My 2 Cents: An Old Familiar Face

As I biked home Wednesday, I saw a familiar face with his wife of 59 years, walking slowly along torn-up 4th Street @ Garden, in front of the old SR bureau: Bob Hough. For years, Bob was the voice of KVNI (before “newcomer” Dick Haugen replaced him in the early 1990s). Before that, he was a DJ in the 1950s-60s, known as “Bubblehead Bob.” Now, he’s a proud grandfather, enjoying the success of two grandkids who have made their mark transforming stars into dancers in the “Dancing with the Stars” competition: Derek and Julianne Hough. Bob believed as many other viewers did that grandson Derek and Lil’ Kim should have finished ahead of “that cowboy” — rodeo cowboy Ty Murray — in the most recent season. “It’s all rigged,” Bob said when I stopped to chat. The Houghs were walking toward the 4th Street house a block away that was built by Mrs. Hough’s father. More below.

They hardly appear to be 82 and 80, respectively. I appreciated that they called me “kid.” But back to the grandkids. The night before, Julianne had served as a presenter at the country music awards and had been nominated as best new performer. A month ago, Bob said, she had laryngitis so bad that she could barely talk on the phone to him. I enjoyed catching up with Bob. The late Malcolm Forbes once said: “He who dies with the most toys wins.” I don’t think that’s true. I can’t help but think that an octogenarian can consider himself a winner, if … he still has a loving wife by his side. He has left his mark on the community. He has kids nearby. He has lived to see the success of his grandkids. The Houghs are winners.

Question: How do you get out of life a winner?