Curious Proviso is the first book by R. C. Cox. Since graduating high school in 1972 he has participated in the private sector as a business owner and in management for over 30 years. Robert was CEO at the age of 24 of a family bakery business operating between 1979 and 1989. He remained in the baking industry for another 10 years exiting as a recognized Chicagoland artesian cake decorator completing over 5000 wedding cakes.
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As a career changer Bob became interested in neighborhood and historic preservation issues. He volunteered in Forest Park Main Street Redevelopment Association part of the National Main Street Program. Bob served as co- chair of the Design Committee Forest Park Il Chapter in 1996. He became an interior designer working for Marshall Fields and then as Senior Designer at Walter E Smithe. He is a self taught in historic preservationist and an active community historian. Through the years, Bob has continued serving as a volunteer in many local neighborhood organizations including the local Historical Society as a board member and president, CEED, and as Cook County Commissioner Boykin’s Education Task Force co chair.
Shortly after being elected to serve as a D209 Board of Education member in 2007, Bob exited the corporate world and returned to complete his undergraduate studies at UIC, something he left unfinished back in 1975. He received a B. A.in Urban Planning and Public Affairs from UIC’s CUPPA in 2010. At UIC Bob studied under Dr. Dick Simpson and minored in Political Science. Over the years, writing the occasional editorial on neighborhood development and public education issues, he began writing professionally. He authored two regular columns for the Forest Park Post. Called Neighborhood Planners Digest and Right about Time in 2012. Today he still writes two op-eds called Neighborhood Planners Guide and Proviso Pie 2017 and 2018.
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Bob lives with his wife Sharon (married in Edinburgh Scotland in 1985) and maintains a 145 years plus old historical farm house that he grew up at in urban Forest Park bordering Chicago’s West side. Their adult children have moved out and married, but the family cat and dog remain to keep them company. When not involved in substitute teaching or community engagement consulting, Bob likes to serenade his wife on his plaid ukulele. He has composed 5 original songs and plays choice covers of rock and roll music he grew up with. He performs as “PapaCox” and “Robbie McQuilly “on social media.
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From Curious Proviso. “For me it’s not quite over yet, I remain curious and have somehow become in my old age a people person. Through my character flaws of procrastination and laziness I have written this book. I would like to continue in writing others. A collaboration on race relations, a biography of another Proviso friend, PTHS campus development like Proviso Lab, or a follow up with fellow Proviso East 72 classmates nearing our 50th Reunion in 2022 are opportunities.”
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