The life of Local 821 Trustee Robert Zavala Jr. was cut short after a fatal car accident April 19, and an online fundraiser has been created to help his family.
Brother Zavala joined the union in 2018 and began as a member of Local 756 in San Antonio before transferring to Local 821 (Del Rio, Texas). He had taken his first local officer position as a Local 821 trustee at the beginning of this year and worked as a conductor for Union Pacific.
“He was well-respected and a good union brother — always willing to help,” Alt. Vice President and General Chairperson Scott Chelette said.

Brother Zavala’s wife, son and daughter also were in the vehicle during the family’s accident. His wife and son were treated and released from the hospital while daughter Pilar faces a series of surgeries and a long path to recovery.
Details about services and a full obituary will be shared when made available.
SMART-TD offers its sincere condolences to Brother Zavala’s family, friends and to his brothers and sisters in Local 821.
Related News
- Honoring Our Members Who Have Served: A Veterans Day Message from President Ferguson
- 2025 Houston Solidarity Rally: barbecue, brotherhood, and building power
- SMART-TD’s Chris Smith Wins City Council Seat in Tama, Iowa
- NTSB Issues Two Rail Safety Alerts
- Railroader Healthcare Costs Remain Stable While National Averages Soar
- SMART-TD Mourns the Loss of Sister Tanya Perry
- Call to Action in Mass.: Transit Safety Legislation Up for Final Vote
- New Jersey’s “Vote Labor” Push led by SMART-TD’s Ron Sabol
- Better Short-Term Disability Benefits Coming in 2026
- 2025 Tentative Agreement Reached Between SMART-TD and Union Pacific