Robert A. Funk
Man of Vision"Bob Funk Riding Horseback" is more than just a sculpture. On his 75th birthday
Robert A. "Bob" Funk's family, friends and business colleagues commissioned
this work of art as a meaningful marker of his legacy. Bob's love for family,
friends and the American West is paralleled by his deep commitment to help
others succeed. An entrepreneurial pioneer in the staffing industry,
Bob has put millions of people to work in his career. He is known for saying,
"When we help people find jobs, it helps restore confidence and provides hope."
Blessed with a entrepreneurial spirit, this Oklahoma businessman and rancher has poured
leadership wisdom into hundreds of thousands throughout North American and South Africa,
ultimately putting millions of people to work in his career.
Raised in Duvall, Washington Bob Fund grew up working on the family-owned dairy farm. At 18, Funk
decided he wanted to be a minister, rancher and entrepreneur. He fulfilled all dreams. He worked his
way through college and became the first in his family to graduate, receiving a Bachelor's degree in
Administration and Theology, a Master of Arts degree and an honorary Doctorate of Public Service from
Seattle Pacific University. He completed graduate studies at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland and
received an honorary doctorate of Law degree from Oklahoma Baptist University and
Southern Nazarene University.
He began his career with Acme Personnel, a Washington-based staffing company. When asked by Acme
Personnel to choose between working in Seattle or Oklahoma, he chose to move to Oklahoma and
worked for the company for 17 years until it dissolved. From humble beginnings, and out of a broken
Acme Personnel, Funk led the start of Express Employment Professionals in 1983, a time when the oil
industry took a devastating downturn. Funk was determined to grow the company by finding great
franchisees who believed in the Express vision to help as many people as possible find good jobs and by
helping as many companies as possible find good people.
This dynamic Oklahoma company grew to help people find work in a wide range of professions. Funk led
the company to a multi-billion dollar operation with hundreds of franchises employing millions
of people and serving thousands of customers.
Among many of his numerous accolades, Funk was honored to serve as Chairman of the Federal
Reserve Bank in 2007. He was inducted into the International Franchise Association Hall of
Fame, named Oklahoma's Most Admired CEO by the Journal Record, named Oklahoma City Man of the
Year by Impact OKC magazine and received the Oklahoma State University Division of Agriculture
Sciences and Natural Resources Champion Award.
The intrigue of the American West was captured through Bob's building of Express Ranches with
thousands of Angus cattle and nearly 200,000 acres of land across seven locations. Express
Ranches is the leading Angus cattle producer and is the number one seed stock producer in the U.S.
Express Ranches is also home to the Express Clydesdales. These gentle giants are a rare
black and white breed weighing between 1,800 and 2300 pounds each. The world-renowned
Express Clydesdales were honored to chauffeur the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince
William and Catherine during their visit to Calgary, Alberta, Canada in 2011.
Funk's generosity and philanthropic giving have impacted thousands with millions of dollars in
scholarship awards, charitable donations and funding for facilities and structures that daily support
those who are less fortunate. His special love for youth in agriculture was demonstrated with a
multi-million dollar gift to Oklahoma Youth Expo, ensuring scholarships for years to come.
Continuing the Funk legacy of helping people succeed, his children Julie and Bob Jr., established their
homes in Oklahoma along with four beautiful children.
This sculpture depicting Robert A. "Bob" Funk on horseback wearing Western attire and a genuinely
infectious smile, celebrates his life, the American Cowboy, the Great Chisholm Trail and American's
Western values.