Robert K. “Bob” Smith was born next to the railroad tracks near Hal Greer Boulevard (then 16th Street) in 1938. Early on in his life, he would carry a broomstick around with him, pretending it was a microphone. That was the first of several clues that led to a career in broadcasting. Other hints included selling peanuts at McCrory’s 5&10 store in downtown Huntington. He would stand in a center aisle and yell at the top of his voice; peanut sales were good.
Later, during his first two years at Marshall University, he announced the arrival and departure of buses at the Greyhound Bus Terminal in Huntington. A whirlwind of events surrounded Smith after his graduation from Marshall. Within a period of four months, he was married and drafted into the U.S. Army. His military career ended after serving 27 years. He retired at the rank of lieutenant colonel, receiving several commendations and awards.
After his stint in the Army, Smith found a job as a disc jockey, salesman and program director at WVOW Radio in Logan, West Virginia. Following his four-year radio career, Smith took a giant leap into television and took a pay cut to do it. He began working for WHTN-TV (now WOWK-TV), where his first responsibility was staff announcing and weather forecasting.
After three years, he joined the news department and almost immediately faced the Marshall University football team plane crash that killed 75 people, including his good friend and co-worker Ken Jones, the sports director for Channel 13. Smith was sent to the scene to cover the story — the most important one he would ever cover during his broadcasting career.
He later became news director and then, in 1976 under new ownership, he was named anchor for the 6 and 11 o’clock newscasts. In 1986, Smith moved two blocks down the street to begin his position as co-anchor for the 6 and 11 o’clock newscasts at WSAZ-TV. From Hollywood to Hometown Hero, Smith covered a gamut of newsworthy celebrities and events.
Smith has always had a penchant for community service and helping others, which manifested itself in many different ways. He has always been involved in his church and has held positions including deacon, Sunday school superintendent, worship leader, choir member and food pantry volunteer. He was also a founding board member of Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers, which is now Faith in Action. He volunteered for that organization as well, visiting people with disabilities and running errands for them.
Other opportunities for service came in the form of membership in several service clubs including Rotary, Kiwanis and Lions. He has also been an active member of the Gideons, a Bible distribution ministry.
He is the son of Henry Richard Smith and Bernice Fannin Smith. He was married to Patricia Morgan, who is deceased, and to Billie Borland, who is also deceased. His two children are David Scott Smith and Dr. Sherri Catherine Smith. He has two grandchildren, Morgan Joyner and Nicholas Smith. He has two great-grandchildren, Max and Milo Joyner. He is married to JoAnna Lantz Smith.
