Voice of Bedlam: The Life of Bob Barry

When University of Oklahoma football coach Bud Wilkinson called young Norman sportscaster Bob Barry in 1961 with news that Barry had been chosen as the new radio voice of the Sooners, no one could have anticipated that nearly a half century later, Barry would still be broadcasting Sooner fortunes on the gridiron and basketball court. In more than 50 years as a radio sportscaster and 43 years as a television sports anchor, Barry has broadcast more major college sporting events on radio as the play-by-play announcer than anyone else in history. He is truly the Voice of Bedlam, having called every Bedlam football game between the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University for a half century, as either the voice of the Sooners or Cowboys. He has been play-by-play announcer for football and basketball at OU for 31 years, with 18 seasons as radio voice of OSU football and basketball from 1973 to 1990. Barry is a member of the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame and has been named Sportscaster of the Year in Oklahoma a record 15 times. He has seen and heard it all in press boxes and locker rooms, from inferior facilities at early Big Eight Conference schools to national championship games in America s finest stadiums. His insider s view of sports at Oklahoma s two largest universities is unique and refreshing.