Bob LeMond, Broadcaster, 94

Senior citizens in Pacific Palisades may recall seeing the handsome Bob LeMond playing golf at the Riviera Country Club in the 1950s and ’60s, but millions of Americans will remember his voice. LeMond, a television and radio announcer, narrated popular shows such as ‘The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet,’ ‘Leave It to Beaver’ and ‘Bat Masterson.’ He narrated Lucille Ball’s first sitcom on CBS radio, ‘My Favorite Husband,’ from its debut in 1948 to its close in 1951. He worked again with Ball on the pilot for her TV show ‘I Love Lucy: The Very First Show!’ LeMond, who died January 6 at age 94, raised his children in the Palisades area while pursuing a career in broadcasting. ‘He always spoke in that classic radio announcer voice,’ said his son Rob, who lives in Malibu. ‘Of course, it was more pronounced on camera.’ Born in Hale Center, Texas, LeMond grew up in Southern California and began his career at the Los Angeles station KEHE in 1936. He played records and announced commercials for a half-hour daily (his brother-in-law hired him). His natural speaking talent soon led to a job with CBS radio. He announced Bill Henry’s segment of ‘The World Today,’ a popular news program. He also worked with the famous newscaster Chet Huntley, who told LeMond the evening before the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor that he predicted the United States was headed to war. Deciding to support the war effort, LeMond joined the Army and ran the Mosquito Network for the Armed Forces Radio Service in New Caledonia. ‘He spoke about news that would be pertinent to the war and played music for the soldiers,’ his son Rob said. When the war ended, LeMond was sent to Japan, where he took over for Tokyo Rose, who had broadcast Japanese propaganda during the war. While in the service, he met Barbara Brewster when she came to New Caledonia to entertain troops as part of a traveling USO show. The actress played one of the ‘Brewster Twins’ in 20th Century Fox films and had the lead in the USO show ‘The Dough Girls.’ In a 1957 magazine article in TV-Radio Mirror, LeMond described their first encounter: ‘My reaction to Barbara? First of all, I was prepared. Before the troupe arrived, our special service officer brought around a brochure with pictures of the six girls in the show’When he asked me which one I liked, I pointed to Barbara’s picture and said ‘This is the one for me.’ He guaranteed that when the troupe arrived, he’d bring them over to the station. And he did. Right away, Barbara and I established a sort of rapport.’ LeMond and Brewster married in 1946 and moved to a home on La Mesa Drive, overlooking the Riviera, where they raised three sons: Rob, Stephen and Barry. During those years, LeMond enjoyed playing tennis with his wife and taking his children boating. He also liked to watch movies with his family at the Bay Theater on Sunset, (where Norris Hardware is now located). ‘He spent a lot of time with his family,’ Rob said. ‘I had a good childhood.’ LeMond continued to broadcast on- and off-camera for many TV and radio programs, including ‘Our Miss Brooks,’ ‘My Friend Irma,’ and ‘The Red Skeleton Show.’ He announced for the Tournament of Roses and the Academy Awards and voiced numerous commercials for the likes of Oldsmobile, Dial Soap and Raid. ‘Many of his shows were live, so he didn’t make mistakes,’ Rob said. After retiring from broadcasting in 1971, LeMond became a real estate agent and moved with Barbara to Bonsall, where they spent the rest of their lives. She died of congestive heart failure in 2005, and he died in his home from complications of dementia. LeMond liked to reminisce about the past, Rob said. About four years ago, he appeared on a television show in Oceanside to talk about his broadcast career. ‘He was outgoing and very well liked,’ said his son. ‘Those who worked with him always said nice things about my dad.’ In addition to Rob, LeMond is survived by two other sons, Stephen of Vista and Barry of Issaquah, Washington; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.