Grayson County TXGenWeb

Robert Selwyn Huffaker, 81, died peacefully at his home in Denton, Texas on June 25. Bob was born October 12, 1936 in Ft. Worth, Texas, growing up in Port Arthur and Bryan, Texas. He went on to earn a B.A. in English and an Army commission from Texas A&M University, serving as an officer in the US Army Transportation Corps. Later as a reporter for CBS News and Dallas' KRLD, he broadcast JFK's ill-fated motorcade, the sad Parkland Hospital vigil, and live television's first murder, when Jack Ruby shot Lee Oswald. He also conducted an award-winning courtroom interview with Ruby.
Bob left broadcasting in 1967, earned his M.A. and Ph.D. from North Texas State University (now UNT) and taught English at SWTU (now Texas State University) until 1980. In recognition of his service as director of student publications at SWTU, he was honored in 2004 as an initial inductee into the University Star's Journalism Hall of Fame. Other honors include recognition by the Press Club of Dallas in 2011 as a Living Legend of North Texas Journalism and induction that same year into the Bryan Independent School District's Hall of Fame.
He wrote a widely seminal work about the British novelist, John Fowles (G.K. Hall, 1980), reprinted in 2010 as John Fowles: Naturalist of Lyme Regis. In 2004 he co-authoried and edited the book When the News Went Life: Dallas 1963, a vivid first-person account of the JFK assassination and its aftermath. At various times he served as an editor for Texas Monthly, Studies in the Novel, Studies in American Humor, and the Modern Humanities Research Association Annual Bibliography of English Language and Literature. He wrote articles for a variety of publications such as Southern Humanities Review, Dallas Observer, True West, Senior Advocate, and Texas Parks & Wildlife.
Bob Huffaker's life was extraordinarily rich with experiences. His enthusiasm and generosity of spirit endeared him to a multitude of people. He developed deep and enduring friendshiips with former students and colleagues in particular. Members of the Texas music scene came to love him as the MC of the Texas Summer Nights Annual music festival at Gruene Hall for many years. He was also much loved as the host of "Choir Practices" at his Owl Hollow home and as a singer & strummer around campfires with his famous renditions of "Oklahoma Hills" and "The Battle of New Orleans." Twenty years ago he and Veva Vonler fell in love and married, creating a family composed of beloved sons, Kevin Huffaker and Zach Vonler, and they recently welcomed amazing daughter-in-law, Corinne Vonler. Bob referred to these years as the happiest and most fulfilling of his life.
He is survived by his sister, Genelle Huffaker Mercer, of Amarillo, Texas.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Robert Selwyn Huffaker, Sr., and Genelle Huffaker Mercer, of Amarillo, Texas.
Burial was in Oakwood Cemetery in Whitesboro, Texas on Saturday, June 30. On July 28 everyone who loved Bob Huffaker was invited to a joyful celebration of his life at Eye of the Dog Art Center in San Marcos, Texas. - - - DeBerry Funeral Home