Bob Palmer, household name in local TV news
By Dusty Saunders, Special to the Rocky
Published August 20, 2008 at 11:34 a.m.
Photo by George Kochaniec Jr. © The Rocky/1987
Madeline McFadden and Bob Palmer on the air at Channel 4 on Nov. 7, 1987. Palmer was a key anchor there twice.
When Bob Palmer retired in 1997 after 40 years in TV news, he made an intriguing admission.
"Looking back on my career, I'm convinced that my most significant contributions to TV journalism came as a reporter, not as a news anchor," said Palmer, arguably the most popular, widely viewed anchor in the history of Denver television.
The newsman died Tuesday night at Heritage Club at Lakewood, an assisted living center, following a long illness. He was 77.
Palmer, a key anchor at CBS4 News (twice) and Denver's 7, enjoyed recalling his reporting experiences in what he considered TV's "Stone Age" - no videotape or compact cameras.
One of his favorite projects was The Last of the Hyphenated Americans, an award-winning study of Colorado's Hispanic residents, aired on Channel 4 in 1964. Palmer wrote and reported the hourlong documentary.
However, it was his anchor work on the two stations that made Palmer a household name in Denver.
Born in Denver on March 28, 1931, and raised in Lafayette, Palmer attended the University of Colorado's journalism school.
After serving in the Navy, he signed on in 1956 as a reporter on KOA Radio, which, like KOA-Channel 4, was owned by Metropolitan Broadcasting. Moving to the TV side as a reporter, Palmer became anchor of the station's 10 p.m. newscast in 1963.
When his contract expired in 1968, the anchor signed on at KMGH (now Denver's 7), teaming with weatherman Warren Chandler and sportscaster Starr Yelland to produce the area's top-rated 10 p.m. news for seven years.
McGraw-Hill Broadcasting, which bought the station from Time Inc. in 1974, soon began making major personnel changes - a scenario similar to what Palmer had witnessed at Channel 4.
In 1981 Roger Ogden left his job as news director at Channel 9 to run Channel 4 and quickly brought Palmer back to his original TV home, where he remained until his retirement.
"Bob was the foundation block for our growth at Channel 4 in the '80s," said Ogden, now retired from Gannett Broadcasting. "He was a great communicator with a style that was both authoritative and friendly. And he was one of the best news writers I've ever encountered."
Palmer often noted that his success was partially due to the fact that he was "a local guy."
"I knew the territory," he said. "No one had to tell me that the town and county of Saguache was pronounced 'Sawatch' not 'Su-go-chee.' "
An active member and former president of the Denver Press Club, Palmer was among the first four inductees in the club's Hall of Fame.
Palmer and his late wife, Gloria, were married in 1951. She died Aug. 18, 2007, a year and a day before her husband.
Survivors include a son, Roy, of Denver; and two daughters, Cheryl Palmer, of Denver, and Rene Palmer-Jones, of Anthem, Ariz.
Services will be private. A celebration of Palmer's life will be held at a future date.
Contact Dusty Saunders at tvtime@comcast.net
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August 20, 2008
11:41 a.m.
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violinga1 writes:
Aww, how sad, he will be missed. I always enjoyed watching him when he was on tv.
August 20, 2008
11:45 a.m.
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reddog writes:
I remember Bob from my childhood and into adulthood. Sad to hear the news, God bless you Bob
August 20, 2008
11:55 a.m.
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Keith43 writes:
The least the Rocky Mountain News could have done, was to have a picture of Bob Palmer with the article.
August 20, 2008
11:55 a.m.
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Squatch writes:
RIP Bob. We have lost a Colorado Icon.
August 20, 2008
12:09 p.m.
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schuhzoo writes:
I'm so sorry to hear of Bob's passing. I was privileged to be one of only 12 students in a class he taught at CU's School of Journalism in 1977. (The school only had 12 typewriters.) I learned more about journalism in that one class than all the rest combined. He gave each student an identical stack of AP wire copy from which we had to prepare a 10 minute newscast. He did the assignment along with us, which I thought was impressive. Then we took turns reading our newscasts out loud. Many times he would say that a student came up with a better angle on a story than he did. He also took us to the station to watch a live broadcast, to the State Capital to watch the legislature in session, and we went out with one of the news crews. It was so exciting for all of us budding news reporters. The world had lost a great man; a true hero.
August 20, 2008
12:11 p.m.
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Willy writes:
In my 40 years in Colorado Mr. Palmer was head and shoulders above any other newscaster in the market. RIP.
August 20, 2008
12:19 p.m.
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T1anda writes:
My sympathy to Bob's family...One wonderful journalist!! Grew up watching him!!
August 20, 2008
12:20 p.m.
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Nudnik writes:
Bob was a true gentleman, and the consummate broadcast news professional.
August 20, 2008
12:42 p.m.
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MileHighPatriot writes:
Def remember him reporting as I was a child.
August 20, 2008
12:49 p.m.
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missmilehi writes:
Mr. Palmer was like a member of the family and will be missed :-)
August 20, 2008
12:49 p.m.
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Scott writes:
God bless you Bob. He was a true journalist.
Scott
August 20, 2008
1:40 p.m.
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RDenver writes:
Just a real nice guy. Grew up watching him in the 60's and 70's.
August 20, 2008
2 p.m.
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JustSayin writes:
Ah, a shame he wasn't blessed with a longer retirement and a longer and healthy old age. Beannacht Dé leat, Mr. Palmer!
August 20, 2008
2:22 p.m.
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SteveC writes:
Did he really sign off in 1997? Wow, I had no idea it had been that long. Classy professional guy. He will be missed.
August 20, 2008
2:29 p.m.
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WestminsterJ writes:
Memory eternal, Mr. Palmer.
August 20, 2008
2:31 p.m.
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Scott writes:
Not only did Bob sign off in 1997, but his sign off included his most memorable story. It was about catching an Air Force Academy graduate's hat. Darn good story Bob. I started missing you the day after you signed off.
Scott
August 20, 2008
4:27 p.m.
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LiverDude writes:
We've lost a good man here. Watched him on TV since I was a kid. Mr. Palmer you made your mark. Godspeed. Ed & Family
August 20, 2008
6:21 p.m.
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redwhiteandBLUE writes:
So, so sorry to hear this he had been a familiar face and voice in our home through the years. My condolences go out to all his family members. Rest in peace Bob Palmer you will always be remembered!
August 20, 2008
6:33 p.m.
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cleekmaker00 writes:
Say a prayer, have a little moment of silence... churn up the good memories of an outstanding reporter, a fantastic anchor, and one of the most respected newsmen in Colorado History. Bob Palmer, you will be missed.
I remember the movie Vanishing Point... he played (of all things) a reporter for KLZ TV in Denver!
August 20, 2008
6:40 p.m.
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wow writes:
It's hard to believe that he's been off air for so many years...seems like yesterday.
I remember when I was a tiny, little kid watching him, he looked so much like my Grandpa, I thought Gramps was sneaking out at night to be on TV. My folks still laugh about that.
I have missed that *genuine* quality about him. The news hasn't been the same since he retired.
No one will ever fill his shoes.
Rest well Bob.
August 20, 2008
7:54 p.m.
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4shortofa100 writes:
It is hard to believe. It seems like last week that we were tuning in Channel 4 with Bob Palmer.
RIP to a true pro.
August 20, 2008
8:29 p.m.
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Burbmom writes:
Bob was a true reporter. He reported the facts and did not inject his opinion like the reporters do today.
I wish these non-partial newscasters were on TV today.
An Era gone by. Thanks for the memories Bob Palmer rest in peace.
August 20, 2008
9:37 p.m.
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farsidefan writes:
First Starr Yelland and now Bob. What terrific reporters and gentlemen. Okay, trip down memory lane. Who remembers Weatherman Bowman and his drawings ?
Good night and God Bless all of you.
August 20, 2008
11:06 p.m.
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Hazardous_T writes:
Bob was our own Walter Cronkite, the most trusted man in Denver. Godspeed friend.
August 21, 2008
1:17 a.m.
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open_minded writes:
I was saddened by Bob's passing. I grew up watching him on a black and white TV, with no remote and a big choice of 4 channels. I always felt safe and secure when I listened to his newscast. His calm demeanor and pleasant voice was always nice to hear. I kinda had a crush on him and I wanted to marry a man like Bob - and I did. Bob will always be #1.
August 21, 2008
3:09 a.m.
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Domino writes:
Mr. Palmer spoke to my high school Journalism class in 1971. He said he was the number two student in CU journalism. KOA offered a job to number one and they refused. That was how Bob Palmer got his first job.
Funny, I remember how Pueblo was pronounced back when. It was Pee-eblo. They pronounced the J in La Junta. And of course, Westminster was Westminister. So, Mr. Palmer was not a regular Coloradan. He was edjeecated!
August 21, 2008
10:25 a.m.
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jdm8794 writes:
I also grew up listening to Bob Palmer, Star Yelland and Carl Akers. I remember laying in bed listening to their voices come up the stairs. it was very comforting. Rest in Peace Mr Palmer. thanks for being a stand up reporter and a great man -I just wish there were more like you out there.
Wow-I feel like I just lost my dad again.
August 21, 2008
12:04 p.m.
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El_Mariachi writes:
Rest in peace Bob!!!...You were the best!!!
That picture of him with Madeline McFadden...I can only imagine what went through Bob's mind when Madeline turned to Larry Green and asked...
"So Larry...What about those 6 inches you promised last night?"