Roll Call Tribute

Robert Orville Sinclair
March 1, 1933 - June 17, 2022

Robert O. Sinclair (Bob, Dad), 89, of San Antonio, Texas, died peacefully on June 17, 2022.

Robert was born March 1, 1933, in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Orville and Beatrice (Zambrano) Sinclair.

He grew up in San Antonio, Texas and graduated from Alamo Heights High School in 1952. He maintained lifelong friendships with many AH classmates - they were a close bunch. Robert then went to Texas A&M for two years before being drafted into the Army and deployed to Korea.

Bored to tears and trying to improve his oversea circumstances, he answered an Armed Forces Radio ad for experienced Radio Broadcasters. Relying on a 3rd place finish in a high school radio competition as qualifying for “experience”, Dad applied and to his surprise, secured his first gig in radio with AFKN (Armed Forces Korea Network) as a DJ.

After the Army, he went back to Texas A&M to finish his education. While there, he took a job with a local radio station in Bryan. Shortly thereafter, he received an offer from a radio station in San Antonio that he couldn't refuse.

Robert met his love Susie Moore of Tucson, Arizona, where both worked at a radio station and were married on April 12, 1958, in San Antonio. They had three children: Robert Jr., Kellie, and Matthew. Susie passed away in 1982 and Robert remained a widower until death.

Robert worked for radio stations from San Antonio to San Francisco and was inducted into the San Antonio Radio Hall of Fame in 2019. The memory of Robert’s radio persona "Sagamore Subsoil" and the "Barefoot Confederate Army", which he used while at KTSA, became something of a legend that endured long after he left radio.

Around 1966 Robert got out of radio and went into advertising. After working at several firms, he started his own agency, Sinclair & Associates, which he ran successfully for many years. In 1988, he and his son Robert Jr. started Sinclair Service Assessments, one of the first service measurement firms to conduct national Mystery Shopper Programs. Robert Sr. retired in 2001.

Robert loved family and demonstrated it in many ways. He was a fantastic husband, father, and grandfather. Though he was endowed with many talents, he will be remembered as an amazing storyteller and had a quick wit that brought laughter to routine conversations - all the way to the end. He loved tennis and golf and maintained strong friendships through each that lasted decades.

Robert is survived by his only brother Maurice (Moe) Sinclair 88, who resides in Cape Coral, Florida with his wife; his three children and their spouses, seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren - ALL of whom will miss him immensely. One of the last things Robert communicated before dying was gratitude for the number of blessings received throughout his life - none greater than his family. In total, Robert lived a great life and will be missed dearly this side of heaven.

Private memorial services will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions can be made in Robert Sinclair’s memory to either  CASA or Alzheimer’s Association.