Robert Heard

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Robert Heard
Born(1930-04-10)April 10, 1930
Big Spring, Texas
DiedApril 15, 2014(2014-04-15) (aged 84)
Known forwriter, journalist, reporter

Robert Lee Heard (April 10, 1930 – April 15, 2014) was an American writer, journalist and reporter for the

wire service. Heard was shot and wounded by Charles Whitman on August 1, 1966, while covering Whitman's attack on the University of Texas at Austin for the Associated Press.[1][2] Heard received widespread praise for his series of reports on the integration of the Texas Longhorns football team.[1]
He also authored several books, focusing on sports and politics.

Early life

Robert Heard was born on April 10, 1930, in

General Robert E. Lee, at the urging of his two older brothers, who had just learned about the Civil War general in elementary school.[2]

Career

Heard served in the

United States Marines in the Korean War from 1951 to 1952.[1] He returned to Texas after the war, where he obtained a law degree from Baylor University.[1] He practiced law in Houston for two years before pursuing a career change to journalism.[1] He initially worked as a journalist at the Waco Tribune-Herald in Waco, Texas, and the AP Long Beach, California.[2] Heard was then hired as a reporter by the Associated Press in 1964.[1]

On August 1, 1966, Heard, who was 36 years old at the time, was shot in the arm while covering the mass shooting at the University of Texas at Austin.[2] Heard, who had arrived on scene as a reporter for the Associated Press, was attempting to follow to Texas highway patrol offices across a parking lot when he was wounded by a bullet fired by Charles Whitman.[2] In a 2006 interview with Texas Monthly, Heard recalled, "Just before I reached the curb, I was shot down. I'd forgotten my Marine training; I hadn't zigzagged."[1] He continued to grant interviews on the anniversary of the shooting, but attempted to distance his professional and personal life from the tragedy. According to his wife, Betsy Heard, "He lived his whole life hoping to get that out of the first paragraph of his obituary."[1]

Heard eventually left the Associated Press, but continued to work in journalism and

San Antonio Express News.[1]

Heard founded Inside Texas, a newsletter which covered athletics at the

University of Texas.[1]
His books included "Dance With Who Brung Us: Quips & Quotes from Darrell Royal," which compiled quotes from
Texas state senators who fled Austin in 1979 and went into hiding to stop a bill.[1]

Personal life

Robert Heard died from complications of hip surgery on April 15, 2014, at the age of 84.

memorial service was planned for his family's June 2014 family reunion in Uvalde County, Texas.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Vertuno, Jim (April 23, 2014). "Former AP reporter Robert Heard dies at age 84". Associated Press. Archived from the original on May 14, 2014. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Haurwitz, Ralph K.M. (April 27, 2014). "Robert Heard dies at 84; Texas journalist wounded in 1966 rampage". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
  3. ^ Ralph K.M. Haurwitz. "Robert Heard, newsman wounded in UT Tower shooting, dies at 84". Statesman. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
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