Over the weekend I was taken back to my childhood with the news of Cowboy Bob’s passing. That of course was his stage name, but his real name was Bob Glaze. Hoosiers who lived here in the 70s and 80s remember watching Cowboy Bob on WTTV Channel 4. My brother and I loved watching ‘Cowboy Bob’s Corral’. Bob hosted this program surrounded by cartoons and short features. He became a celebrity along with fellow characters Janie and the late Sammy Terry. One of my favorite memories was when my parents took me and my brother to meet Cowboy Bob at a special appearance at the Markland Mall in Kokomo back in 1980. You would have thought The Beatles were going be there! The place was packed as we patiently waited in line to get his autograph. Bob couldn’t have been nicer, taking time to visit briefly with each of his fans.

Over the weekend, my wife and I were in line getting a burger. Jenni’s a few years younger than I am, so I asked her if she knew he was. She had heard the name and thought she had watched his show a time or two. As we talked, a customer behind us overheard the conversation and joined in with her own memories of meeting Bob once. I always find it interesting how Hoosiers are connected by certain things that they in common. Sharing those memories as we stood in line was pretty cool. Thanks Bob, for those great childhood memories, and for being a positive influence in so many Hoosier homes via the TV. More on Cowboy Bob’s passing here, from our news partners at CBS4:

Local TV legend ‘Cowboy Bob’ dies after suffering a suspected heart attack