NORMAN,Okla. –There’s no doubt our friend Bob Barry, Jr. had a large impact on Oklahoma.
While watching KFOR, viewers welcomed Bobby into their homes and into their lives each night.
“The way he’d do his little, crack jokes on TV and his little moves and stuff, that was always the best part about BBJ,” Shane Wyatt, a loyal KFOR viewer, said.
“I’m not a sports person. I really don’t care about sports that much, but I loved his cheerfulness and the jokes he told and his kidding,” Jessica Thomason, another viewer, said.
His cheerfulness was contagious beyond the screen.
“He knew how to make the TV come alive, you’re sitting at home watching, and you love that guy,” Wyatt says.
In addition to welcoming Bob Barry, Jr. into their homes through our newscasts, Bobby became a staple in many families through his daily radio show on WWLS.
On Monday, the radio airwaves came alive with colorful stories about Bob Barry, Jr.
He didn’t just communicate, but he connected with his listeners and even made one of them a star.
“He was a brother. He was a mentor,” said Corey “Scissor Hands” Sutter, a regular on the Sports Animal. “You could call in on the show and he’d just let you do you and say what you want to say as long as you’re respectful.”
“Listening to someone who has that much knowledge when it comes to it, and passion is something that I want to strive to be,” Joe Acord says.
“It was obvious he loved all the Oklahoma teams, whatever they were, it didn’t make any difference. Whether they won or lost, it didn’t make any difference,” Thomason says.
“I was amazed with his intelligence,” said Dr. Kent Webb, a friend of Bobby’s. “He would walk in the door 30 seconds before he went on air, clip on his headphones, close his eyes and start talking sports. It would be rolling off his tongue effortlessly. I’d sit at the desk and watch him and think, ‘Man, that guy is brilliant. He can name names, numbers, lineups, things most people can’t recall. He had no notes, no papers, just rolling it off the top of his head.”
His death came as a shock to friends, family members and viewers.
“He loved me. It hurt, it hurt. I pulled over and sat in the Braum’s parking lot for 10 minutes crying,” said Sutter.
Sutter was not just a regular on the Sports Animal, he also became a friend of Bobby’s and he wasn’t the only one.
“I met Bobby in July of 1975,” said Webb. “He had me laughing from day one.”
Dr. Webb and Bobby were fraternity brothers and Dr. Webb was a sponsor of Bobby’s radio show.
Webb spent quality time with BBJ at a fraternity retreat just a couple of weeks ago.
“He hugged and kissed me and we told each other we love each other. Little did I know that would be the last time I’d speak to him. I have a real good feeling we had a good opportunity to say goodbye,” Webb said. “You’re going to meet few people in this life that are going to be Bob Barry, Jr. Those people need to be treasured and remembered.”
He may be gone, but his spark and spirit will live on forever.
“BBJ you were the best, we love you,” Wyatt said.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, June 26 at 11 a.m. inside Crossings Community Church.
While we have too many memories to share about our time with Bobby, we know we are not the only ones.
If you would like to share any memories about BBJ, you are welcome to sign our guestbook.
