Robert Preston Rimes was born in 1933 in the back bedroom of his grandmother’s boarding house in Detroit, MI to an 18-year old mother--who was married at 15-years of age. Bob’s father had come to Detroit from Claxton, Ga with the promise of a job at the Ford Motor Company. His Father took a room at one of his grandmother’s boarding houses and there met and married Bob’s mother Clara. Bob attended an experimental elementary school, Carry Elementary, where he would receive many advanced learning experiences.
His parents then moved to Huntington Woods in suburban Detroit, where he attended Berkley High School and served as Class President and played sports, where he was dubbed “Crazy Legs” Rimes. After a year-long, theatrical internship in high school, he was hired at the Will-O-Way Playhouse. There, he appeared and/or had starring roles in many productions.
Bob went on to attend Albion College, where he was also involved with several college theater productions. While performing in a French drama called, “Liliom” he had a ‘flower girl’ on his right arm. The following June he gave her a ride home to Detroit and a few years later, on August 18, 1956, he married Mary Jane Behan. He and Mary Jane shared 60 years of marriage together.
He left Albion 6 months ahead of Mary Jane and began to attend Michigan State University without officially receiving his Bachelor’s degree, having not completed his language requirement. Interestingly enough, he received his Master’s Degree before his bachelor’s degree. After contacting Albion about his language class, they had since dropped that requirement and so without further work, he officially received his Bachelor’s Degree in drama and English. Bob was probably only one of a few people to officially receive his Master’s Degree in telecommunications and film, before his bachelor’s degree.
After college he entered the executive ranks in the radio and television industry. He was first hired at WWJ radio in Detroit, MI. Considered the world’s first radio station, he wrote his master’s thesis on that topic. From there he moved to Pittsburgh PA and began work at Westinghouse Broadcasting Company and KDKA radio, which also claimed to be the first radio station. He held advertising and promotional posts in Pittsburgh and also New York. He and Mary Jane then moved to San Rafael, CA to head the creative services department at KPIX-TV in San Francisco and then in 1973, he moved the family to San Diego, CA to work as the director of advertising and sales promotion for KGTV, channel 10 and McGraw Hill Broadcasting Company. During his time in the television industry, Bob was awarded many accolades and recognition awards for writing and television productions.
After a successful and lengthy television and radio career, Bob stepped out on his own and ran a marketing firm in San Diego called ‘Marketing Consultants Incorporated’. At that time he and Mary Jane also opened a Hallmark store called ‘Rimes Hallmark’.
Together, Bob and Mary Jane parented five children—Robin, Debbie, Lisa, and twins, Kevin and Steve. He has 13 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Bob retired in 2000…and has been involved in his kids and grandkids lives ever since. They were, by far, his greatest pride and joy in life. Bob Rimes went to be with the Lord on July 5th, 2016.
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