OKLAHOMA – The Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters announced Bob Barry Jr. was recently elected into its Hall of Fame, according to a press release.
Starting in 1980, while at the University of Oklahoma as a journalism major calling high school football games, Bob’s enthusiasm was the hallmark for his prolific career.
He joined his father, Bob Barry, at NewsChannel 4 in Oklahoma City and, for 35 years, he forged his own way – uniquely changing the perspective on sports and the way it was reported.
“His rapport with athletes, university executives, coaches and especially fans made him the guy we all cheered for,” the release said. “His audience was boundless, because he was universally loved by all who watched or heard him.”
Bob’s career was multi-dimensional due to his ‘switch-hitting’ role as a daily reporter / anchor for both radio and television.
His shows on WWLS AM/FM (The Sports Animal) were amongst their highest rated, and his nightly appearances on KFOR TV 4 gave the entire market comfort that the sports world had the perfect man reporting on the events.
“Bobby was Oklahoma sports,” the release said. “Every viewer or listener knew that, if ‘Junior’ talked about something, it was not only important, but it would be interesting.”
Bob was named Oklahoma Sportscaster of the year six times and won countless awards as the most respected sportscaster of his time.
“But, even more impressive was the love all Oklahomans had for the Barry family and Bob’s generosity and caring,” the release said. “Bob Barry Jr. made sports fun, and he made broadcasting a better business.”
Unfortunately, Bob was lost to a tragic vehicular accident in June of 2015.
Bob’s family will accept his induction into the OAB Hall of Fame at the annual awards dinner on April 1st at the Hard Rock Hotel in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
