BOB ROBERTSON, the legendary Voice of Cougar Football for generations of WSU fans, has signed off the crimson airwaves for the last time. The 89-year-old icon, citing old age and the rigors of travel, announced moments ago via press release that he is retiring immediately.

“It is a matter of getting old is what it is,” Robertson said. “Everything seems to move a lot faster around me, I move more slowly. I hope to see you soon, I’m not going to go away. I like Washington State people and the school itself too much to do that. But I am going to be on the retired list, starting immediately.

“I’ve been with the Cougars a lot of years, more than half a century, calling basketball, football for the fans around the Northwest and elsewhere around the country and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it,” Robertson said. “It’s been great to be with you Cougars at your meetings and get-togethers, and I hope we can do it again and I’m sure we will.”

A riveting highlight tape of great Bob calls ...

He started calling Cougar football games in 1964 and except for a stint from 1969-71 with the Huskies, he's been the unifying voice of Washington State fans ever since. This 2018 campaign was his 52nd season with the Cougars. For all but the last seven of those 52 years he was the play-by-play man, booming updates about “trips right” and “gun metal gray helmets” to an adoring audience across the region.

"Hearing him call out 'Touchdown, Washington State!' is a spine-tingling anthem of Palouse pride,” former broadcast partner Paul Sorenson told C.F.C. in a 2004 story. “He's been with us through thick and thin, bad bounces and Rose Bowl glory. His spirit, integrity and loyalty make him a true Cougar for the ages.”

Related story: Painting a picture with Bob Robertson

Robertson missed the Cougars' last game, in Corvallis, so let the record show that one of the most beloved figures in WSU sports history offered up his signature “Always be a good sport, be a good sport all ways,” for the final time on Sept. 29 in the Cougars’ nail biting win over Utah in Pullman. If the math is right, his tenure covered 589 Cougar football games, including 568 consecutive regular-season contests and 54 Apple Cups.

WSU plans to honor Robertson at a football game in November. “When you think of the icons of Washington State athletics, Bob Robertson certainly comes to mind,” said WSU athletic director Pat Chun. “Bob has painted the picture for many generations of Cougar fans and we thank him for what he has meant to Washington State athletics.”

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

“What a pleasure to work with him. What people don’t know is how insanely funny Bob is. He is a low-key-laugh-a-minute. And such a gentleman in every sense.” — Shawn McWashington, who worked as a color analyst alongside Robertson from 2012-13

"Bob is a wonderful mentor. He taught me how to work on air in a professional manner. He had a hall of fame career but as good as we was, he is an even better person -- just a great friend and father figure who I love. Thank you Bob for everything you did for Cougar Nation.” — Paul Sorensen, Robertson’s color analyst from 1985-1998

"Working with Bob was not only a great experience, it gave me a chance to watch a true professional work at his craft. No one I've ever heard painted a better picture. A true legend." -- Jim Walden, Robertson's color analyst for 14 seasons.

THE STORY BEHIND HIS SIGNATURE LINE

Robertson told Cougfan.com in a 2015 interview that he struck upon "Always be a good sport, be a good sport all ways," at the dawn of his broadcasting career in Bellingham in the late 1940s . Every broadcaster of the era had a clever opening or closing line, so he had to develop one himself, he said. “I hit on the play on words of always and all ways, tried it and it seemed to fit alright. No one rode in on a network horse to take it away so I stuck with it.”

Robertson said his time calling Notre Dame football games in the 1950s helped him refine his succinct yet highly descriptive play-by-play style. "I became very conscious of describing the game so [the listener] could see it," Robertson told CF.C in 2004. "In radio, talking to an audience which is sightless, the rule of thumb is to make a picture so the sightless can see what is going on.”

THE MOST MEMORABLE GAME

When asked by CF.C in 2009 to pick the most memorable game of his Cougar career, Robertson hesitated before going with the 1998 Rose Bowl against Michigan. The Cougars lost in dramatic fashion, but Roberston said the sight of the WSU faithful visually outnumbering Wolverines fans was something to behold.

"It was the first one for the Cougars in the modern era of football. Mighty Michigan was battling to be ranked No. 1 in the country,” Robertson said. “Being there was the main thing. Looking out at that bowl (stadium) on New Year's Day, two-thirds or three-quarters of the stadium was in crimson. Whoever would have thought that little Washington State would have three-quarters of the stadium in crimson?”

In the same 2009 interview, Robertson was asked to name the best player during his tenure. He couldn’t single out just one but noted Rueben Mayes, Drew Bledsoe, Ryan Leaf, Mark Rypien, Jack Thompson, Jason Gesser, Mike Utley, Scott Sanderson and Will Derting, among others.

Bob Robertson, circa 1964, with his first color analyst on Cougar broadcasts, KHQ's Bob Briley.

NOTABLE BOB ROB NOTES:

He didn’t just call Cougar football games. He spent 23 years broadcasting WSU men's basketball; called Pacific Coast League baseball games for three decades (the Tacoma Rainiers named their broadcast booth in his honor this past summer); and variously was the voice of professional soccer in Seattle, Tacoma and Portland in the 1980s as well Spokane Indians baseball games and Pacific Lutheran University basketball games.

Bob was married to his wife, Joanne, for 59 years before she passed away in 2011. He has four children: Hugh, Janna, John and Rebecca, and seven grandchildren.

He served as television sports anchor in the Seattle market for 25 years, including time with KSTW and KOMO.

Robertson was born in Fullerton, Calif., during spring training of the Seattle Indians of the Pacific Coast League — his father was a player for the Seattle club. After graduating from Blaine High School, he attended Western Washington University, where he launched his broadcasting career.

Bob Rob in the mid 1970s.

THE HONORS

The radio booth in Martin Stadium was christened the “Bob Robertson Broadcast Suite” in 2009.

Named Washington Sportscaster of the Year 12 times

Inducted into the WSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001, the Inland Empire Hall of Fame in 2002 and the State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame in 2007

First broadcaster west of the Mississippi to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004

Received Chris Schenkel National Football Foundation lifetime achievement award in 2004

Named WSU’s Dad of the Year for 1978-79.

Today we had the great honor of unveiling the "Bob Robertson Broadcast Booth" here at Cheney Stadium.



For all he's done for this franchise and for sports across this region: Thank you, Bob. pic.twitter.com/Q54FmVneRD — Tacoma Rainiers (@RainiersLand) August 26, 2018



