In Idaho, Robert E. Krueger is known as “Mr. Television” because of his work at KTVB and sometimes as “Mr. Boise” because of all the contributions he made to the Boise community.

Bob joined KTVB in 1956 as the station’s National Sales Manager. In 1964, he was promoted to General Manager. When King Broadcasting bought KTVB in the early 1980s, Bob stayed on as President and General Manager. He survived yet another ownership change in 1991 when King sold the station to the Providence Journal Co. Bob remained with the Providence Journal and KTVB until his retirement in 1996, at which time he was named KTVB President Emeritus.

During the early 1970s, KTVB was an also-run station in the news ratings. Bob Krueger and his news director, Sal Celeski, went to the station’s owner, Georgia Davidson, and convinced her to invest heavily in the News Department. Their goal was to turn the station into the Number One News Department in Boise. Bob saw the importance of local news and the contributions it could make to the community. Under Bob’s leadership KTVB was transformed into the dominant television news operation in Idaho’s capital city. Even today, KTVB is recognized as one of the finest TV stations in the country.

Even without Bob at the helm, you might say that part of KTVB’s continued success stems from Robert E. Krueger. Bob hired many of the people who lead KTVB to this day, including the current President and General Manager Doug Armstrong. He also hired Idaho’s two most outstanding TV journalists, Dee Sarton and Carolyn Holly. Identifying and hiring talented people is one of the greatest legacies that Bob left to KTVB and to the television industry.

Bob’s contributions extend well beyond the walls of KTVB. He served on the NBC Board of Affiliates from 1976-80, including two years as vice chairman. He served as president of the Greater Boise Chamber of Commerce in 1975. He also served as president of the Boise State University Athletic Association. Bob was part of the team that persuaded Hewlett-Packard to expand into the Boise area instead of into other states. He was also instrumental in getting the Morrison Center for the Performing Arts built in Boise. In 1996, the Idaho State Broadcasters Association, of which he served as president in 1970-71, gave him a Lifetime Achievement Award. It was but one of the many honors Bob received during his illustrious career.

Even though Bob retired 10 years ago, he really never retired. He is always available for a word of advice or encouragement. His love for television and television people runs deep. Television is a big part of Bob Krueger and he will always be a big part of television.