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Hall of Fame 2002Robert H. StorzVideo |
Robert H. Storz was a man who never rested: he was a master strategist and businessman. He had an extensive banking career, including Omaha National Bank, where he was a director. He was also involved with Storz Brewing Company where he was responsible for bulding a new bottling plant in Omaha. He left the brewery in 1959 and went into the investment banking business.
In 1949 he founded Storz Broadcasting with his son Todd (NBA Hall of Fame, 1989) and operated the company from a financial standpoint until Todd's death in 1964. Robert then took over the day to day operation of the stations, centralizing the entire organization from billing to payable, creating amodel that is still used today by many broadcast groups. the stations included KOWH, Omaha: WTIX, New Orleans; WDGY, Minneapolis; WQAM, Miami; WHB, Kansas City, and KXOK, St. Louis. The stations were eventually sold off in 1984-85.
Storz tirelessly served his community as Commander of American Legion Post #1, President of the Omaha Chamber of Commerce (1946-47), and Chairman of the board of Clarkson Memorial Hospital, where he spearheaded fund-raising for a new building. He was a Governor of the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben, a member of the Nebraska Resources Foundation, a University of Omaha regent and was the driving force behind the construction of the 63-acre Memorial Park. He persuaded then President Harry Truman to come to the park's dedication.
Robert H. Storz is survived by his daughter, Susan Butler and four grandchildren.