After 41 years as Sports Director, KSLA TV's Bob Griffin went into semi-retirement in 2002. Until December of 2008, he continued to be a part of KSLA, working on special assignments such as travel and anchoring sports on Saturday and Sunday and co-hosting Friday Night Football, the End Zone. Bob is still busy because he travels the Ark-La-Tex to tell people about what a good place Shreveport-Bossier and the Ark-la-Tex is to live. Bob speaks to civic, social and church groups about having "Pride in the Ark-La-Tex." He wants people to be aware of the many things that make our area special. Bob deson't require fee to speak or make an appearance on behalf of his community.
Bob was appointed Shreveport-Bossier's "Goodwill Ambassador" by former Shreveport Mayor Keith Hightower and former Bossier Mayor George Dement.
Often, Bob's talks are also also centered on sports or travel.
Bob wants to tell people in person, on radio and TV and over the internet, about all the great things there are to see and do, places to go and people to meet – not only in his home town but throughout the south, the country and around the world: good and morally proper things to see and do and people to meet.
Bob also speaks to church groups about the all-important role God has played in his life.
The Early Years
From Fort Smith, Ark., Bob attended the University of Arkansas and the University of Nebraska. After college he worked for a movie company in St. Louis and appeared in an Off-Broadway show in New York.
When he returned to Arkansas, he went to work for a radio station in Fort Smith and then moved on to Texarkana. After joining KSLA in 1961 as a staff announcer he had a children's show "Bob and His Buddies" through the 1960's.
A short time after arriving at KSLA Bob began doing both sports and weather and after several years of doing both concentrated solely on sports.
Along the way Bob was known for his travel stories which not only aired on KSLA TV but throughout the Southwest and in some cases nationally and internationally. His favorite local series was Griffin's Ark-La-Tex. Bob Griffin is busier than ever promoting the positive things about the Ark-La-Tex.
Bob has a Christian half-hour radio show (The Bob Griffin Radio Show) which is aired weekly on KEEL in Shreveport and on two stations in East Texas: KGAS in Carthage and KMHT in Marshall. The radio show features travel destinations, Ark-La-Tex features, personalities and the "Good Side" of life.
Bob also has a daily minute-long radio column, People to Meet, Places to Go and Things to See and Do", that runs Monday through Friday on KEEL at 6:50 a.m.
Honors
► In 2000, the Independence Bowl Foundation honored Bob as the "Sportsman of the Year.
► Shreveport Optimist Club named Bob "Mr. Shreveport" of 2004.
► In 2005 the North Louisiana Chapter of National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame honored Bob for his "Contribution to Amateur Football.
► In 2005 Bob was inducted into Centenary College's Sports Hall of Fame.
► Bob was named the 2005 Louisiana Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.
► Bob was the local Honorary Finance Chairman of the March of Dimes Walk America 2005 and 2006.
► Bob was also named the Honorary Chairman of the local Diabetes Association’s 2005 America’s Walk for Diabetes.
Bob is on the board of directors of the Milton McNaughton Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame and the Ark-La-Tex Sports Museum of Champions.
He also works regularly with Shreveport-Bossier Community Renewal who presented him with the prestigious “Bridge Award” for his contributions to his community. Bob is also helping Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator promote the Sheriff’s Safety Town which is adjacent to South Park Summer Grove Baptist Church.
A member of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Shreveport, Bob and his wife, Denise, are co-directors of the Adults Two Singles Class. Denise and Bob have twin daughters. Both are married. Bob has five grandchildren.