I was among the many saddened by the news of Bob Long's death this week.
I grew up in Fresno watching him do the news on KMJ-TV, later KSEE. I took a class in broadcast news writing from him at Fresno State many years ago; he was an outstanding teacher. I didn't have any desire -- or talent, for that matter -- to work in broadcast news (a college professor once lamented that I was "one of those POBs" -- a print-oriented bastard). But I learned a great deal in that class, including the value of the voice in writing. Bob reaffirmed an old lesson about reading aloud what you've written -- the ear will give you many clues about the quality of the writing.
I remember chatting with Bob at Grizzlies games; he was a great baseball fan. And I recall our first meeting. I was still in high school, and went down to the old Channel 24 studio to be interviewed about a school bond measure on the November 1968 ballot. I got to watch the end of the news broadcast for that evening. When the show ended, Bob shuffled his papers together, rising when the camera went off. He had on the de rigueur white shirt and skinny black tie of the '60s, and a suit coat. But out of sight of viewers he was wearing jeans, and I was tickled by that.
Bob brought a lot to the Valley, and he will be missed.
I was out of town so this is the first I have heard of his passing. Although I never met him, I watched him on tv all the time when I was growing up. I can still hear his voice loud and clear. May his family take comfort in the Lord as they grieve.
I have known Bob since Sunday school at the old
First Methodist church when we were kids and worked with him on and off in broadcasting starting at Fresno State with the Fresno Bee comic section of the air on KMJ(he was Uncle Bob
and I was Cousin Ken) and later as a director of some of his newscasts at 24. It was always a pleasure to direct the news he wrote, produced and anchored. He was a master of his craft and it was a priveledge to work with him.
Thank you for the tribute, Russ. He will indeed be missed!
Ken Clarke, Sacramento
What a beautiful tribute to Bob Long. I also grew up watching Bob Long on my family's television screen. We all considered him to be the best there was. He will not be forgotten.
My condolences go out to his family.
I too was sorry about hear about Bob's passing. I never had the honor of meeting him or working with him, but I worked in his wake at KSEE24. I was new to Fresno at the time, and they were still showing Bob's On The Map segments which I found very interesting. His legacy still ran through the building in his friends and colleagues, who spoke of him with admiration and respect. He will always live on there.
Nice tribute Russ, and there was another anchor, a good friend of Bob's, who wore jeans and tennis shoes under the desk as well. I'm not sure I'm at liberty to give him up though.
I can't remember times without BOB LONG. Too many people and too much of the customary from my 56 years around here, have faded away like the sinking sun. We all are the poorer for it.
Last week the central valley lost a native son. Bob Long, TV anchor and historian passed into the history he loved. Bob knew stories of the central valley like the roads he traveled on the map. Bob loved the valley and loved to talk about it. Bob worked tirelessly to share his knowledge, insight and discovery with his friends, his viewers. Bob told stories of the past like he had lived every one. And with each telling, he delighted in impressing, especially to newcomers, tales of the valley’s growth, importance and glorious past.
Bob Long passed unceremoniously, forgotten so soon after his retirement; forgotten only because we saw him so often in the hallways and on TV, we took him for granted. What we didn’t realize was how much we would miss his wisdom, wit, professionalism and friendship. We are all blessed to have known him, even for a short time. Now, who will tell the stories? Who will remember the history? Who will tell the story our native son, Bob Long, our friend?
James C. Wallace, co-worker
Bob Long was one of the greatest, if not the greatest news man in the central valley. Early on in my career I had the honor of sitting next to this very honorable and professional anchor man as a co-anchor on the 24 Noon News. He taught me what it meant to have credibility and respect in the news business. He was a fair man who helped teach this young journalist what was news and what was not.
More importantly Bob Long loved this valley. I saw and you saw it as he traveled throughout the valley with Earl Bradley behind the camera with On The Map. His knowledge of the valley's great history and his willingness to spend long days out on the road shooting the segments proved his love of our area.
But he also loved and respected the viewers. The thousands of people who tuned in to 24 just to see their trusted news anchor man Bob Long. I remember staying up 24 hours straight for several years with Bob as we hosted the Jerry Lewis Labor Day telethon. He did it because he cared for the children who suffered from Muscular Dystrophy.
He was a caring man, a gentle man, but more importantly he was a good man who lived his life with dignity and pride. He will be missed but never forgotten.
James, that was very nicely said. You and I need to catch up.
I was randomly googling "Christmas Tree Lane Fresno" to show my friends here in Australia some of my childhood Xmas memories when I happened across the news of Bob Long's death. I grew up watching him on Channel 24 in the 80's and always loved his On The Map segments.
I now live in Melbourne, Australia and am suddenly feeling a bit nostalgic and homesick for the Valley.