Roll Call Tribute
Robert "Bob" Huffaker '59 June 27, 2018 12:15 PM updated: June 27, 2018 12:18 PM
BILL DEBERRY FUNERAL DIRECTORS obituary
2025 West University
Denton, TX 76201
(940) 383-4200
Robert Selwyn Huffaker
October 12, 1936 - June 25, 2018
Robert Selwyn Huffaker, 81, died peacefully at his home in Denton TX on June 25 surrounded by his loving family. Bob was born Oct. 12, 1936, in Fort Worth TX, growing up in Port Arthur and Bryan TX. He went on to earn a B.A. in English and an Army commission from Texas A&M University, serving as an officer in the U.S. Army Transportation Corps. Later as a reporter for CBS News and Dallas's KRLD, he broadcast JFK's ill-fated motorcade, the sad Parkland Hospital vigil, and live television's first murder, when Jack Ruby shot Lee Oswald. He also conducted an award-winning courtroom interview with Ruby.
Bob left broadcasting in 1967, earned his M.A. & Ph.D. from North Texas State University (now UNT) and taught English at SWTU (now Texas State University) until 1980. In recognition of his service as director of student publications at SWTU, he was honored in 2004 as an initial inductee into the University Star’s Journalism Hall of Fame. Other honors include recognition by the Press Club of Dallas in 2011 as a Living Legend of North Texas Journalism and induction that same year into the Bryan Independent School District’s Hall of Fame.
He wrote a widely cited seminal work about the British novelist John Fowles (G.K. Hall 1980), reprinted in 2010 as John Fowles: Naturalist of Lyme Regis. In 2004 he co-authored and edited the book When the News Went Live: Dallas 1963, a vivid first-person account of the JFK assassination and its aftermath. At various times he served as an editor for Texas Monthly, Studies in the Novel, Studies in American Humor, and the Modern Humanities Research Association Annual Bibliography of English Language and Literature. He wrote articles for a variety of publicatons such as Southern Humanities Review, Dallas Observer, True West, Senior Advocate, and Texas Parks & Wildlife.
Bob Huffaker's life was extraordinarily rich with experiences. His enthusiasm and generosity of spirit endeared him to a multitude of people. He developed deep and enduring friendships with former students and colleagues in particular. Members of the Texas music scene came to love him as the MC of the Texas Summer Nights Annual music festival at Gruene Hall for many years. He was also much loved as the host of “Choir Practices” at his Owl Hollow home and as a singer & strummer around campfires with his famous renditions of “Oklahoma Hills” and “The Battle of New Orleans.” Twenty years ago he and Veva Vonler fell in love and married, creating a family composed of beloved sons, Kevin Huffaker and Zach Vonler, and they recently welcomed amazing daughter-in-law, Corinne Vonler. Bob referred to these years as the happiest and most fulfilling of his life. He is survived by his sister, Genelle Huffaker Mercer, of Amarillo TX.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Robert Selwyn Huffaker, Sr., and Eunice Jane Thompson Huffaker.
The family will welcome friends for a visitation at DeBerry Funeral Directors in Denton from 10:00 AM until noon on Saturday, June 30. Burial will follow at 3:00 PM at Oakwood Cemetery in Whitesboro TX. On July 28, everyone who loved Bob Huffaker is invited to a joyful celebration of his life at Eye of the Dog Art Center in San Marcos TX.
VISITATION
Bill DeBerry Funeral Directors
Saturday, June 30, 2018
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Email Details
2025 West University
Denton, Texas 76201
GRAVESIDE SERVICE
Oakwood Cemetery
Saturday, June 30, 2018
3:00 PM
Email Details
1394 W. Main St.
Whitesboro, Texas 76273
2025 West University
Denton, TX 76201
(940) 383-4200
Robert Selwyn Huffaker
October 12, 1936 - June 25, 2018
Robert Selwyn Huffaker, 81, died peacefully at his home in Denton TX on June 25 surrounded by his loving family. Bob was born Oct. 12, 1936, in Fort Worth TX, growing up in Port Arthur and Bryan TX. He went on to earn a B.A. in English and an Army commission from Texas A&M University, serving as an officer in the U.S. Army Transportation Corps. Later as a reporter for CBS News and Dallas's KRLD, he broadcast JFK's ill-fated motorcade, the sad Parkland Hospital vigil, and live television's first murder, when Jack Ruby shot Lee Oswald. He also conducted an award-winning courtroom interview with Ruby.
Bob left broadcasting in 1967, earned his M.A. & Ph.D. from North Texas State University (now UNT) and taught English at SWTU (now Texas State University) until 1980. In recognition of his service as director of student publications at SWTU, he was honored in 2004 as an initial inductee into the University Star’s Journalism Hall of Fame. Other honors include recognition by the Press Club of Dallas in 2011 as a Living Legend of North Texas Journalism and induction that same year into the Bryan Independent School District’s Hall of Fame.
He wrote a widely cited seminal work about the British novelist John Fowles (G.K. Hall 1980), reprinted in 2010 as John Fowles: Naturalist of Lyme Regis. In 2004 he co-authored and edited the book When the News Went Live: Dallas 1963, a vivid first-person account of the JFK assassination and its aftermath. At various times he served as an editor for Texas Monthly, Studies in the Novel, Studies in American Humor, and the Modern Humanities Research Association Annual Bibliography of English Language and Literature. He wrote articles for a variety of publicatons such as Southern Humanities Review, Dallas Observer, True West, Senior Advocate, and Texas Parks & Wildlife.
Bob Huffaker's life was extraordinarily rich with experiences. His enthusiasm and generosity of spirit endeared him to a multitude of people. He developed deep and enduring friendships with former students and colleagues in particular. Members of the Texas music scene came to love him as the MC of the Texas Summer Nights Annual music festival at Gruene Hall for many years. He was also much loved as the host of “Choir Practices” at his Owl Hollow home and as a singer & strummer around campfires with his famous renditions of “Oklahoma Hills” and “The Battle of New Orleans.” Twenty years ago he and Veva Vonler fell in love and married, creating a family composed of beloved sons, Kevin Huffaker and Zach Vonler, and they recently welcomed amazing daughter-in-law, Corinne Vonler. Bob referred to these years as the happiest and most fulfilling of his life. He is survived by his sister, Genelle Huffaker Mercer, of Amarillo TX.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Robert Selwyn Huffaker, Sr., and Eunice Jane Thompson Huffaker.
The family will welcome friends for a visitation at DeBerry Funeral Directors in Denton from 10:00 AM until noon on Saturday, June 30. Burial will follow at 3:00 PM at Oakwood Cemetery in Whitesboro TX. On July 28, everyone who loved Bob Huffaker is invited to a joyful celebration of his life at Eye of the Dog Art Center in San Marcos TX.
VISITATION
Bill DeBerry Funeral Directors
Saturday, June 30, 2018
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Email Details
2025 West University
Denton, Texas 76201
GRAVESIDE SERVICE
Oakwood Cemetery
Saturday, June 30, 2018
3:00 PM
Email Details
1394 W. Main St.
Whitesboro, Texas 76273
505 George Bush Drive
College Station, TX 77840
(979) 845-7514
When Aggies see a need, their energy and their selflessness draw others into the cause, and good things happen.
© 2024 The Association of Former Students of Texas A&M University, All Rights Reserved