Robert James ''Bob'' Koob

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Robert James ''Bob'' Koob

Former WTHI TV anchor Robert James Koob dies
Terre Haute Tribune-Star

Robert James Koob, “Bob” or “Koobie” to all who knew him, went to his heavenly home Friday, March 31, 2006.

Family, friends and his many loyal viewers will miss him dearly. Rosary will be 7 p.m. Monday, in Johnson Funeral Home in San Angelo, Texas. Funeral Mass will be 10 a.m. Tuesday in Holy Angels Catholic Church.

Bob was born June 23, 1943, in Hartford, Conn. While in junior high school, he was asked to sing with the high school senior choir and later attended Indiana University where he studied opera and performed in several choruses.

Bob was inducted into the Army in April 1965, where he served with the military police and obtained top-secret clearance for a secret mission in Germany during the Vietnam War.

Bob began his broadcast career in New York City typing scripts and handling cue cards for the soap opera, “All My Children,” followed by running teleprompter at CBS in New York for Walter Cronkite and Roger Mudd.

In between touring with the national dinner theater circuit, Bob worked for Double-Day and Worldwide Publishing until he moved to Terre Haute as the public relations director for St. Mary-of-the-Woods College. He then went to work for WTHI in Terre Haute as their noon and 5 p.m. anchor. Bob next went to WBBR in Jackson, Tenn., as news director and anchor for the noon and 5 p.m. newscasts, followed by KOAM in Pittsburgh, Kan., where he met his wife, Barbara, when she was an interview guest on his 5 p.m. news program.

Bob and Barbara began their married life together in Galena, Kan., on July 4, 1987. They moved to San Angelo in May 1988, when Bob began working as the 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. anchor at KLST where he quickly became regarded by the viewers as one of their favorite news personalities. He continued his career at KLST until his retirement in October 2000, due to health reasons.

Bob loved the theater, crossword puzzles, his church, needlepoint and cross-stitching, where he twice won Best of Show at the Stock Show and Rodeo Arts & Crafts competition, his pets, his career in television, his family, his godson, and most of all his wife, Barbara.

Bob is survived by his wife, Barbara; stepson, Paul Rogers and his wife, Karen and her son, Jeremy of Key Largo, Fla.; beloved sister-in-law, Donna Lane and her husband, Alan and their son, Christopher of San Angelo; sisters-in-law, Joy Stahl and Lucille Taffner; brother-in-law, Richard “Bud” Rogers of Carthage, Mo.; granddaughter, Sara Skinner and her husband, Michael and their son, Quinton; grandson, Aaron Rogers and his wife, Kelli and their son, A.J. and daughter, Stephanie; special “adopted” children, Kevin and Lorie Settle and their son; and his godson, Benjamin; dear friends, Bishop Michael Pfeifer and Pat Attebery; his China Garden family; his Holy Angels family; and his family at Hospice of San Angelo, especially Celine, Lisa and Jean.

We would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to all the family, friends and loyal viewers who kept us in their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. For your kindness and compassion, may God bless you all. By those who met him, he was well-liked. By those who worked with him and watched him on TV, he was well-respected. By those who knew him well, he was loved. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a contribution be made to Hospice of San Angelo; Angelo Catholic School; or, to your favorite charity. For this journalist who spent so much of his time taking the high road and putting others first, that’s the news…goodnight.

Journalist's 'magic time' ends

KLST-TV anchor remembered as a viewer favorite

By Jerry Lackey, jlackey@wcc.net or 949-2291
April 1, 2006

Robert James ''Bob'' Koob, longtime senior television news anchor at San Angelo's KLST-TV, died Friday after a lengthy illness. He was 62.

As the lights went up on the KLST news set and staff pinned on microphones for the director's sound checks, Koob would flash a special smile and say: ''It's magic time, folks'' and with another turn to the camera, he would meet his public with: ''Good evening, I'm Bob Koob!'' '

'Koobie,'' as he was known around the newsroom, was a true professional. He wrote his own script and timed it by reading and editing to the second. He was all business until the live newscast was over. After that, it was time to laugh and joke. '

'His loyal viewers were dear to him,'' said Kevin Settle, KLST creative services director. ''The viewers regarded him as one of their favorite news personalities.''

After retiring from KLST in October 2000 because of health reasons, Koob kept busy with crossword puzzles, his church, needlepoint and cross-stitiching.

Koob started his broadcast career in New York City typing scripts and handling cue cards for the CBS soap opera, ''All My Children.'' His first connection with broadcast news was running the teleprompter on the ''CBS Evening News'' for Walter Cronkite and Roger Mudd.

Following several years in theater and public relations, Koob entered the news business in Terra Haute, Ind. - this time in front of the camera as noon and 5 p.m. news anchor. He later was the news director and anchor in Jackson, Tennessee.

Koob met his wife, Barbara, during a news segment while he worked in Pittsburgh, Kansas. She was a guest interview.

The Koobs moved to San Angelo in May 1988 and fast became members of the KLST-TV family. Koob was named the 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. news anchor. Barbara was the ''official voice'' as the station receptionist.

Koob is survived by his wife, Barbara; stepson Paul Rogers and wife Karen, and their son, Jeremy, of Key Largo, Florida; sister-in-law Donna Lane and husband Alan, and their son, Christopher, of San Angelo; sisters-in-law Joy Stahl and Lucille Taffner; and brother-in-law, Richard ''Bud'' Rogers of Carthage, Mo.; granddaughter Sara Skinner and husband Michael, and their son, Quinton; and grandson Aaron Rogers and wife Kelli, their son A.J., and their daughter, Stephanie.

Rosary will be at 7 p.m. Monday at the Johnson Funeral Home, 435 W. Beauregard Ave. Funeral Mass will be Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Holy Angels Catholic Church, 2317 A&M St.