After a radio career spanning four decades, Bob Benson died on Sunday, January 29. He was 74.
Benson got his start as a high school student in Illinois on WIZZ. He was later a staff member at WIRE in Indianapolis, where he attended Butler University. He then went on to KOIL in Omaha to become the National News Director for Star Stations and was assigned to cover the war in Vietnam. In 1966, he joined ABC as News Director of WLS in Chicago, and then joined ABC station KGO in San Francisco.
In 1974 Benson left ABC to launch AP Radio in Washington. He returned to ABC in New York as Vice President of ABC News, where he had a long and successful career in charge of news and sports for the radio networks.
Benson is survived by his wife of 45 years, Mary Ann, as well as two sons, William and Robert, and four grandchildren, Andrew, Sarah, Anna, and Peter.
A memorial service will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Punta Gorda on Saturday, February 4 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial remembrances can be made to St. Vincent dePaul Society, 25200 Airport Road, Punta Gorda, Florida 33950. Friends may visit online at www.robersonfh.com to extend condolences to the family.
