Stephen Michael Neumann

Stephen Michael Neumann of Norman, son of the late Howard and Sue Neumann, joined them in Heaven on Christmas morning, 2004, in the home of his sister, surrounded by his family who loved him dearly. Steve was born in Oklahoma City, on November 9, 1950, and grew up in the Woodlawn Park community. A 1969 graduate of Putnam City High School, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Communication from Southern Nazarene University in 1973, While a senior in college, he began working at Oklahoma City's WKY TV (now KFOR) as a reporter, noting recently that his first big story was about a giant radish. He continued his work in television news at Channel 4 for fifteen years, several as Special Projects Director. In this capacity, he received many awards for excellence in journalism, including recognition for documentary writing and investigative reporting, and the Western Heritage Wrangler Award from the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. He produced and hosted public affairs programs, as well as the acclaimed weekly 'Saturday Magazine.' Steve also served as adjunct professor of speech and media for OU, OSU, and SNU. Steve was interested in OU athletics from an early age and, as a college student, began filming for the OU football coach's TV show, produced and hosted by his father, Howard Neumann. He later hosted and produced both the OU football and basketball coaches' shows through his company, Steve Neumann Productions, which also produced 'Discover Oklahoma' for the Oklahoma Tourism Commission. While maintaining his freelance business, Steve served as Director of Athletic Broadcasting at OU for several years, under both Steve Owens and Joe Castiglione. At the time of his death, he worked for Daktronics, Inc., the world leader in sports scoreboards, headquartered in Brookings, SD. Steve was soon to open a branch office for the company in Philadelphia. Steve was preceded in death by his parents, and by grandparents, Ross and Mildred Biggers and Isaac and Flora Neumann. He leaves his sister and brother in law, Dr. William and Susan Reville, niece Sarah and nephew Evan; aunt Lucy Biggers; cousins, Jerry, Mickey, Strippy, and Buddy Biggers; cousins Caroline Mullins, Buddy Mullins, and Rene Seybold; cousin Bill Schwartz, and good friends, including Ronald Turner and Mike Simmons. Steve Neumann was a talented, hard working, loving son, brother, and uncle. We will miss him, and we will always love him. It was worth waiting for you, Stephen. Now, you can wait for us. Memorials may be made to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 NE 13 St., Oklahoma City, OK 73104. The service will be at 12 noon, Wednesday, Dec. 29, at All Souls Episcopal Church, NW 63rd and Penn, with a reception following in the church Parish Hall. Interment will in Bethany Cemetery. MERCER-ADAMS