Television HOF

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.

Jim Bolen – 2009

Jim Bolen’s first St. Louis TV job was as a substitute in the Channel 4 sports department, but it was his appearance in 1958 was as a character on a local children’s show that launched his full-time career on the tube. His role as Cooky on Cooky and the Captain lasted for nine years. Later he anchored weather and sports segments for the station, and worked as a reporter and as news anchor for the noon news show. Bolen won an Emmy for Best Sportscaster in 1982 and was cited by the Missouri Broadcasters’ Association as best sports reporter in 1973 and best performer-host in 1986.

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.

Betsey Bruce – 2008

Veteran broadcaster Betsey Bruce is one of St. Louis’ most respected television journalists. She worked as both an anchor and a reporter specializing in public affairs, education and political reporting. She began as a writer and then moved to reporter and anchor at KMOX-TV (now KMOV) before joining the staff at KTVI in 1989. She was a member of the KMOX-TV news team, which launched the nation’s first electronic news gathering broadcasts using video mini-cameras and microwave live trucks. She won several awards for her reporting, including the national 1994 Clarion award from Women in Communications for her special report on the St. Louis County Special School district.

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.

Jack Buck – 2006

For several generations of baseball fans, Jack Buck’s voice was permanently linked to the St. Louis Cardinals. He came to St. Louis to be a play-by-play announcer for the team in 1954. In addition to his work in the booth for the Redbirds, he held many more jobs. At KMOX, listeners heard him doing play-by-play for St. Louis Cardinals football, University of Missouri basketball and football, and, for a short time, St. Louis Blues hockey. He also did Monday Night Football for CBS Radio and broadcast numerous Superbowls and World Series games. For several years in succession, he logged over 200,000 air miles annually. He is a member of the broadcast wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame and was given the Pete Rozell Award by the National Football League. Jack Buck also established himself as a strong team member at KMOX. He was a disc jockey in the late 50s, and was the host of the first “At Your Service” program February 29, 1960. He hosted Christmas morning programs from his home every year, and, in the ultimate indication of community involvement, was known to host up to 250 civic and charitable events a year. Although Buck was revered in St. Louis as the radio voice of the Cardinals, his television sports career made him known to the nation’s sports fans. His voice was heard on telecasts of 17 Super Bowls, 11 World Series and four Major League All-Star Games. He was in the TV booth for ABC’s baseball Game of the Week during the 1960 season and for the CBS broadcasts of NFL Football in 1963. Buck was also a regular on many Cardinal baseball telecasts originating in St. Louis over the team’s TV network.