The late Robert C. "Bob" Forbes was an icon among Indiana sportscasters during a career that fell two years short of a half-century. A graduate of Indiana State University, Forbes started his radio career with WBOW in Terre Haute before being hired by rival station WTHI in 1947.
Forbes became the "Voice of the Sycamores" while broadcasting Indiana State athletics and called many memorable sporting events, including the march by the Sycamores and Larry Bird to the NCAA basketball championship game in 1979. He continued to call broadcasts of ISU athletics until 1988, and was inducted into the ISU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1984.
Forbes also served as the sports director for WTHI television from 1954-85 and also broadcasted for WTHI-FM radio. He also announced races at the Terre Haute Action Track. Forbes served on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network from 1971-94, filing Indianapolis 500 reports for anchors Sid Collins, Paul Page, Lou Palmer and Bob Jenkins.
One of Forbes' most memorable interviews came in 1979, with former U.S. president Gerald Ford. He also reported from the back seat of the pace car during the parade and pace laps in 1983, the only time the radio network has broadcasted from the pace car during the Indianapolis 500.
Forbes retired from the IMS Radio Network in 1994 and was honored in May 1995 when he was presented with his network fire suit in a glass case.
He passed away in January 2005 at the age of 76. He is survived by his wife Jo Ann, sons Kevin and Randall, daughter Leslie Ann Almack, five grandchildren and four step-grandchildren.