Forbes - Gilbert
Note: don't believe he EVER lived her but a daughter did
Source: obituary in a scrapbook from a collection of Fauniel Hershberger's typed by Walt W - thanks soooo much to Walt - he's awesome!
Note: E. Gilbert Forbes died September 18, 1961, at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Gilbert Forbes, veteran newsman, war correspondent and first television newscaster in Indiana, died Monday night after a long illness. He was 57 years old. He suffered a stroke May 21 after becoming ill last October with a respiratory ailment. Forbes studied piano and pipe organ at the University of Dubuque and combined his music with newscasting for radio stations in St. Louis and Joliet, Ill., in the early 1930s. He joined radio station WFBM, Indianapolis, in 1937 and took his news program before the camera when WFBM opened Indiana's first television station in 1949. He was on leave of absence from WFBM at the time of his death. Forbes went to the European Theater as a war correspondent in 1944. He landed at Omaha Beach 30 days after D-Day and reported actions of Indiana soldiers over a wide area. Forbes was one of the busiest men in radio and television. At one time, from 1950 to 1956, he had 37 quarter-hour shows a week. For five and a half years he conducted a special show, "Test the Press," on which more than 400 reporters, editors and publishers were questioned on current events. He won numerous citations in his field. He is survived by the widow, Marguerite; a daughter, Mrs. Robert D. McDaniel, Crawfordsville, and a son, Jack Eugene Forbes, Berkeley, Calif. - kbz
Source: Rushville Republican 19 Sept 1961 (Tue) p 6
Indianapolis – Gilbert Forbes, 57, a radio newsman for more than 25 years and the first television newscaster in Indiana, died Monday night. Forbes became ill with a respiratory ailment last October and suffered a stroke May 21. He had been on leave of absence from WFBM. A student of piano and pipe organ at the University of Dubuque, he combined music and news in the early 1930s for radio stations in St. Louis and Joliet, Ill. He came to WFBM in 1937 and went before the camera in 1949 when WFBM opened Indiana’s first television station. He went to Europe as a war correspondent in 1944 and landed at Omaha Beach 30 days after D-Day. He reported actions of Indiana soldiers over a wide area. One of the busiest men in radio and television, he had 37 quarter-hour shows a week from 1950 to 1956. He won many citations. For five and one half years he conducted a special show, “Test the Press,” on which more than 400 reporters, editors and publishers were questioned on current events. Survivors include the widow, Marguerite; a daughter, Mrs. Robert D. McDaniel of Crawfordsville and a son, Eugene Forbest of Berkely, Calif.
Source: Muncie Evening Press Tue 19 Sept 1961 p1
Indianapolis – The dean of Indiana newscasters died Monday night. Gilbert Forbes died at Indianapolis Methodist Hospital after an illness of slightly more than a year. The 57-year-old radio and television newscaster was an Indiana pioneer in both fields. His deep voice and balding head were trademarks that made him familiar to everyone who listened to WFBM and watched WFBM-TV. In addition, he initiated the first local panel show, called “Test the Press,” which ran for 5 ½ years and featured more than 400 newsmen and women.
Note: Born in St. Louis, Missouri – correspondent for Chicago Herald-Examiner while going to Elmhurt College (deep voice – wrote lyrics – first love music) – served as war correspondence (slender, intense newsman) Survived by wife, Marguerite, Indianapolis; his mother, Mrs. Emma Forbes, St. Louis, a daughter, Mrs. Robert D. McDaniel, Crawfordsville; a son, Jack Eugene Forbes, Berkely, Calif and a brother, Carlisle Forbes, St. Louis.
