EMBED >More News Videos Longtime Eyewitness Sports Director Bob Allen lost his battle with cancer at age 70

EMBED >More News Videos Sports icons and friends look back at the life and influence of Bob Allen

EMBED >More News Videos Bob Allen as Eyewitness News Sports Director in an on-air promotional spot that aired around 1980

EMBED >More News Videos Bob Allen was an enthusiastic supporter of the Sunshine Kids Foundation which helps children suffering from cancer

EMBED >More News Videos Bob Allen was live in the locker room in 2005 when the Astros made it to the World Series

EMBED >More News Videos A sports star looks back at some of his most memorable moments with Bob Allen

EMBED >More News Videos Shelby Robin was diagnosed with cancer and had a leg amputated, but that didn't stop her from cheerleading

EMBED >More News Videos Bob Allen first interviewed Shelby Robin when she was 12-years-old and lost a leg to cancer. He interviewed her again in 2011 and discovered she was working at MD Anderson

EMBED >More News Videos Bob Allen covered some of the best athletes in the world, including a five-year-old diver

EMBED >More News Videos Bob Allen has a candid interview with Bum Phillips.

EMBED >More News Videos Bob Allen asks viewers to get out and vote in 1976 election.

EMBED >More News Videos Bob Allen reports on the Arm Wrestling Championships at Astro World

EMBED >More News Videos Bob Allen's first report on Live at 5 focused on Nazi photographers at the Olympics

EMBED >More News Videos Bob Allen reports on the end of the Houston Aeros in 1978

EMBED >More News Videos Bob Allen reports on the Houston Women's Hockey League

EMBED >More News Videos Bob Allen's 1978 6pm sports report

EMBED >More News Videos Racing legend AJ Foyt talks to eyewitness news reporter Ted Ober about the passing of Bob Allen

EMBED >More News Videos David Nuno caught up with baseball great and Houstonian Roger Clemens to talk about Bob Allen

We're saddened by the passing of our longtime friend and colleague Bob Allen, ending his battle with cancer. He was 70 years old.Bob spent 38 years as part of our family at Eyewitness News, ending his career with ABC13 as our Sports Director in January 2013. Bob spent the remainder of his television career with KHOU.Bob was born and raised in Houston, where as a child he visited the abc13 studios. He started his career in radio, then graduated to the TV screen in 1974, first as the weekend sports anchor. The next year, he became Eyewitness News Sports Director.From the glory days of the Luv Ya Blue Houston Oilers-Earl Campbell era, to some low points when Bum Phillips was sacked, Bob was there. To the Astros and Nolan Ryan, the games, the highlights; and he was there as the Rockets became world champions -- twice.Off the court and playing fields, he interviewed heavyweight champions like Muhammad Ali, legendary coaches like Darryl Royal and Indy 500 winners like A.J. Foyt. Bob was about all of that. But he also had a softer side.Bob was devoted to the Special Olympics and the Sunshine Kids. Each winter, he would take time off and take a photographer along on their annual ski trip for young cancer patients. Bob loved sports, but he loved kids who are confronting challenges even more.Bob began the fight of his life in the summer of 2015, when he announced had a form of T-cell lymphoma.Bob's family issued the following statement: "On behalf of Bob Allen's family, we are so incredibly touched by the love and support shown to us during this difficult time. My dad valued his place in the Houston community, and the encouragement he received from you over the last two years gave him more strength and comfort than you will ever know.We are in the process of planning a private Memorial Service for Bob's family, friends, colleagues and loved ones."Bob is survived by his daughter and son-in-law Genna and Brent Fincher, his grandchildren Mason and Hayden Fincher, his brother and sister-in-law Ken and Debbie Egalnick, niece Kristin Egalnick, nephew Kenny Egalnick and great nephew- Kane Hutchison.