Bob Barry Jr. Remembered: Oklahomans Mourn Sportscaster Killed In Tragic Accident
Bob Barry Jr. died in a tragic accident earlier this month, and thousands attended his funeral on Friday in Oklahoma.
The services held at Crossings Community Church on Friday was filled with stories and laughter, according to KOCO. The loss of Bob Barry Jr. was not easy for the state of Oklahoma, but his family and friends decided to focus on his life and the good times they shared with the veteran sportscaster from KFOR.
Barry died in a tragic accident last Saturday. He was out for a ride on his motorcycle when a car hit him. The driver of the car, Gustavo Castillo Gutierrez, was making an illegal U-turn when he hit Barry. He was arrested, and he was charged on Tuesday. Gutierrez faces charges of first degree manslaughter, drug possession, and performing an illegal U-turn.
After the accident, Gustavo tried to deny treatment, but he was taken to the hospital. At the hospital, he was tested for alcohol, and cocaine was found in his system. That is why the manslaughter charge was added.
However, a report from WSB Atlanta reported that some fell that the manslaughter charge is not enough. On The Kelly File, there was a debate over the possibility of a murder charge in this case.
Arthur Aidala, one Fox News legal analyst, spoke for the manslaughter charge and said, “There’s no intent, there’s no depravity, there’s no recklessness, no speeding, no weaving, no intoxication. He made a U-turn. Everyone who has driven has made an illegal U-turn.”
However, another Fox News legal analyst, Mark Eiglarsh, spoke up for the need of a murder charge and said, ” It is a felony offense. He was committing possession of cocaine, which is punishable by up to five years in prison, and in doing so he caused the tragic demise of a beloved sports broadcaster.”
The WSB report also revealed that Gutierrez had been sent back to Mexico three times. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has put a detainer on the man, and after his trial they will decide if they will once again remove him from the United States and send him back to Mexico. This would happen after he served his time in Oklahoma.
Friday was not about the court case. That will happen later. Friday was for everyone that knew Bob Barry Jr. to stop and remember him for how he touched his or her lives. His life and his passing affected many in the state of Oklahoma.
In a testament to his impact, rival station, KOCO, offered staffing to KFOR, so that more of the staff of the news station could attend Friday’s funeral, according to the Oklahoma Daily.
Carlton Houston, news director for KFOR, spoke up about the outpouring of support the news station has received this week.
“I’ve heard from all the news directors in Oklahoma City who all, independent of each other, reached out upon hearing the news of Bob’s death. We absolutely have taken them up on their offers to assist us [on Friday.] We certainly are trying our best to make sure we can get as many staffers to this service as we can. Bobby was a very special guy and a dear, beloved friend.”
Bob Barry Jr. began his time with KFOR in the 1980s. He worked under his father, Bob Barry, until the time of his death. He was then the sports news director. At the age of 58, he still had a lot of life left to live.
Many shared stories about his time with the network. Some shared stories about his younger days and the antics he pulled. According to a KFOR report, one childhood friend, Bob Naifeh, shared one memory of his time with the Barry in high school.
“We had Robin Williams before there was a Robin Williams. To avoid total chaos at the school and significant property damage, [the assistant principal] took us out to the football field and we’re gonna have an organized snowball fight. Bob packs his first snowball, like we all did. I don’t know, I think he blew a whistle and Bob hums the snowball right at the assistant principal’s head.”
Another childhood friend shared a story about how Bob decided to streak through his school at the age of 16.
There were other stories as well. One viewer, Paul Shade, shared his own memory of the sportscaster with KOCO. The man was choked up and tearful as he spoke about a time that Barry mentioned his windshield wipers were not working.
“And so I jump in my car. I go over there, he gives me his key to work on his car. (I) got his windshield washer going, because it was frosty out and he knew he had to get to where he was going.”
Bob Barry Jr. leaves behind a wife and four children. Letters from his children were read at the start of his funeral on Friday. His son, Tanner, spoke about the man he knew.
“He really didn’t know how big of a deal he was. What you saw in public was the exact same thing we saw at home. He was such a good, caring man who genuinely cared about everyone he met and always found good in someone, even when others couldn’t. In a world where public figures can be fake, Bob wasn’t. He wore his emotions on his sleeve and he never left a loved one or a friend without a kiss on the forehead and an ‘I love you.'”
It is clear that state of Oklahoma has lost someone special this week. Friends and family will continue to feel the loss of their longtime friend for the days and years to come. His final broadcast from June 19 was shared on YouTube. It gives those that did not know him a small idea of the man he was.
[Photo: News OK Twitter]
