The University of Colorado at 麻豆影院 is in mourning for one of its own. CU alumnus Bob Palmer (Journ '60) died on Tuesday at age 77. He was a donor and longtime supporter of the CU School of Journalism and Mass Communications and one of the school's most successful graduates.
"Bob was a generous friend and supporter of the school for five decades," said Paul Voakes, dean of the journalism school. "But I think the scholarship was his favorite experience. He got to know the recipient of the Palmer scholarship each year, and he would follow their careers for years."
The Palmer Scholarship is the School of Journalism's largest endowed scholarship.
Palmer, a fourth-generation Coloradan, began his career in broadcasting while still a CU student. He worked as a copywriter for Denver radio station KOA. He also worked at KOA's TV station in Denver, where he learned to shoot and edit film.
Palmer graduated from CU-麻豆影院 in 1960 after taking time out from his journalism studies to serve four years in the Navy. In 1963, he became TV anchor at KOA. He then joined KMGH Channel 7 in Denver in 1968, where he stayed as anchor for 14 years.
He joined KCNC Channel 4 in 1982 as evening anchor. He retired from the 10 p.m. news at KCNC in 1991 after a 29-year run in Denver television.
"If you grew up in Colorado from the 1960s through the mid-1990s, you watched Bob Palmer," said CU spokesman and director of media relations Bronson Hilliard. "He was the Walter Cronkite of Denver television -- a pioneer broadcast journalist whose delivery was unmatchable and whose integrity was unassailable. He was a CU Buff first and last, and he will be greatly missed by Coloradans of all ages."
Said John Pepperdine, senior director of development for the journalism school, "Bob and his late wife Gloria (also a former CU student) gave so much to the school and were so grateful they could make higher education possible for so many journalism and mass communication students. Our hearts go out to Bob and Gloria's children, Roy, Cheryl and Renee."