Bob Barry Jr.

Bob Barry Jr.
Bob Barry Jr. at the 2015 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon
Born
Robert Bonnin Barry

(1956-12-21)December 21, 1956
Norman, Oklahoma, U.S.
DiedJune 20, 2015(2015-06-20) (aged 58)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Oklahoma (B.A.)
OccupationSportscaster
Notable credit(s)Sports Director, KFOR-TV (1998–2015)
Sports Anchor - Weekends, KTVY/KFOR-TV (1982–1998)
Sports Anchor - Weekends, KAUZ-TV (1981–1982)
Sports Director, KAUT-TV (1980–1981)
Spouses
Julianne Fudge
​
​
(m. 1981, divorced)​
Gina
​
(m. 2002)​

Robert Bonnin Barry (December 21, 1956 – June 20, 2015), sometimes known by the abbreviated nickname "BBJ", was an American sportscaster.

Barry spent most of his broadcasting career at NBC affiliate KFOR-TV (channel 4) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and served as the station's sports director for 17 years. At the time of his death, he was main sports anchor for the station's weeknight 5:00, 6:00 and 10:00 p.m. newscasts and hosted the 15-minute weekly sports highlight show that airs within the 10:00 p.m. newscast, Friday Sports Overtime. In addition to his duties at KFOR-TV, he also served as host of Sports Morning on sports radio station WWLS (640 AM, now ESPN Radio affiliate KWPN; and 104.9 FM, now at 98.1) since 1993, co-hosting the drive time talk show with former Oklahoma State University football coach Pat Jones.

Early life

Bob Barry Jr. was born in Norman, Oklahoma, to Robert Guyton Barry, a/k/a Bob Barry Sr. (February 28, 1931 – October 30, 2011) and Joan Barry (née Hester) (October 15, 1932 – June 10, 2003). He had an older brother, John Franklin Barry. A member of the Oklahoma Kappa chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Barry graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1980, with a Bachelor of Arts in Radio/TV/Film-Journalism.

Career

Barry began his career in radio during his sophomore year attending Norman High School in 1973. His television career began in Oklahoma City in September 1980 as sports director for independent station KAUT-TV (channel 43; which became co-owned with KFOR-TV in 2006), when that station signed on with a daytime-only all-news format that lasted until the following year. In 1981, he became a sports anchor at CBS affiliate KAUZ-TV in Wichita Falls, Texas. He subsequently returned to Oklahoma City, joining KTVY (now KFOR-TV) – where his father, Bob Barry Sr., had been its main sports anchor since 1966 – as weekend sports anchor in August 1982. Barry has hosted several coaches shows for both the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University.

In 1998, Barry assumed duties as KFOR's sports director, a position that had been held by Bob Barry Sr. since 1970. Barry Jr. and Barry Sr. worked together at KFOR-TV, until his father's retirement from the station in 2008. Barry was very active in sports charity while he worked for the station. He created the basketball team "The Foul Shots", consisting of KFOR-TV personalities, in the early 1980s and served as the team's head coach and general manager.

Barry was voted "Oklahoma Sportscaster of the Year" by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association in 2003, 2004 and 2008. The Jim Thorpe Association awarded Bob the "Executive Council Service Award" for his positive contribution to the Association, and was also honored by the American Women in Radio and TV as "Oklahoma's Sportscaster of the Year".

Personal life

Barry resided in Edmond, Oklahoma. He married Julianne Fudge in 1981, and they went on to have three children. He married his second wife, Gina, in 2002, and became stepfather to her son from a previous marriage.

Death

Barry died on June 20, 2015, from head trauma received when his motor scooter collided with the driver's side door of a car that unexpectedly attempted to perform an illegal U-turn northbound around 4:00 p.m. that afternoon from the right lane near 142nd Street and May Avenue in northwest Oklahoma City by crossing both southbound lanes. Barry, who was thrown more than 20 feet (6.1 m) from his scooter upon impact, was not wearing a helmet. According to police reports, paramedics and firefighters performed CPR on Barry before he was rushed to the trauma facility at OU Medical Center by Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA), where he died of his injuries. A public memorial service for Barry was held on June 26, 2015, at Crossings Community Church in Oklahoma City. The driver of the car Barry crashed into was later sentenced to ten years in prison for cocaine possession and causing an accident while driving a vehicle without a license.

References

  1. ↑ "Obituary". NewsOK.com. The Oklahoman. June 11, 2003. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "Funeral Information". www.smithandkernke.com. Smith & Kernke Funeral Homes & Crematory. June 27, 2015. Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 Staff; K. Querry (June 22, 2015). "Saying goodbye: Remembering the legacy of Bob Barry Jr". KFOR-TV. Tribune Broadcasting.
  4. ↑ "Bob Barry Jr. Profile at KFOR". KFOR-TV. Local TV LLC. Archived from the original on February 23, 2010.
  5. ↑ "KFOR Sports Director Bob Barry Jr. killed in NW Oklahoma City accident, driver arrested". KFOR-TV. Tribune Broadcasting. June 20, 2015. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  6. ↑ Sarah Stewart (June 21, 2015). "Driver arrested after crash kills KFOR Sports Director Bob Barry Jr". KFOR-TV. Tribune Broadcasting. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Our hearts are broken at the tragic loss of our friend Bob Barry Jr". KFOR-TV. Tribune Broadcasting. June 20, 2015. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Bob Barry Jr. dies in OKC motorcycle crash". The Oklahoman. Oklahoma Publishing Company. June 20, 2015. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  9. ↑ Mark Joyella (June 20, 2015). "KFOR Sports Director Bob Barry Jr. Killed in Accident". TVSpy. Mediabistro.com. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Funeral services announced for KFOR sports director". KOKI-TV. Cox Media Group. June 20, 2015. Archived from the original on June 22, 2015. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Driver sentenced in death of Oklahoma City sportscaster". KOKH. Associated Press. January 23, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2026.