Bob Frank, WOC-TV's News Department head, works hard and long to keep Quad-Citians well-informed. At times he even serves as a kind of housewife's sooth-sayer. "Is it going to rain at 10 o'clock this morning?" one woman inquired. "I want to hang out my washing."

Although Bob writes his own newscasts, he doesn't plan his own weather.

Born in Keokuk, Iowa, Bob moved to Des Moines where he attended Drake College. The "biggest guy there," he played the bass drum while taking a fine arts and radio course. Then, in 1937, Bob came to WOC as an announcer. "I've seen practically everyone come and go," he declared. "I've even been here longer than Charlie Freburg and Mary Louise Marshall."

Bob served in the Infantry from 1942-46, his only comment being "I never walked so much in my life--and believe me, I never will again." He used to enjoy walking up and down Brady Street but the Infantry cured him of that luxuriously frivolous pastime.

In 1951, Bob took over the News Department, having specialized in news gathering, rewriting and news broadcasting. He and Bill Gress are the only full-time newsmen and it's their job to gather the news, write it and broadcast it. Two United Press teletype machines in the newsroom give them the national, international and state news written for radio presentation. As much as Bob would like to rewrite some of it, he doesn't have the time. "I do try to re-write as much as possible," he asserted.

You can see why the time element is so important, in light of all the local agencies Bob must cover. The police station and fire station are called several times a day but this area boasts 7 city governments (including 7 police and fire stations) plus county and government offices. Then Bob gives two TV casts a day, at 12:30 and 5:45, plus 3 radio casts. Naturally he tries to give a complete pictures of news developments. He particularly prides himself on knowing what he's talking about when he gives a news item and is certain that the people who watch him on television realize that.

It's inevitable that the coverage local television stations afford news will be compared with network news shows, and WOC has been criticized along this line. Bob feels this is in part unjustified. "We're proud of what we do with limited personnel and time on both radio and television," he said. "Television itself is a complicated business. It costs a small fortune to take our remote truck out of the garage - the wear and tear on the equipment is tremendous and it takes at least half a day to set it up. But looking back into the past year will give you a good indication of where television can go. We had our remote truck out for Eisenhower's speech ... we had it out to the fair grounds.

"When there's something urgent it's so much easier to grab a tape recorder or camera and run. Get there on the spot. But sometimes we can't even do that when we're busy. Now Drew Pearson has a week to prepare his program and a staff to work with him. SO have John Cameron Swayze with his "News Caravan" show and Edward R. Murrow for "See it Now." We haven't go the time to plan on a weekly basis. You develop a day-to-day philosophy. First of all, you don't know too far in advance what you're going to use, so it's hard to have maps, pictures and drawings prepared. Ken Wagner, is busy, too. Then, I don't see any reason to move or gesture, unless there's a particular reason for it. I'm no Shakespearean actor. The audience is thinking in terms of the content of the newscast and it isn't necessary to watch a newscaster all the time. Then too, definite gestures would require rehearsal time so the director would know when I'm going to move.

"I give the director the script as I go in, because with news you can't always prepare hours before. And I don't attempt to hide the papers I'm reading form to make people think I memorized it."

Of course, Bob admits there's a lot more that could be done with news on television to spark the viewer's picture and contribute to his ease of comprehension. But with time and personnel limitations he realizes it's difficult.

Answering a recent article criticizing local broadcasters for remaining seated throughout newscasts, Bob said with emotion, "We may sit during the cast... but that's the ONLY time we do!"