Bob Huey brought life back to IMS after WW II

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – A phone man from Terre Haute played a big part in bringing the Indianapolis Motor Speedway back to life after serving in World War II, but at Laura Steele found out he’s much more than that.

Bob Huey said it was his job to bring sound to a silent and dilapidated Indianapolis Motor Speedway that was shut down from 1942 to 1945 due to WW II.

Huey spent over 60 years at IMS as an employee of Indiana Bell and Stage Hand Union 30. He said the first thing he did was cut down all the wire in the place.

“You knew you needed to start over yes, I wanted to start over,” said Huey.

He was the man who made the public address system come to life for the legendary voice of the Speedway, Tom Carnegie.

“Tom Carnegie actually used a phone hand set to have his voice heard,” said Huey.

Before the war Huey was also a caddie for Tony Hulman. Huey said he was a good golfer.

Huey is also an artist. After his work on the track he would come home and draw. He drew things like the Pagoda, cars and even drivers.

When he was photographed at the track you could always see him wearing the same black and white checkered shirt. He said it was a gift from his wife.

“I wore that (explicit) shirt to that (explicit) race every year it was practically in threads,” said Huey.

He holds on to a picture of the public address system that he put together. He donated the original to the Speedway Museum.

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