Reeves retiring from KFVS12
Bob Reeves, long time weather forecaster and meteorologist for KFVS12’s Heartland StormTeam is set to retire at the end of February after 42 years of service. Reeves started with KFVS12 in February of 1970. He presented his first television weather forecast shortly after.
“Lots of great people, a ton of great memories, lots of fun,” said Reeves. “I’ve been blessed to be associated with this institution for 42 great years. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
The founder of KFVS, Oscar C. Hirsch, hired him to anchor the 10 p.m. news, plus do weather and sports. With the exception of two years, 1973 and 1974 when he and his wife, Beverly were lay missionaries in Trinidad-Tobago, Bob spent the rest of his career at KFVS12.
“I’ve only been with KFVS12 a couple of years but I wasn’t here a couple of days before I realized how much Bob means to Heartland viewers,” added Tim Ingram, Vice President and General Manager of KFVS12. “He’s not only one of the best weather forecasters in the business, he is genuinely one of the best people I have ever had the opportunity to work with.”
Reeves held a variety of positions throughout his career including reporter, assignment editor, assistant news director, and farm director. Since 1982, he has focused on weather. For 11 years he was on the Breakfast Show. In 1993, with the retirement of Don McNeely, he became the senior weather anchor for the weekday evening newscasts.
“What you see on the air is the real Bob, no acting,” said Mark Little, News Director for KFVS12. “He’s one of the most humble, genuine, sincere gentlemen I’ve ever known. We know he’ll be missed by his viewers.
“There’s no telling how many lives he’s saved with his countless hours on the air during tornados,” added Brian Alworth, Bob’s co-worker on the StormTeam.
A native of Eldorado, Illinois, Bob graduated from Eldorado High School in 1966. After attending Southeastern Illinois College, he received his Bachelor of Science in Broadcasting from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale in 1970. With his job focus on weather for last 30 years, Reeves completed additional courses in science and meteorology from Mississippi State University and in 1988 received certification from the National Weather Association. He has won back to back awards (2003-2004) from the Missouri Broadcasters Association for best weathercast.
“I’ll try not to miss the job but I suspect that I will anyway,” continued Reeves. “I’ve already been working behind the scenes with my replacement and I’m confident that the StormTeam will be better than ever.”
Bob and wife Beverly are members of the First Baptist Church of Cape Girardeau. He is a past president of the Rotary Club of Cape Girardeau. They have one son, Brian, and daughter-in-law Sharon, who are both teachers at Farmington High School. They have four grandchildren: Corrine, Evan, Caroline and Rachel.
KFVS12 is the CBS Network affiliate serving the Cape Girardeau, Paducah, Harrisburg television market, and is a free broadcast service of Raycom Media, Inc. KFVS12 also operates The Heartland’s CW (WQWQ-TV), a CW Network affiliate, KFVS12.com, and The StormTeam Weather Network.
Bob Reeves
