Robert Wendell Tobey

1924 - 2008

Robert Wendell Tobey, born December 20, 1924 in Dallas, TX, died February 24, 2008 in Dallas, TX. He was 83 years old. Tobey moved to Deming, NM and founded radio station KOTS and the Luna County Broadcasting company with Edwin Merriman of Lubbock, TX in 1954.

He got interested in radio when he was 15 years old when he joined the LBJ Broadcasting Company in Austin, Texas. He then went to KNOW Radio in Austin where he broadcast a high school information show weekly. He attended the University of Texas and spent 3 years in the Air Force during World War II. He returned to KNOW after service and then moved to Brownfield, Texas with KFTY Radio before moving to Deming.

Ground on KOTS in Deming was broken on January 3, 1954 and the first official broadcast day was conducted on March 10, 1954. In addition to KOTS, Tobey had ownership in three other stations, KOBE in Las Cruces, KDGO in Durango, CO and KWYK Radio, later know as KNDN AM and KWYK FM in Farmington NM with Merriman and Jim Gober. He sold KOTS and KDEM in December of 1989, thus ending a 36 year radio history in Deming. In the broadcasting world, he was known as "Fabulous Bob", a moniker he bestowed on himself after the sell of KDGO which he affectionately called K-DOG.

Tobey took an active interest in community affairs in and around Deming. He was named the Jaycees Outstanding Young Man in Luna County, NM in1959, President of the Chamber of Commerce of Deming, NM in 1960, served by gubernatorial appointment as an advisor of the New Mexico Department of Development in 1960 and served as the President of the Associated Press Broadcasters of New Mexico in 1958.

In the 1970s, he was a member of the National Association of Broadcasters Small Market Radio Committee and served on the Associated Press National Board of Directors. He also started and managed Associated Press Radio which was a national radio news service that was picked up by over 300 radio stations nationally. As a result of his high ranking broadcast status, he was an international ambassador for the National Association of Broadcasters and interviewed many top ranking officials including the Minister of Information of Iran, Minister of Information at Tel Aviv, Mayor of Bethlehem Israel, and many others. International travels took him to Russia, China, Israel, Egypt, Iran, and Mexico.

Tobey's journalism history allowed him to interview many political figures including Presidents Lyndon Baines Johnson, Richard Nixon, many senators, congressmen and New Mexico state government officials. He also interviewed many celebrities including Clyde Beatty, a world renowned lion tamer, professional wrestler Andrea the Giant, Evil Knievel, the internationally known daredevil, and others. His musical interviews included Johnny Cash, Glenn Campbell, Charlie Pride, Ignacio Herb Brown, Doc Severinsen of the Tonight Show and many, many others.

Tobey is survived by his beloved wife of 68 years; Kathryn "Kitty" Stroud Tobey; his brother-in-law, Thomas Stroud; and three children; Emily, Bob Jr. and his wife, Lorraine; and Terry and his wife, Josie. He also is survived by his grandchildren Sandra, Stephanie, Sheana, Rachel, Robert, and John Terry Tobey; a cousin, Jean Penaluna; nieces and nephews, David Tobey, Tommy Tobey, Deborah Morton, Beth Stroud, Thomas Stroud, Brad Stroud, and Fred Stroud; and godson, Kerwin Gober.

Funeral arrangements have been scheduled at the United Methodist Church Deming, NM Thursday, February 28, 2008 at 2pm. Burial will follow at Mountain View Cemetery. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Lillian, Kitty, and Emily Tobey PEO Scholarship fund, c/o Mrs. Roy Hill, P.O. Box 310, Deming, NM 88031.
Entrusted in the care of Baca's Funeral Chapels in Deming, NM, Telephone (575) 546-9671.