Bob Steele (broadcaster)
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Bob Steele | |
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Born | Robert Lee Steele July 13, 1911 |
Died | December 6, 2002 | (aged 91)
Children | Robert H. Steele et al. |
Career | |
Show | The Bob Steele Show |
Station | WTIC (AM) |
Time slot | 5:30-10 AM ET |
Country | USA |
Robert Lee Steele (July 13, 1911 – December 6, 2002)[1] was an American radio personality. He was a radio host with WTIC Radio in Hartford, Connecticut, for more than 66 years, and hosted the morning radio scene in Southern New England for most of that time. He was born in Kansas City, Missouri.
Career
After working as a newsboy, salesman, motorcycle messenger and professional boxer, Steele was invited to Hartford, Connecticut to announce a motorcycle race. On his last day in town, he walked into WTIC's
Steele took over The G. Fox Morning Watch radio show on WTIC Radio
Show content
Steele's shows consisted of weather (including world temperatures), sports (Steele was longtime sports director for WTIC), birthdays (only over 80), anniversaries (only over 60), local and national news, and storytelling for children. Steele also regularly shared tips and lessons on grammar and pronunciation, including his Word for the Day. He enjoyed hearing from his listeners via letter, including listeners from Australia. Due to the 50,000-
Throughout the 1960s, Steele vowed not to play music by the
Personal life
Robert Steele has four sons, Robert, Paul, Philip, and Steven. His oldest son,
In 1980, Steele published a book entitled "Bob Steele: A Man and His Humor." A second book celebrating his 50th anniversary on radio was published in 1986 and his last, "The Word for the Day," written with son Phil Steele, was published in 2002.[2]
The Bob Steele Reading Center at the Literacy Volunteers of Greater Hartford facility on Arbor Street, dedicated in 1989, honors his years as an advocate of literacy.
On December 12, 2011, the Hartford City Council voted unanimously to rename in Steele's honor a section of the city's Grove Street (between Prospect Street and Columbus Boulevard) in recognition of his iconic status and the 100th birthday. Bob Steele Street was officially dedicated in a special ceremony on January 4, 2013. A bronze plaque honoring Steele's career was installed on the east side of the Travelers Insurance building at the intersection of Bob Steele and Prospect streets on May 19, 2015. The plaque, created by sculptor Michael Keropian,[3] was unveiled in a ceremony on May 29, 2015.
References
Some of the above material from Simon Pure's The Real Bob Steele Article posted by former WTIC engineer Bob Scherago, who worked with Steele from 1963 through 1977.
- ^ Social Security Death Index, "Social Security Death Index Interactive Search". Archived from the original on 2008-08-20. Retrieved 2016-03-13. for Robert L. Steele
- ^ Shea, Jim (2002-12-07). "A Voice For The Ages - Connecticut Radio Legend Bob Steele Dies At 91". Connecticut Radio & TV Pages. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
- ^ "Michael Keropian Bronze Sculpture". Michael Keropian Bronze Sculpture. Retrieved 2023-11-17.