Hersom, Robert S.

Robert S. Hersom

Former Gazette sports writer Robert Sullivan “Bob” Hersom, 64, died June 27, 2011, in an Oklahoma City, Okla., hospital from complications related to non-alcoholic cirrhosis.

Born Dec. 22, 1946, in Cedar Rapids, Bob graduated from Washington High School in 1964 and was the first student body president at Kirkwood Community College before serving in the U.S. Army.

A Vietnam veteran and a Bronze Star recipient, he married Anthon, Iowa, native and Mount Mercy graduate Cathy McNamara on Nov. 25, 1978. They were the proud parents of a son, Robert John “Robbie,” and a daughter, Katharine Helene “Katie.”

A member of the Football Writers Association of America and a longtime Heisman Trophy voter, he spent more than 30 years in Oklahoma, serving 28 years at the Daily Oklahoman, the state's largest newspaper. Twice honored by his peers as the Oklahoma Sports Writer of the Year, he was admired for his encyclopedic knowledge on each beat he covered. For most of his years with the Oklahoman, he was assigned to the University of Oklahoma football and basketball beats along with the Oklahoma City 89ers and RedHawks, the Texas Rangers' top farm club until this year.

The author of the text on plaques throughout RedHawks Field at Bricktown, which opened in 1998, he joined with recently deceased hall of famer Harmon Killebrew in throwing out the ceremonial first pitch in what is widely recognized as one of minor league baseball's finest facilities.

Hersom, who also covered the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder and the American Hockey League's Oklahoma City Barons, worked as a freelance writer following his retirement from the Oklahoman in 2008.

His survivors include his children's spouses, Kristin, who is expecting Bob's first grandchild, a boy who is to be named Robert Cole Hersom, due in September, and Blake Middleton, who became Katie's husband on June 18.

He is also survived by his mother, Evelyn of Cedar Rapids; brothers, Terry (wife Linda) of Sioux City and Tom of Cedar Rapids; sisters, Heidi (husband Mike) Kearney of Richfield, Minn., and Linda (Gary) Seger of Cedar Rapids; along with several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Robert William Hersom; and in-laws, Jack and Helen McNamara.

A crowd of more than 500, including hall of fame football coach Barry Switzer, attended funeral services June 30 at Church of the Servant, where Bob's wife is director of children's ministries.