RANDOM MUSINGS FROM THE TOP OF THE HILL

12/04/2016

BRAUNS

If you've lived in the Cincinnati area for any length of time, you've heard of Rob Braun.  He's the news anchor for WKRC TV channel 12.

His father, Bob, was a very successful radio and TV personality.  Bob was on Cincinnati TV starting in the 1950's -  notably with the Ruth Lyons' 50-50 Club.  He hosted that show after Ruth retired, 5 days a week at noon, from 1967 thru 1984.  It was the most watched live show in the Midwest.

Bob fancied himself a singer and cut several pop records while hosting the TV show.  He had one top 40 hit called "Til Death Do Us Part."   After the TV show was canceled, he moved to Hollywood. For 10 years he worked doing commercials, interviews and movie bit parts.    He is the newscaster in Die Hard 2.  Bob died of Parkinson's at the age of 71 in 2001.  

Bob had a nephew, who was a successful radio host in nearby Dayton, Ohio.  He used the handle, Bucks Braun.

Another Braun is famously tied to Cincinnati.   His name was Sanford Braun from Brooklyn, NY.  Sanford went to the University of Cincinnati in 1953 and walked onto the freshman basketball team as a complete unknown (freshman weren't allowed to play varsity at that time).  Basketball coach Ed Jucker gave him a partial scholarship.  In the Spring, he played baseball.  He made varsity on the baseball team and excelled, to say the least.  Major league scouts were following him regularly.

Sanford left college early and signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers and began a spectacular baseball career.   He is a Hall of Famer.

I forgot to mention,   Sanford's mother divorced and remarried when he was nine.  He was adopted by his step-father, Irving Koufax.   Sandy Koufax was maybe the best left handed pitcher in baseball history. 
O_O 



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