Bob Hix
Bob Hix grew up in Albuquerque, NM and graduated from the University of New Mexico. He was drafted into the Army in 1941, later graduated from Officers Candidate School and served for five years as a special staff officer with the Third Armored “Spearhead” Division during World War 11. He attained the rank of Captain.
In 1947, Hix became involved in broadcast management in Wichita, KS before moving to Denver in 1953. He was Sales Manager for three years and then was named General Manager of KOA Radio. In 1959 he became General Manager of KHOW Radio.
In 1960 he opened the Bob Hix Company, a sales and management company that represented radio and television stations throughout the Rocky Mountain West. He was President of the firm for 28 years.
Hix was an active member of Augustana Lutheran Church and a Life Member of Lions International where he served as a Director, Trustee and President of the Lions Club of Denver Foundation. He was honored as Lion of the Year in 1987-88. After retirement he assisted with marketing and fundraising efforts for the Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Institute. He also served as President of the National Association of Credit Management, Secretary of the Colorado Broadcasters Association, Denver Chamber of Commerce Ways & Means Committee, Denver Sales Executives Club Vice President, and Denver Better Business Bureau Board of Directors. Other organizations included The Denver Advertising Federation, Broadcast Professionals of Colorado and Metro Denver Dinosaurs.
Bob Hix passed away on July 22, 2008 after a short illness.
Fred Hobbs
Fred Rodgers Hobbs, broadcaster, public relations executive and educator, was born April 21, 1932 in Denver. He graduated from the University of Colorado school of Journalism and Mass Communications with a B.A. degree in 1954.
Hobbs began his broadcasting career as a teenage student disc jockey on KFEL-FM in Denver (the first FM radio station in the city) in 1948. While attending the University of Colorado, from 1951 to 1954, he worked at KBOL-AM in Boulder.
From 1954-1956, Hobbs served in the US Army His radio background led to his joining American Forces Network’s station in Berlin, Germany as a disc jockey and feature reporter.
In 1957, he returned to KBOL as afternoon host and served as Promotion Manager then Program Director. In 1960, KDEN radio in Denver hired him as an on-air personality and soon he became News Director. In 1966, Hobbs joined KLZ-AM and TV (now KMGH-TV), and became the State Government reporter and weekend news Anchor.
He entered the Public Relations business in 1972 as the Media Relations Director at the University of Colorado.
From 1977 to 1982, Hobbs was News Director KWGN-TV, Channel 2. He left television to return to PR business as Director of Marketing and Public Affairs, AMC Cancer Research Center from 1982-1985. In 1989, Hobbs went on his own and founded Public Relations Associates, which he headed until semi-retirement in 2000.
From 1988 to 1994 and 1997 to 2001, Hobbs was an Adjunct Professor at the University of Colorado School of Journalism, teaching public relations. Hobbs has stayed active by contributing his broadcast and PR expertise as a member the Radio Historical Association of Colorado, the Lions Club of Denver, the Denver Press Club and as President of both the Colorado Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and the Broadcast Professionals of Colorado.
Roger Ogden
A Colorado native, Roger Ogden’s first television experience came at KBTV-TV (now KUSA) in 1968, working as a reporter, part-time anchor, Assignment Editor and Managing News Director. In 1977 he took a job as news director at WLKY in Louisville, KY – moving back to Denver the following year as News Director at KBTV.
From 1981-95 he was the President and General Manager of KOA-TV (then affiliated with NBC) where he focused so intently on news that he had the call letters changed to KCNC – Colorado’s News Channel. It was during this time that Roger’s commitment to local news and to serving the community began to set the standard in local television: coverage of the Bolder Boulder 10K race, adding morning news, afternoon news, expanding newscasts, telecasts of local high school and college sports.
For two years he was President and GM of NBC Europe in London, returning to Denver and KUSA in 1997 as President and GM of Gannett-owned 9News. From there he moved to Gannett Corporate headquarters as President and CEO of Gannett Broadcast, then added the title Senior Vice President Design, Innovation and Strategy of Gannett Corporation where he oversaw the entire broadcast division for Gannett, which includes KUSA-TV, Channel 9 and KTVD Channel 20 in Denver. As Senior Vice President of Gannett Corporation, he was instrumental in planning the growth and future of Gannett.
His belief in hard competition and good sportsmanship set the tone for the market. His focus on innovation and technology has resulted in KUSA being one of three stations in the country broadcasting local news in HDTV. His legacy of leadership includes innovative new community-oriented programs, dedication to news, and team building. In addition, he is one of the founding GMs of the NATAS Heartland Chapter, and a strong supporter of the Colorado Broadcast Pioneers and the Colorado Broadcasters Association.
Al Perry
Sixty years ago in 1948, Al Perry started in the radio business as an announcer at KDZA-AM in Pueblo. He quickly moved on to KCSJ-AM, and then to Denver at the storied KMYR where he worked with Gene Amole, Ed Koepke, and Dick Schmidt.
While at the University of Denver in 1950, he joined the ROTC and was activated to duty in 1951 as a second Lieutenant. In 1953 Perry came back to an on-camera position at KKTV Colorado Springs. In 1955 he moved back to Denver as a Sales Rep for KLZ-AM, then to KTLN-AM in 1958 as General Sales Manager.
In 1959 he returned to Pueblo to build and manage KTUX-AM and by 1961 had built it into a powerhouse and the station was sold. Then, in 1962 he joined KOA-TV channel 4 as a sales rep and Local Sales manager. He spent 11 years at Channel 4.
Perry then returned to Denver and joined Ed Scott at KLAK-AM as General Manager. In 1973 he joined Bill Armstrong at KOSI-AM & FM as General Manager where he stayed until 1983.
Through the years, Perry had remained in the Army Reserve. In 1974 he was promoted to full Colonel and remained active until retirement in 1981.
After leaving KOSI in 1983, Perry moved into the media broker business and in 1988 formed Satterfield and Perry, a national Radio-TV Broker based in Denver.
Perry has been a member of the Denver Press Club since 1949, and an original member of the Metro Denver Dinosaurs. He has served as President of the CBA, Denver Ad Club and National Media Brokers Association. He was named CBA Broadcaster of the Year in 1979 and Ad Professional of the Year by the Ad Club the same year.