RIP Bob Hersh

[NotDutra5]

He was very active under another name (gh can out him if he wishes) and he was also a 'professional' name.

Outing him might lead to me and/or others to crawl into a hole after a reply to Mr. Hersh of "you have no idea what you're talking about!"

[Halfmiler2]

The funeral is Friday morning at 10 AM in Long Island at:

Temple Beth Shalom
401 Roslyn Road
Roslyn Heights, NY 11577

My wife and I will be there. We will add the posters here to those we will relate sympathies from.

[Halfmiler2]

I do have one memory to share now: even though I was a Penn Alum, Larry Ellis trusted me enough to announce at Princeton meets in the 1980s. The Princeton Invitational was a May meet that collegian used as a last minute quality and post-collegians used as an early qualifier.

In 1987 near the end of his streak, Edwin Moses as a favor to Larry entered the meet. I look behind me at the announcers table and see that Bob had come to see the race. I offered that he could announce the race but he just wanted to watch. So I called the race as best I could. Talk about performing in the presence of the master! Edwin, of course, won easily to keep the streak going but a few weeks later lost in Spain.

One of the best sessions I ever attended at a USATF Annual Meeting was one year when Bob (assisted by Scott Davis) did a clinic on announcing. It was fascinating. I recall how he mentioned that he would carry a tape recorder with him. When new foreign athletes would hit the seen, he would go over to them and ask them to pronounce their names into the recorder! He would spend hours before a major meet researching the athletes involved - this long before there were online tools. It was always a treat to hear him announce a meet.

[wamego relays champ]

What was the name he was posting under on here?

He posted under "Bob H."

There was also a poster named Jefferson Buffalo, but I was never sure if this was Bob.

Jefferson Buffalo was a name I recall being associated with Bob back in the '80s. I think it might have been a Public Address inside joke, kind of like the names Bart Twirrell and Dr. Raymond Racubion used in announcements by Scott Davis.

[Pego]

What was the name he was posting under on here? I have not been on here much the last few years. Always sorry to see those that have done much for this sport go.

Sorry. It would be inappropriate for me to divulge it.

[midwestfan]

Outing him might lead to me and/or others to crawl into a hole after a reply to Mr. Hersh of "you have no idea what you're talking about!"

I am deeply saddened by the loss of Mr. Bob Hersh, a great person in all he achieved and returned to the Track and Field world. My prayers are with his family and friends.
"NotDutra5", you are so right. As a new member of this message board, I used a very famous quote by a very famous person to express my feelings about a topic and within a few minutes, "_______" responded with an embarrassing correction in my quote. I did not realize, at that time, I was being tutored by one of the best track and field experts in the world. After researching "__________" I learned about his interest and passion in track and field from early high school and college days and became a legend to all who communicate on this message board.
I just learned from you "NotDutra5" that he was the MSG announcer for the Millrose Games when I was in college, and I must have met just his voice as I lined up for that race. What an honor.
We will all miss his wisdom, humor, and opinions on this message board.

[Atticus]

I used a very famous quote by a very famous person to express my feelings about a topic and within a few minutes, "_______" responded with an embarrassing correction in my quote.

I pride myself in my communication skills and propriety. Altho it is against the board rules to correct usage (for which I have been rightly reprimanded), he caught gaffes of my commission, which I LOVED, given the source of the correction. We conversed via email occasionally - about something on the forum - and I was always delighted to hear his perspective. I have been following this sport rather closely for well over 50 years and knew less that 10% of what he did - humbling indeed.

[bobguild76]

I never met him, but I am one of countless T&F athletes and then fans whose life was immeasurably enriched by him. RIP Bob Hersh!

[cigar95]

Many here certainly spent far more time with Bob than I did, but I have many fond memories of time spent with Bob at meets all over the country and the world, going back to standing in the rain at a train station in Berlin in '86.
Memory eternal, Bob..

[RMc]

I use what I learned from listening to Bob in my current announcing gigs for high school team robotics competitions. Feeding the audience enough info to appreciate the drama is key. He also was part of the crew that got me into my first bar when I was in high school in Eugene. I'll miss his humor and joviality.

[odelltrclan]

Sorry. It would be inappropriate for me to divulge it.

I was just curious if I have ever corresponded with him on here. Apparently some very astute people on these boards.

[Atticus]

When he last posted in 2022, his primary user name was easily in the top 10 of total posts.

[Walt Murphy]

Of all the items that Bob accumulated during his time in the sport, his prized possession was a letter from Steve Prefontaine, thanking Bob for his support of athletes’ rights. He also had the original “Stop Pre” t-shirt he wore during the 1972 U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene!
Bob often dealt with serious issues within the sport, but he also knew how to have fun. He was competitive in Track and Field fantasy games and he loved to play “quarters” with other like-minded “gamblers” on the stats row at the Penn Relays while betting on the Saturday morning series of H.S. Boys 4x400 races!
And then there was the media 4x100 at the 1988 Penn Relays. Held in front of the big Saturday crowd, it was a battle (for last place) between Track and Field News West and Track and Field News East. It was close heading into the anchor leg, as Scott Davis (West) and Bob (East) went stride-for-stride down the homestretch. Bob had a slight lead, repeatedly trying to smack Davis across the chest with his baton to fend him off. He was unsuccessful, as Davis won the race to finish next-to-last and gain bragging rights for the West Coast! It was all in good fun as the two future Hall-of-Famers shared a laugh as they made their way off the track.
The lineups
West-Dave Johnson, Jack Shepard, Rich McCann (the only man to run a 4x100 AND a 10k at Penn?), Scott Davis
East-Peter Diamond, Walt Murphy, Marc Bloom, Bob Hersh

[cigar95]

. . . . . . It was close heading into the anchor leg, as Scott Davis (West) and Bob (East) went stride-for-stride down the homestretch. Bob had a slight lead, repeatedly trying to smack Davis across the chest with his baton to fend him off. He was unsuccessful, as Davis won the race to finish next-to-last and gain bragging rights for the West Coast! It was all in good fun as the two future Hall-of-Famers shared a laugh as they made their way off the track.

Walter, is there any chance that you have the photo of the two after the race, all smiles and arms around their shoulders? It's classic Scott and classic Bob, and would be great to share.

[Walt Murphy]

Walter, is there any chance that you have the photo of the two after the race, all smiles and arms around their shoulders? It's classic Scott and classic Bob, and would be great to share.

I tried to include it, but got a notice that it was "too large".