Randall (“Randy”) Gover passed away peacefully on October 5th, 2015, in Evanston, IL, surrounded by his family. Mr. Gover was born on June 4th, 1922, in the small central Missouri town of Edwards. He was the son of Luther Amos Gover and Goldie Caroline (Bybee) Gover. He was predeceased by his parents and his siblings: Maxine Day, Dulcie Friesz, and Ellis Gover. After suffering hardship during the Great Depression, he joined the U.S. Army Air Forces, where he served from 1945-1946. He was stationed at Westover Air Reserve Base, outside of Springfield, Massachusetts, and in Newfoundland, Canada, where he was a debriefer of airplane training missions and in charge of ground operations. He credited his time in the Army Air Forces for helping to shape his personality and serving as a stepping-stone to higher education.
Mr. Gover completed his B.S. in Speech and Education at SMS, now Missouri State University. He went on to earn a Master’s degree in Public Law and Government from Columbia University in New York. While he and his wife, the late Ginger Gover, raised their family of six children, he also completed post-graduate level courses at Rutgers University in New Jersey, the University of Chicago, and the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
Mr. Gover had a long and accomplished dual career in broadcast journalism and education. He worked at KTTS Radio in Springfield, MO; KLRA Radio in Little Rock, AR; KOMA-KWTV in Oklahoma City, OK; and WWL-TV in New Orleans, LA. He was a News Director at WWL-TV in New Orleans, LA; CBS News and Public Affairs Fellow at Columbia University in New York, NY; News Anchor at KMOX-TV in St. Louis, MO; State Capitol Correspondent and Senior Reporter at KOLR-TV in Springfield, MO; and News Director at KOLR-TV in Springfield, MO. He taught English and social studies at Cleveland High School in St. Louis and social studies at Roosevelt High School in St. Louis, where he served as department head. He also coached the boys’ baseball teams at both schools. Mr. Gover taught political science at Meramec Community College in Kirkwood, MO, and at Drury College and Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield, MO. He was an Assistant Professor of Journalism at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, AR.
Mr. Gover was passionate about higher education, politics, history, religion, the arts, travel, and baseball. In his youth, he was an actor at SMS and in Springfield Little Theatre. He was a devout Catholic and member of Saint Agnes Cathedral Parish in Springfield, MO. His letters to the editor concerning the need for gun control, equal access to the media, and other issues were often published in The Wall Street Journal and The St. Louis Post- Dispatch. He began following St. Louis Cardinals baseball at the age of eight and became a lifelong fan. He and his wife were regular visitors at the Cardinals spring training camps in Florida for more than twenty years, and season ticket holders to the Springfield AA Cardinals games since the team made Springfield its home in 2005. He coached the Little League baseball team of his son, Derek, for several years. He and his wife traveled to London and Yorkshire, England and to Paris, France and Bruges, Belgium, and were accompanied by their sons and daughters-in-law on two of their trips. Those visits to Europe were among his greatest joys.
Mr. Gover was the beloved husband of the late Ginger Gover. He is survived by his six loving children: Michele P. Gover of New York City, NY; Lisa Nieman (Tom) of Wilmette, IL; Nannette Gover (Steve Kritchevsky) of Winston-Salem, NC; Brett Gover (Kristin) of Evanston, IL; Gisele Gover (Jeff Nickel) of Itasca, IL; and Derek Gover (Mary) of Glencoe, IL. Mr. Gover is also survived by twelve grandchildren: Rachel Nieman; Alexander, Samuel, and Caleb Kritchevsky; Lucas and Claire Gover; Keith, Savannah, and Jared Nickel; and Graeme, Aubry, and Eamon Gover. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Marnie Watson, and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held in Mr. Gover’s honor at Donnellan Funeral Home in Skokie, IL, on October 10th, 2015. A memorial Mass will be held at Saint Agnes Cathedral in Springfield, MO, at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 21st, 2015. Herman H. Lohmeyer Funeral Home is assisting the family: (417) 862-4433; lohmeyerfuneralhome@gmail.com. Visitation will be held from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 20, 2015, at Herman H. Lohmeyer Funeral Home, 500 E. Walnut St. in Springfield. Mr. Gover was cremated, and his ashes will be buried, with military funeral honors, alongside those of his wife, Ginger Gover, at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Springfield. Memorial offerings may be made to: Saint Agnes Cathedral, 533 South Jefferson Ave., Springfield, MO, 65806.
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