Bob Hall

June 2, 1930 - October 21, 2003

Bob Hall started his broadcast career at CJAV Port Alberni in 1949. He moved to CHWK Chilliwack as assistant news director and on-air announcer in 1951. In 1952 he became news and sports director of CKOV Kelowna, where he stayed until 1965. That year, he made successful applications for radio licenses in Salmon Arm and Revelstoke. In 1970, as Four Seasons Radio Ltd. he applied for the second AM license in Kelowna and obtained approval for CKIQ. In the mid 1980s Four Seasons Radio purchased CJAT Trail and CKKC Nelson/Creston.

Bob Hall, a broadcaster who brought radio/cable communications to parts of the British Columbia interior died Tuesday morning at his home of a heart attack. He was 73. Hall was known as the co-founder of the ‘Big R’ Radio Network, based in Salmon Arm, with stations in Revelstoke and Golden. After selling his radio interests, he launched Sun Country Cablevision in Salmon Arm in 1984. Hall was the president of the B.C. Association of Broadcasters in 1973 and was a member of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters' half-century club. He was also well known out west as a top notch basketball official, winning several refereeing awards. He is survived by his wife Jeanne, three sons and grandchildren.

Robert J. "Bob" Hall known to those who were close to him as 'Big Guy' was originally from Saskatchewan, born in Weyburn in 1930. He moved to B.C. as a child and spent the rest of his life building an incredible list of accomplishments. The greatest of all of these was the life he built with Jeanne Robinson, who became his wife in 1952. Family was always a priority for "Big Guy", and as active as he was in business and with the community, his family always came first. The list of his other accomplishments range from the creation and ownership of six B.C. radio stations, plus Sun Country Cablevision in Salmon Arm. He was a proud member of the B.C. Association of Broadcasters including service as their president. But we cannot forget his passion for basketball. His string of accomplishments in this sport included National championships as a basketball coach, and as a referee who was recognized with provincial and national awards for his service to the sport, including the Ted Earley award, the highest national award bestowed on a Canadian official. He was also a proud supporter of the community of Salmon Arm with participation as an organizer and active as a fundraiser with numerous charitable organizations.

Bob’s history of basketball involvement in BC

Basketball Biography: R.J. (Bob) Hall – 2005 – Inducted in the BC Basketball Hall of Fame

Throughout B.C. Bob was known as “Mr. Basketball” Bob’s introduction to Basketball was at Penticton High School in the late 1940’s.

His officiating career began in 1949 in Port Alberni and through the ensuing years can be truly described as a “Builder” in the basketball fraternity. In his chosen career, as a sports broadcaster, he was called “The Voice of Basketball” with his on air play-by-play of the Alberni Athletics. He began his officiating career that same year. 1952 he moved to Chilliwack where he organized the Chilliwack chapter of Basketball Officials. He became their first educator and traveled through the Fraser Valley conducting officiating clinics.

1953 he moved to Kelowna and again took it upon himself to organize the Kelowna Basketball Officials Association. The same year he called a meeting of all Basketball officials between Penticton and Kamloops and created the Interior Referees Association. He became their first educator. Over the years he served as President, Director, Interpreter, and Supervisor of Officials.

For the past 30 years he has served as Supervisor and Educator of the Salmon Arm Association where he conducted weekly learning sessions in his home. 1954 he became a member of the “Willox Group” working towards the formation of a Provincial Basketball Association. Bob was chosen as one of five recognized clinicians in B.C. under the guidance of Hall of Famer Wink Willox.

In 1956-57 he organized the KELOWNA TEDDY BEARS, a Senior Women’s Basketball team ,while he was a sports play-by-play broadcaster at CKOV.

While the Kelowna team was a dominant force in B.C. Women’s Basketball their exploits were over-shadowed by the famous Richmond Merchants Eilers who played in the Vancouver Senior “A” Division, while the Teddies were in the Senior “B” division.

Applications to play in the Vancouver Senior A league were turned down because of the distance. Despite the fact the Kelowna team expressed a willingness to meet league commitments by travelling to Vancouver on weekends, the Vancouver-based teams were not willing to reciprocate. Despite this the Kelowna women traveled the Hope-Princeton Highway a number of times to play exhibition games against Vancouver teams proving quite conclusively that they could play against the best. In three exhibition meetings with the Richmond Merchants Eilers in the 1961/62 season the Teddy Bears won two of the contests, including the renowned UBC Thunderette Tournament. (The Eilers were holders of 10 straight Sr. “A” B.C. titles, and 10 of 12 Canadian Canadian Titles.)

•1956-57: In their first season together the Teddies won the Okanagan and Interior Championship only to lose the Provincial final to Vancouver Sunsets.

•For the next Four years, the Teddy Bears set a Provincial record winning the B.C. Crown four straight years

•In addition they won Two Canadian Senior Championships as well.

•1961-62 the team moved into the Senior A Division. While the team made it to the Provincial final they lost the title to the Richmond Merchants.

•1962-63 the team won the Provincial Senior A Championship and advanced to the Canadian Final, losing to Saskatoon Aces in the final game.

•1963-64 A re-building year, the team won the Senior B Provincial Crown.

•It was the last year for the Kelowna Teddy Bears who decided to disband the team when Coach and Mentor Bob Hall moved to Salmon Arm to start his own business.

In 8 seasons together the Kelowna Teddy Bears captured Six B.C. CHAMPIONSHIPS, and two CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS.

The Teddy Bear motto chanted before each game: “Winners never quit, Quitters never win”

•His coaching career did not end. When he came to Salmon Arm he coached the Salmon Arm Gold’s High School Basketball, team in the 60’s and 70’s.

1960-95 As Interior educator he traveled throughout the B.C. Interior staging clinics and workshops for Officials, Players, and Coaches. During this time he also carried a full officiating assignment including Provincial Championship games in the Senior Men’s, Sr. Women’s Division and High School levels.

1967 he was elected to the Directorate of the B.C. Amateur Basketball Association.

1969 he was elected a Director on the newly formed Board of the B.C. Basketball Officials Association.

1970 Bob attained International Status by obtaining his FIBA card and in 1972 was chosen to represent Canada at the U.S. Olympic selection camp and tournament in Colorado Springs.

1980 he was elected President of the troubled B.C.B.O.A. and was also a sitting member on the board of the Canadian Association of Basketball Officials. (CABO)

1981 he created the B.C.B.O.A. Officials Handbook chronicling the Association’s relations with Basketball B.C. and CABO as well as other pertinent information including a B.C.B.O.A. constitution.

1982 With the illness of ‘Wink’ Willox, Bob assumed the editorship of the Provincial Newsletter “The Full Court Press, which he wrote, edited and published after the death of Willox. As B.C. President he ultimately appointed this task to the Provincial Interpreter.

1985 he was elected Vice-President of CABO. Bob gave up the presidency of the B.C.B.O.A. but remained a director. (In 1992 he stepped down after 23 years on the B.C. Board)

1989 he was elected president of CABO, the National governing body for Officials across Canada, a post he held for four years. During his term as President Bob’s management style took CABO in an entirely new direction, abandoning the previous elitism aspect and moving to a grass roots organization.

BC Radio History