Robert "Bob" Dale Spangler --Obituary
Replies: 2
City Tribute Given By Dave Miller for Bob Spangler
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Posted: 12 Sep 2008 12:12AM GMT |
Classification: Obituary
Surnames: Spangler, Miller, Hill, Aune, Zagel, Voorhies, Strom, Luther,
Young and old alike gathered at the Newport High School gymnasium Saturday afternoon to say goodbye to longtime “Voice of the Cubs” Bob Spangler.
Spangler, who for more than half a century broadcast Newport sporting events over radio station KNPT, died at his home on Aug. 25. He was 84.
The memorial service honoring Spang's life began in a most appropriate way - with the Newport High School fight song playing over the gym's public address system as the crowd clapped along. It was also a very appropriate setting because the NHS gymnasium, in tribute to Spangler's many contributions to local sports programs, had been named Spangler Court in 1999.
“That was one of the greatest honors Bob ever received,” said Dave Miller, owner of KNPT. The naming of Spangler Court was announced during halftime of a Newport basketball game. Spangler, who was broadcasting the game, noticed a tarp covering part of the wall that night, and when he asked about it, he was told the building had a leak. He would later recall how seeing the new sign when that tarp was removed had brought tears to his eyes.
Miller said KNPT and Bob Spangler are synonymous, and the radio station recently built a new studio that has been named “Bob Spangler Studio.” Unfortunately, added Miller, they hadn't yet moved into the new studio before Spangler passed away. A plaque remembering Spangler will be installed there, and “it will always be the Bob Spangler Studio of KNPT radio, at least as long as I'm around,” said Miller.
Miller also talked about the huge shift in radio station technology between the time Spangler first went on the air and today. “I made Bob learn three computer systems,” he said. “There were remarkable changes in his life from where he started to where it is now.”
And although Spangler was more than willing to take up the challenge, he did struggle at times with the new technology. Bill Hall, who worked with Spangler at the radio station for many years before being elected county commissioner, was the emcee at Saturday's memorial service. Hall recalled times when Miller would rush into Spangler's studio because of a moment of silence, when Spangler and the new technology weren't getting along. “He (Spang) would always say, ‘Now, now, David, don't get excited. This isn't New York or Los Angeles. This is Newport.' “
Darrell Aune, longtime sports director for KEX radio in Portland and play-by-play broadcaster for the Oregon State Beavers, shared a common bond with Spangler, and the two were friends for many years. In a taped message played during the memorial service, Aune said, “Our state and this city have lost a giant in broadcasting.”
Newport High School Principal Jon Zagel was a former NHS athlete himself and recalled Spangler broadcasting games back then. “He called more than 3,000 games in his 56 years of service,” Zagel said, and the number of miles put on by Spangler while driving to “away” games equaled the distance to the moon. Nobody has done more for Newport High School or this community, he said, “and what made Bob special was his natural ability to relate with people. He made many of our Newport High athletes feel like there were on ESPN.”
Former NHS baseball coach John Voorhies said that even after a Newport loss, Spangler “would talk about the positives and remind people there were more games coming up.” And although Spangler occasionally talked about retiring, “you always knew he would go right down to the wire, and he did.”
Miller said Spangler was at work at the radio station just a few days before he died. Depoe Bay resident Gracie Strom, a long-time friend of Spangler, summed it up this way. “He died the way he wanted to. He died with his boots on.”
Marcus Luther, a 2008 NHS grad, described himself as a “third generation broadcastee,” with his father and grandfather playing NHS sports before him and being the subjects of Spangler broadcasts. “He was just so positive. He was just so emotionally invested in this community, especially the kids. Bob spoke with a passion for his kids, for the community, and for his love of the game.”
Luther was a member of the Newport High baseball team that won the state championship this past spring. As it turned out, that state championship game would Spangler's final play-by-play broadcast, a fitting way to end a career that had such an impact on so many people.
In concluding his remarks at Saturday's memorial service, Bill Hall said of Spangler, “When we lost him, he was not 84 years old. He was 84 years young.”
Steve Card is managing editor for the News-Times. He can be reached at 265-8571 ext. 224, or stevecard@newportnewstimes.com.
Spangler, who for more than half a century broadcast Newport sporting events over radio station KNPT, died at his home on Aug. 25. He was 84.
The memorial service honoring Spang's life began in a most appropriate way - with the Newport High School fight song playing over the gym's public address system as the crowd clapped along. It was also a very appropriate setting because the NHS gymnasium, in tribute to Spangler's many contributions to local sports programs, had been named Spangler Court in 1999.
“That was one of the greatest honors Bob ever received,” said Dave Miller, owner of KNPT. The naming of Spangler Court was announced during halftime of a Newport basketball game. Spangler, who was broadcasting the game, noticed a tarp covering part of the wall that night, and when he asked about it, he was told the building had a leak. He would later recall how seeing the new sign when that tarp was removed had brought tears to his eyes.
Miller said KNPT and Bob Spangler are synonymous, and the radio station recently built a new studio that has been named “Bob Spangler Studio.” Unfortunately, added Miller, they hadn't yet moved into the new studio before Spangler passed away. A plaque remembering Spangler will be installed there, and “it will always be the Bob Spangler Studio of KNPT radio, at least as long as I'm around,” said Miller.
Miller also talked about the huge shift in radio station technology between the time Spangler first went on the air and today. “I made Bob learn three computer systems,” he said. “There were remarkable changes in his life from where he started to where it is now.”
And although Spangler was more than willing to take up the challenge, he did struggle at times with the new technology. Bill Hall, who worked with Spangler at the radio station for many years before being elected county commissioner, was the emcee at Saturday's memorial service. Hall recalled times when Miller would rush into Spangler's studio because of a moment of silence, when Spangler and the new technology weren't getting along. “He (Spang) would always say, ‘Now, now, David, don't get excited. This isn't New York or Los Angeles. This is Newport.' “
Darrell Aune, longtime sports director for KEX radio in Portland and play-by-play broadcaster for the Oregon State Beavers, shared a common bond with Spangler, and the two were friends for many years. In a taped message played during the memorial service, Aune said, “Our state and this city have lost a giant in broadcasting.”
Newport High School Principal Jon Zagel was a former NHS athlete himself and recalled Spangler broadcasting games back then. “He called more than 3,000 games in his 56 years of service,” Zagel said, and the number of miles put on by Spangler while driving to “away” games equaled the distance to the moon. Nobody has done more for Newport High School or this community, he said, “and what made Bob special was his natural ability to relate with people. He made many of our Newport High athletes feel like there were on ESPN.”
Former NHS baseball coach John Voorhies said that even after a Newport loss, Spangler “would talk about the positives and remind people there were more games coming up.” And although Spangler occasionally talked about retiring, “you always knew he would go right down to the wire, and he did.”
Miller said Spangler was at work at the radio station just a few days before he died. Depoe Bay resident Gracie Strom, a long-time friend of Spangler, summed it up this way. “He died the way he wanted to. He died with his boots on.”
Marcus Luther, a 2008 NHS grad, described himself as a “third generation broadcastee,” with his father and grandfather playing NHS sports before him and being the subjects of Spangler broadcasts. “He was just so positive. He was just so emotionally invested in this community, especially the kids. Bob spoke with a passion for his kids, for the community, and for his love of the game.”
Luther was a member of the Newport High baseball team that won the state championship this past spring. As it turned out, that state championship game would Spangler's final play-by-play broadcast, a fitting way to end a career that had such an impact on so many people.
In concluding his remarks at Saturday's memorial service, Bill Hall said of Spangler, “When we lost him, he was not 84 years old. He was 84 years young.”
Steve Card is managing editor for the News-Times. He can be reached at 265-8571 ext. 224, or stevecard@newportnewstimes.com.
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