Mr. Decker began his transit career in 1947 as the Assistant Traffic Engineer in the Transportation Department of the International Railway Company. Here he performed a key role in the post-World War II modernization of the bus network. At that time the Transportation Department was responsible for “putting service on the street.” Mr. Decker contributed to the reorganization of IRC into NFT, taking it from bankruptcy in 1947 to profitability in the early 1950’s. He was directly responsible for many new innovations at the NFT. He introduced radio-dispatching to the NFT in 1954. In 1961, the NFTA operated the largest privately-owned, radio-equipped transit system in the world. Mr. Decker was responsible for the introduction of air-conditioned buses in 1956 and express service to the suburbs in 1959.

In 1964, Robert became the Vice President of Transportation at the Niagara Frontier Transit System Inc. Here he directed operations of Niagara Frontier Transit, Inc., one of the last privately owned urban bus companies in the U.S.

Mr. Decker moved forward in his career to become the Executive Vice-President of the Niagara Frontier Transit Metro System, Inc. (a subsidiary of the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority), in 1974. Mr. Decker held this position until his retirement in 1983. In 1974, Robert directed the transition of six (6) private bus companies into the Niagara Frontier Transit Metro System. He directed Metro’s role in the design, construction, and integration of the Metro bus system with the new Metro light rail system, which initiated revenue service shortly after his retirement. Mr. Decker also directed the rapid restoration of Metro service after the “Blizzard of 1977,” an event that lead to the declaration of Buffalo’s first national emergency.

In addition to his activities with NYPTA, Mr. Decker served as APTA’s Operations Committee Chairman in 1973 and served on the APTA Board of Directors, 1976-1980. He was inducted into the APTA Hall of Fame, 1992.

Mr. Decker, 84, of Cape Coral Florida and Point Abino, Ontario died suddenly on September 8, 2002. He will be missed and remembered fondly by all.