Bob Hower and Betty Boyd
BOB HOWER
Perhaps best known as the primary news anchor for KTUL, Channel 8, in Tulsa, Bob Hower got his start in television in 1949 at KOTV, Channel 6, which was Tulsa’s first television station. Bob was their first chief announcer and Tulsa’s first television “anchorman.” After a year at KOTV, Bob was recalled to the Air Force to fly the Korean Air Lift. He returned to television in 1953 at KFBM-TV, Channel 8, in San Diego, California, where he worked for 14 years with people such as Regis Philbin and Raquel Welch. In 1966,Bob joined WBKB (now WLS-TV), Channel 7 in Chicago, working with Tulsan Paul Harvey, before coming home to KTUL, Channel 8 in 1969.
While anchoring the newscasts at Channel 8, Bob created “A Waiting Child,” an adoption series which he produced, directed and hosted for six years before a voice problem forced his retirement in 1986. At that time, the series was credited with helping place 406 special needs children with permanent parents. The series continues, and is now credited with helping to find loving homes for more than 4,000 such children! Bob wrote the lyrics for the signature “Waiting Child” song, and is grateful to Oleta Adams for singing it so beautifully.
In 1998, Bob used his grandfather’s collection of original riot material to publish “The 1921 Tulsa Race Riot - Angels of Mercy,” the only fully documented, first-person account of America’s deadliest race riot.
Bob graduated with Tulsa Central High’s Class of 1942 (Alumni Hall of Fame). He completed his freshman year at the University of Oklahoma before enlisting in the U.S. Air Corps, serving as a B-17 pilot in WW2. After the war, he used the G.I. Bill to attend Oklahoma A & M in Stillwater (OSU), Colorado A & M in Ft. Collins (Colorado State), and the University of Tulsa, graduating with a B.A. degree in 1949 … the year he began his 35-year television career.
Bob was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on December 20, 1924. His maternal grandfather, Maurice Willows, had been sent to Tulsa to direct the American Red Cross efforts to relief victims of the 1921 Tulsa Race Riot. Willows’ daughter, Maurine, met and married Forrest Hower and Bob was their first child.
BETTY BOYD
Betty is a native Tulsan. Following her graduation from Tulsa Central High School, she attended the University of Tulsa and Iowa State University majoring in home economics and technical journalism. Betty married William W. (Bill) Boyd in 1943, following his graduation and commission as an Army Air Corps pilot. Both served their country during WW II - Bill as a B-24 pilot in Italy with the 1st Air Force where he flew 50 missions and was decorated with the Air Medal and five Oak Leaf Clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross, European Theater and Unit Citation Medals. Betty worked at the Tulsa Bomber Plant, which assembled the B-24. They have a daughter, Beverlie, a son, Barry W., four grand children and four great-grandchildren, all of whom live in the Tulsa area.
Betty has enjoyed four major careers: a full time Mom and wife; producing and hosting a daily television show for 25 years; Public Relations Director for the Tulsa Tech District; and member of the Oklahoma Legislature. When both were employed by Tulsa's ABC -TV affiliate, KTUL-TV, Betty and Bob Hower renewed their friendship from junior high school days. In a citywide vote, they were elected King and Queen of the Tulsa Centennial Celebration.
When she retired from the legislature, Betty became a spokesperson with Bob for Clear-tone and the Oklahoma Hearing Aid Association. Betty has been honored by many local, state and national organizations including: the Golden Mike for Outstanding Public Service; "Legislator of the Year" by the Oklahoma School Boards Association, and the Oklahoma Education Association; "Friend of Medicine," the highest award given by the Oklahoma Medical Association, induction in the Tulsa Central High HaIl of Fame and the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame. She presently serves on the Tulsa City/Count y Board of Health, Friends of the Library Board, Tulsa Area Agency on Aging Board, and the Gridiron Trust of the Tulsa Press Club. She continues to give seminars and speeches locally and throughout the country.
For the "fun" in her life, Betty always mentions her family travels first. She has landed on and catapulted from an aircraft carrier, continued her "love affair" with the City of Tulsa, and is the author of two books: "Travels in My Green Country and Beyond," and "If I Could Sing, I'd Be Dangerous."
