Chapter One - Radio Days
“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.”
–William James
In Akron Ohio, in 1935, you could sit in
your living room and hear voices - voices from Akron, yes - but also voices from
Cleveland, New York, Los Angeles, even London.
In homes where a few years earlier the
evening's entertainment might have consisted of reading aloud or maybe a sing
along, top-flight singers and comedians were suddenly available to entertain,
all at the flick of a switch.
In 1935 in that city, into that of world
voices traveling through the air, Robert Hagen was born in a house which still
stands in a still quiet part of town.
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Bob Hagen ca. 1939 |
Like almost everyone else born
that year, he grew up listening to the radio. He was captivated by the
mighty news voices of the Second World War - Lowell Thomas, H.V. Kaltenborn,
and Edward R. Murrow. He also delighted in the comedy of "Fibber Magee &
Molly," "Amos & Andy" "Jack Benny" and others.
And he couldn’t get enough of sports on
the radio, especially of his beloved Cleveland Indians But unlike almost everyone else born
that year, Bob had a special fascination with radio that went far beyond
just listening. It was to be a lifelong passion and his
life’s work.
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Akron was a union town—home of Firestone and
Goodyear.
Bob’s father, Hans, was a postal clerk
and president of the Akron local of the postal clerks’ union. He instilled
in young Bob a passion for unions, the workingman and the underdog.
Bob’s mother, Adeline, was a homemaker
whose influence helped shape Bob into the honest, loyal, and modest person
he was.
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Hans and Bob Hagen ca. 1950 |
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Bob and his mother Adeline
ca 1936
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Bob’s childhood was stable, filled with
love, good home cooking and intense political discussions, something Bob
always enjoyed. He learned to speak up for the little guy and to act on his
principles. This would cause him some trouble more than once in his career.
Bob’s work ethic was evident early; he never missed a day of school. His
lifelong love of sports also started in childhood. In an open field near his
home, kids played baseball in the spring and football in the fall, and the
normally low-key Bob was a surprisingly competitive player.
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| Bob graduated from Akron's Buchtel High
School in 1953 and enrolled at nearby Kent State University—at that time
still relatively obscure. It was at Kent State that
Bob got his first chance behind a microphone at WKSU, the college's 10-watt
educational station. Bob did the news and called ball games. It was clear
the young Hagen was talented and he was soon appointed chief announcer.
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Bob on the air at WKSU, December 1957 |
Part Two - Early Career
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