MATTHEWS, N.C.,None — Bob Provence, WSOC-TV's first Program Director and newscaster, passed away this past weekend in Matthews at the age of 90.
Provence passed away at Plantation Estates on July 30. He was the retired vice president and director of advertising for North Carolina National Bank.
According to an obituary that will be published Wednesday, Provence moved with his family from Dayton, Ohio, to Charlotte in 1957 when he became the first program director and on-air personality for WSOC-TV. Before the move, he was a news and sportscaster at stations in Fairmont, Morgantown and Charleston, WVa., Uniontown, Penn., and Cincinnati and Dayton.
WATCH: A Look Back: WSOC's First Anchor In A 25th Anniversary Special
In World War II, he served in the Army Air Corps as a captain and served as an intelligence officer with the 8th Air Force.
Provence also joined American Commercial Bank in 1959 and handled advertising for the company until it merged with NCNB in 1960. He was also the first national advertising director for BankAmericard, now known as VISA.
During his broadcast years, Provence was active in United Way campaigns, Rotary Club and several other charitable organizations. He was a charter member of the WTVI Citizens Advisory Committee and served as chairman from 1968-1971.
His voice is still heard on hundreds of training and promotional narrations for scores of local and national companies.
A private family grave site service will be held Tuesday at Sardis Presbyterian Church in Charlotte.
WSOC
