Jon F. Ruby, retired general manager of KVOA-TV who turned the flagging local television station into a No. 1 news outlet, has died.
Ruby, who retired in 2002, succumbed to complications of pneumonia Tuesday. He was 73.
When Ruby began working at KVOA in 1974, video recorders were not yet mainstream and cable television was still thought of as the wave of the future.
"Little House on the Prairie" was the popular new program in NBC's prime time lineup and the network debut of Saturday Night Live was still a year away.
"Television in itself is a great challenge. It's the most fascinating medium ever created, a true source of information combined with entertainment," Ruby said in a 1974 Arizona Daily Star article.
That was the year he and his wife, Lou, moved to Tucson from Chicago, where the Ruby was general sales manager at the ABC affiliate. When Ruby was hired as general manager at KVOA, it was the market's lowest-rated news station. Within two years of his arrival, both the 5 and 10 p.m. newscasts were No. 1 in Nielsen and Arbitron ratings.
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"He was very knowledgeable about broadcasting and the way he put that station together ... he turned it around and the newscast became number one," Lou Ruby said. "He was such a great boss, but he was tough. He didn't like any slackers."
David Hatfield, editor of Inside Tucson Business, worked for Ruby from 1983 until the general manager's retirement.
"He always wanted team players," Hatfield said. "We all had a clear understanding of what was the best thing for the station and what it would take to get ahead. Other than that he just let you do your job."
Added KVOA's chief meteorologist Jimmy Stewart: "If you were a hard worker, he would back you to the hilt on anything. He was kind of gruff, but inside he was a teddy bear. He was like a brother. I learned how to enjoy life from Jon."
Ruby, a golfer, melded his interest in golf with his work in broadcasting as a member of the Tucson Conquistadors, a service organization. He was part of the PGA tournament committee.
"He was one of the great ones," said Conquistador Bucky Lovejoy. "Being involved with NBC, and NBC telecasting many of our (golf) tournaments, Jon was right there at the forefront making sure everything was taken care of. Whether it was NBC or ABC or ESPN or whoever was telecasting it, Jon was right there making sure everything ran smoothly and everyone got what they needed, whether it was electricity or soda pop.
"His heart and soul was in the Tucson Conquistadores."
Ruby also served on the boards of the Tucson Medical Center Foundation and the United Way of Southern Arizona. He was a member of the Tucson Airport Authority and the Committee of 100 of the YMCA of Tucson.
Professionally, he served a term as president of the Tucson Broadcasters Association and was on the board of the Arizona Broadcasters Association. In 2002 Ruby was inducted into the Silver Circle Society of the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and in 2004 he was named to the Arizona Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame.
He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Lou, his son, Brad and his daughters Elizabeth and Samantha.
Contact reporter Kimberly Matas at kmatas@azstarnet.com or at 573-4191.
