Paul Coburn
Paul Coburn, Salt Lake City’s well known radio and TV
personality for 60 years died August 17, 2005. He was
born April 25, 1918 in Logan Utah to John Leatham
Coburn and Alta Hammond Coburn.
He graduated from
Utah State University where he studied Tap Dance and
advanced Communications at the University of Utah.
Early on he was a sportscaster for the 30 station
Intermountain network doing play by play of Utah
State, University of Utah and BYU football and
basketball.
He wrote a book on Sports Broadcasting
which received a full page review in Newsweek Magazine
by John Lardner. His second book, “Music, Music,
Music, 60 Years of Broadcasting” received favorable
reviews in the Tribune and Desert News. Paul started
in broadcasting as the first announcer on Logan’s
first radio station as it went on the air in 1937,
KVNU.
For many years he was a radio personality with
“Coburn’s Caravan” on several Salt Lake Radio
stations, where he was program director for 20 years
with top ratings. He made special broadcasts for KUED
Channel 7 Television. Paul was an accomplished
musician on the guitar, ukulele and banjo. He played
in dance bands and combos and sang on his radio shows.
His hobbies were billiards and tennis. He was Senior
billiards champion four times at all Senior Centers
and two times Tennis champion.
He served four years
with the famous 19th Bombardment Group in the South
Pacific during World War II earning two Oak Leaf
Clusters. He was married 58 years to Lucy Harris whom
he met in the Third grade at Woodruff School, Logan.
Paul was predeceased by a brother Calvin and sister
LaVerne, his wife Lucy, who died on May 27, 2005, and
a step-daughter, Shirley Ann Roberts who died in 2003.
Paul is survived by his loving sister, Helen Roth,
her son, Peter Grieve, a step-daughter Nancy Roberts
Lucks of Seattle, Washington and several nieces and
nephews from Lucy and Paul’s families.
At his request, no funeral service will be held .
Tributes may be sent to Sunshine Terrace in Logan.
Condolences may be sent to the family and a register
book signed at Allen Mortuaries.