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Robert Guillaume – 2006

Robert Guillaume was born Robert Williams in St. Louis. Before pursuing an acting career, he studied at St. Louis University and Washington University and served in the United States Army. Guillaume made his television debut in the series “Soap”, playing the butler, Benson DuBois, from 1977 to 1979. That series’ success led him to a spinoff series, “Benson”, which ran until 1986. He won Emmy Awards for both series. A later TV role as television executive Isaac Jaffe on “Sports Night” (1998-2000), allowed Guillaume to break new ground when the stroke that he suffered in real life, along with his subsequent recovery, was written into the scripts of the show for his character.

Charles Guggenheim – 2006

Charles Guggenheim was the first general manager of St. Louis public television station KETC in 1953. A television producer and director, Guggenheim got his training at CBS in New York. By 1954 he had founded his own small film production studio in St. Louis. The company’s first feature film, “The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery,” helped launch the career of actor Steve McQueen. In the early 1960s, Guggenheim went on to form a partnership with TV and documentary film producer Shelby Storck for several documentaries which were nominated for and/or won Academy Awards. Guggenheim received his first Academy Award for Documentary Short Subject for 1964’s “Nine from Little Rock.” He received 12 Oscar nominations in total, and also won subsequent Oscars for “Robert Kennedy Remembered” (1968), “The Johnstown Flood” (1989) and “A Time for Justice” (1995).

Harold “Hod” Grams – 2007

Harold “Hod” Grams came to St. Louis after working at a couple Iowa radio stations. His first job here was at KSD radio in 1938.as an announcer, becoming program director in 1943. In 1947 he was named to the same position at the market’s first television station, co-owned KSD-TV. After 10 years, Grams was promoted to general manager of the radio and TV stations. Ten years after that he became vice president in charge of all Pulitzer radio and television stations. He was also active in the NBC affiliates’ group, and was elected chairman of their board of delegates. Grams retired from broadcasting in 1979.

Harry Gibbs – 2007

Having grown up in the Southwest, Harry Gibbs was a natural to play a cowboy on television. KSD-TV hired him to host their children’s show as “Texas Bruce” in the early ‘50s, initially for Dean’s Milk, but later, for a much longer run, Adams’ Dairy. He’d had a little experience in front of the camera co-hosting “Telequiz Calls” on Channel 5. Harry and his trick horse “Trusty” were huge draws of local kids to parades and other personal appearances in the region, and thousands of kids came to the studios to appear on the program. Harry hung up his spurs after 13 years as Texas Bruce and worked as a free-lance commercial talent until the year 2000.

Dave Garroway – 2006

Garroway attended University City High School in suburban St. Louis and then graduated from Washington University in 1935. He began his broadcasting career modestly, graduating from NBC’s school for announcers at twenty-third in a class of twenty-four. In his radio job at KDKA in Pittsburgh, Garroway became known for his eclectic on-air observations . His attention-grabbing style was in evidence from the beginning as he roamed the region, filing reports from a hot-air balloon, from a U.S. Navy submarine in the Ohio River, and from deep inside a coal mine. In the early days of TV, Garroway became the first host of “Today” on NBC-TV and attracted a large audience that enjoyed his easygoing and low-key personality. Even teaming him with simian “co-host” J. Fred Muggs didn’t appear to phase him. Garroway’s concurrent seriousness in dealing with news stories and ability to clearly explain abstract concepts earned him the nickname “The Communicator,” and eventually won praise from critics and viewers alike.

Bob Garger – 2009

Bob Garger’s career in journalism began after college graduation when he joined UPI and won national recognition for his work. His broadcast career began in the newsroom at KSD Radio/TV in 1954 as a writer and beat reporter. He retired from Channel 5 news in 1993 and began his second “career” preserving, cataloging and digitizing the station’s extensive film and tape library. Along with Ray Hoffstetter, Bob was “behind the scenes” but also “at the helm” for all of Channel 5 anniversaries and retrospectives, including both the fortieth and fiftieth anniversary celebrations as well as every key historically significant story. Garger was honored by NATAS with their Gold Circle Award.