Dr. Robert Snyder
His broadcast and broadcast education career spanned 45 years, beginning when he was a student at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, and helped put that school’s AM radio station on the air in 1949. After graduating from Wartburg in 1954, he began his teaching career at Kansas State University, leaving there in 1964 to become the first full time faculty member in Radio-TV-Film at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Under his guidance, a Radio-TV-Film curriculum was developed, WRST-FM, the University’s educational radio station, was put on the air in 1966, and a low power student television station was developed. He was active with the WBA’s Public Service Committee and especially its Education Committee until his retirement from UW-Oshkosh in 1993. While broadcast education was his career, radio broadcasting was also a hobby for him as he hosted jazz radio programs on Kansas State University’s two radio stations and then again on WRST where he was heard weekly with his “Jazz City” program beginning in 1966.
Dr. Robert Snyder passed away on March 27, 2008.
A great tribute. I spent so much time in the studio with Doc producing Jazz City and working with him on his instructional collection of Jazz Music. A huge influence on my professional career, and that of so many others I know.
Kudos.
Dad died in 2008 not 2005
I was a “non-traditional” returning freshman at UW-O in 1979, one year behind Doc’s son, Rob Jr. Dr. Snyder made learning a challenge for me, but also, a great deal of fun. I fondly recall his Friday night chili supper, offered to all the R-TV Film majors, as we were warmly invited into his home. That evening afforded me the opportunity of seeing the man in a different setting; a father and husband along with being a caring mentor to his students.
Doc meant everything to us at UWO. A legend who’s legacy lives on with every student that graduates from the RTF Department and goes into the field of broadcasting. I’m so blessed to have had Doc as a professor.
Doc was a formative force in my education at UW Oshkosh. Little did I know then how his guidance would help me later in my career. Though I caught him at the tail end of his career, his spark for all things radio, TV and film were evident in how he taught so passionately and professionally.
Doc Snyder was a beloved professor. I had the privilege during a spring interim cataloging Doc Snyder Jazz City reels and creating labels for shipping to participating radio stations. He was so enthusiastic about his collection and frequently expressed to me his appreciation. On another note, I believe Doc was the announcer at many, many UW-Oshkosh commencements. I recalled at my May 1979 graduation that he announced each graduate’s name takimg care of pronouncing each name correctly. It was the little things and the larger things (mentoring and teaching) that speaks of his sincerity, passion and love of education and jazz.