They Said It Couldn't Be Done: The Life of Robert L. "Bob" Allen, Oklahoma's Public Television Pioneer

Product Description With strong Scottish roots and the grit and pioneering spirit born into every Oklahoman, Robert L. Allen was destined to create a legacy for his home state. From the bandstand to the lights of New York City, Allen chased his dreams. But it was his belief in education and the lure of his home state that called him back to Oklahoma. After serving local teachers' organizations and the public in the State Department of Education, Allen was loaned to the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority (OETA). More than 25 years later he had transformed a sleepy instructional channel into a dynamic window to the world that brought education, entertainment, and cultural diversity into the living rooms of Oklahomans in every corner of the state. Allen championed original programming, including the Oklahoma News Report, Stateline, OETA Movie Club, and Oklahoma Passage, a five-part mini-series tracing one Oklahoma family from the Trail of Tears to the Twentieth Century. He understood the market niche for educational television. He mastered the balancing act of generating revenue with one program to support something else that needed to be done. And, he developed partnerships with industry leaders, public officials, and others in the non-profit sector to leverage resources where he sensed there was a shared mission. Allen was an entrepreneur, a rare deal maker, who found ways to invest in resources, take risks, and seek dividends not for personal gain but for the public good. The OETA Foundation, which flourished during his tenure, provided the flexibility and purchasing power needed for innovation in the public sector. And they said it couldn't be done. About the Author Robert L. Allen was born and raised in El Reno, Oklahoma, and graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee. After a stint in New York City as a banker and an oil sales and marketing representative, he returned to Oklahoma and dedicated his life to education. Known as MR. OETA, he served in top leadership positions as both OETA Executive Director and OETA Foundation President during his 42-year tenure. He presided over a period of growth in facilities, programming, local productions, and public support unparalleled in OETA's history. Allen began with a small, totally state-funded basement operation and built it into a comprehensive statewide public television network, supported equally by the public and private sectors,that became the most watched state public television network in the nation. Allen is recognized throughout the communications industry for his production creativity, leadership skills, managerial expertise, fund-raising ability, and broad knowledge of public broadcasting. Responsible for introducing and syndicating The Lawrence Welk Show weekly series to 275 public television stations nationwide, he also served as executive producer of 15 national PBS fund-raising specials resulting in more than $50-million in pledges to the nation's local public television stations. Because of his love of Oklahoma, he produced the award-winning, five-part Oklahoma history television series Oklahoma Passage. His leadership made possible the full funding of major endowments of more than $30-million in support of the OETA Network. Married to Mary Lee (Holloway) Allen for more than 50 years, Allen makes his home at Lake Overholser in Oklahoma City. Together, they have four children and 20 grandchildren. Ralph Robison, collaborator, is a long-time, freelance creative writer and radio and television advertising/marketing professional in Oklahoma. He has created numerous special messages for many well-known companies throughout the Southwest. This is his first book collaboration, which he said was the most challenging and fulfilling of his career. His love of history and his native Oklahoma are reflected in his work.