, and president. Labor representative positions held beyond the local level included serving as a member of the USWA wage policy committee, and president of the area's Central Labor Council.

Currently I am self employed as a general contractor of home improvement and repairs.