Indiana Broadcast History Archive

Bob Forbes started broadcasting at WBOW-AM, Terre Haute, in 1947 while still in college at Indiana State Teachers College. 

In 1948, Bob joined WTHI-AM when it first went on-the-air.  WTHI-TV launched served in 1954, as just the tenth Hoosier television station.  Bob Forbes was WTHI-TV’s first sports anchor and the only sports anchor at the television station until he retired in 1985. Bob was the longtime voice of the Indiana State Sycamores, including the Larry Bird-led NCAA runner-up basketball team in 1979. 

Bob Forbes was inducted into the Indiana State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984 for his broadcasting career and was also inducted into the Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association Hall of Fame in 2006. 

Bob Forbes died in January 2005 and was inducted posthumously to the Indiana Broadcasters Hall of Fame . 

Indiana Broadcast Pioneers

Related Items

Title Station Date Aired Description
WTHI-TV 28th Birthday
Mike Conway Collection
1982-07-22

WTHI-TV
Anchor: David Goodnow

Short piece on 28th anniversary that day of the launch of WTHI-TV. Still pictures from the early years, including photos of Harry Frey, Wayne Jenkins,...

(Read More)

Title
WTHI-TV 28th Birthday
Collection
Mike Conway Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1982-07-22
Description

WTHI-TV
Anchor: David Goodnow

Short piece on 28th anniversary that day of the launch of WTHI-TV. Still pictures from the early years, including photos of Harry Frey, Wayne Jenkins,...

(Read More)

Golf Caddy
Mike Conway Collection
1981-07-22

*Bad video and audio throughout story
Bob Forbes, Sports anchor
Indiana Amateur Women's Golf Tournament being held at Country Club of Terre Haute. Story is on the role of the caddy in...

(Read More)

Title
Golf Caddy
Collection
Mike Conway Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1981-07-22
Description

*Bad video and audio throughout story
Bob Forbes, Sports anchor
Indiana Amateur Women's Golf Tournament being held at Country Club of Terre Haute. Story is on the role of the caddy in...

(Read More)

News Update with Ruthanne Gordon
Ken Owen Collection
1979-06-24

Seen in Terre Haute during the station's 25th anniversary special. Brent Zhorne has weather and Bob Forbes has sports. (Ken Owen)

Title
News Update with Ruthanne Gordon
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1979-06-24
Description

Seen in Terre Haute during the station's 25th anniversary special. Brent Zhorne has weather and Bob Forbes has sports. (Ken Owen)

The Way We Were
Ken Owen Collection
1979

The Terre Haute station, which signed on in June 1954, looks back over 25 years of programming. Howard Caldwell, Harry Frey, Ruthanne Gordon, Brent Zhorne, Bob Forbes, George Martin, Don Dominix...

(Read More)

Title
The Way We Were
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1979
Description

The Terre Haute station, which signed on in June 1954, looks back over 25 years of programming. Howard Caldwell, Harry Frey, Ruthanne Gordon, Brent Zhorne, Bob Forbes, George Martin, Don Dominix...

(Read More)

Stan Musial Interviewed by Bob Forbes on Day of His Final Game
Ken Owen Collection
1963

From Terre Haute - aired on the station's 25th anniversary special in June 1979

Title
Stan Musial Interviewed by Bob Forbes on Day of His Final Game
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1963
Description

From Terre Haute - aired on the station's 25th anniversary special in June 1979

Bob Forbes' Hall of Fame Video Bio
Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Collection
2020

Video bio of Bob Forbes, inducted to Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame in 2020;

Bob Forbes started broadcasting WBOW-AM in in 1947 in Terre Haute, Indiana, while still in college at...

(Read More)

Title
Bob Forbes' Hall of Fame Video Bio
Collection
Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Collection
Stations
Date Aired
2020
Description

Video bio of Bob Forbes, inducted to Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame in 2020;

Bob Forbes started broadcasting WBOW-AM in in 1947 in Terre Haute, Indiana, while still in college at...

(Read More)

WTHI-TV 25th Annivesary: The Way We Were
Howard Caldwell Collection
1979

This video is the 25th anniversary special for WTHI. Howard Caldwell and George Martin take audiences through the most important and memorable news stories, events, and changes in Terre Haute over...

(Read More)

Title
WTHI-TV 25th Annivesary: The Way We Were
Collection
Howard Caldwell Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1979
Description

This video is the 25th anniversary special for WTHI. Howard Caldwell and George Martin take audiences through the most important and memorable news stories, events, and changes in Terre Haute over...

(Read More)