Bob Fouts was a Sacramento native who attended Saint Mary’s College in Moraga to study journalism. While there, he earned a varsity letter playing third base for the Gaels baseball team.
He served in the Army Air Corps during World War 2 before launching his broadcasting career at KROY in Sacramento.
Fouts then moved to the Bay Area to join the staff at KYA. He soon began a lengthy relationship with the San Francisco 49ers as their play-by-play announcer.
Fouts also called games for his alma mater, Saint Mary’s, as well as the University of San Francisco. He broadcast the legendary 1951 USF Dons football team that went undefeated but refused an Orange Bowl invitation because game organizers would not allow Black USF stars Ollie Matson and Burl Toler to participate.
His play-by-play resume included the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League, U.S. Open and British Open golf, and numerous Olympic Games.
Fouts served as a sports anchor at KCBS and KSFO, as well as on television at KGO-TV and KPIX.
Bob Fouts died in 2019 at age 97.
RELATED EXHIBITS: