Laying here thinking of my life as am now 70. Was a student at Lutheran High School and Coach Bales took me to an Angels game and subsequent locker room visit. That should be what I remember but it’s not. It’s the belief in me that coach Bales had and the positive words he gave that instilled some belief in what I may become. 
55 years have passed and his spirit still lives in me and I’m sure many others!

Recently, I was cleaning out old files when I came upon several audio cassettes from the mid 1970's.  They contained a series of interviews with sports personalities.  Terry Bales was my journalism professor at Santa Ana College in 1972.

A caring and empathetic man, Terry put me together with a then upstart weekend sports anchor at KNBC TV to give me guidance and career advise.  Bryant Gumbel spent an hour explaining the ins and outs of broadcasting and writing one Saturday afternoon!

Terry was able to excite an immature and unfocused kid during that semester.  I was not surprised to read that his humor and modesty touched hundreds who came after me.  He clearly made a difference in people's lives - what a gift!

My sincere condolences to Terry's family


I was saddened to hear of Terry's death. He was a mentor since I joined the El Don newspaper in 1981-82 at Santa Ana College. I was a budding sports writer and Terry took me under his wing, including taking me to a Los Angeles Rams football game. Terry would spend hours coaching me about writing, including the importance of digging beyond the surface. He pushed me hard -- no doubt -- but showed that he cared and saw something in me. He had his "red pen" that he would bring out to show mistakes in the final product of the newspaper. Sometimes the pages would "bleed" with red, but Terry also encouraged us in his critique. Terry was the reason I became a reporter and stayed in the profession for 25-plus years. Thanks Terry, I hope I made you proud! RIP

I took a couple of introductory classes in the TV program at RSC, and Terry’s enthusiasm for teaching drew me in.  Working on AAOC was a great experience.  It was unique, in that we went beyond campus to cover stories.  We had the only student crew at Richard Nixon’s funeral.  I learned a lot from Terry, and eventually became a staff producer of AAOC in 1994.   He helped me become the journalist I am today.  After 25 years as a photojournalist at ABC in Fresno.  I still look back fondly at my time at RSC, and will always remember Terry’s passion for teaching.  

Mr. Bales was a inspiration.  I was a reporter on Around and About OC . I eventually worked my way up to Entertainment segement producer.  He always inspired me to worked harder and be a good reporter.  

I wanted to reach out to him because I got a job as a news reporter only a few days before he passed. 

Mr Bales, you will always be my inspiration to tell the truth. Sending love to his family and loved ones. 

Terry was our teacher and Executive Producer of Around and About Orange County in 1985 and beyond at the studio in Centennial Park. I was privileged to know him as a teacher and friend.   He was always very encouraging.  I was one of the early  news anchors and learned so much.  Ed Royce produced and directed our program.  We all gained some great hands on experience under Terry's visionary leadership.    I send my condolences to his dear wife and family.

What a remarkable man. Terry was my advisor on "el Don" at Santa Ana College for two years (78/79 and 79/80) and taught me what it means to be a journalist. He gave his time and never wavered in his commitment to all of his students. We could not have asked for or had a better journalism teacher. Over the years, he was a mentor, a friend and, later, a colleague. I am so thankful that I had the privilege of knowing him.

One of my favorite people.  Terry was a neighbor when we were young kids and we hung out.  We both loved baseball and talked about it all the time.  I loved his parents and we would hang out at his swimming pool.  Terry went on to make his mark at USC and lived his dream of teaching and reporting on all types of pro sporting events.  My oldest son loved to hear his stories and is now at Boise State majoring in communications and playing baseball.  He wants to follow in Terry's career foot steps some day.  Will miss my old friend.

Terry and I met on a blind date, through a pre-internet company called Great Expectations.  At the end of the first date, when he dropped me off, he informed me "You do know I'm going to marry you".....  I didn't at the time but he grew on me and we had 40 great years.

I had pluck, ambition and raw talent, but zero experience or training in working on-camera in TV news, when I found my way to Santa Ana College and Professor Terry Bales— chairman of the school’s broadcasting department and executive producer of the school’s renowned weekly TV news series, “Around & About Orange County News” (AAOC) and “Noticias Latinos Orange County” (NLOC). He recognized my potential and immediately  began to mentor me. He wholeheartedly believed in me, in my abilities and in my potential to work in the business.   Terry told me countless times that he knew I could succeed, and I believed him.  He began firmly channeling my enthusiasm and commitment into developing tangible news writing, producing and delivery skills, and he gave me increasing responsibility with the opportunities he assigned. I worked very, very hard to meet his expectations. Terry completely changed the trajectory of my life through the generous gifts of his time, training and guidance.  Thanks to Terry, I was able to parlay the experience and training I received under his tutelage and his mentoring into a career on-air in TV news.  The demo tape created from stories and anchoring footage that had aired on AAOC was successful in getting me a full-time TV news contract as an anchor-reporter with the CBS affiliate in Bakersfield, CA. We stayed in touch over the years, and he was thrilled when he learned that I had been awarded three regional Murrow Awards for my stories. I am deeply grateful for having been one of the thousands Terry guided during his career, and he holds a special place in my heart. He will be deeply missed.

Mr. Bales, you were such an amazing mentor in my education and now my life. You trusted me to be your producer in my second semester of classes, and made me a better leader. I called you Papa Bales because you treated me like a son, and I'm pleased that others called you that as well. You will always be in my thoughts and heart as a champion! Rest in peace Papa Bales 




Our thoughts are with Terry's  wife Debbie and their family during this very difficult time. May he rest in peace, and his memory live on within them.

OBITUARIO

Professor. Terry Wallace Bales

4 abril, 1945 – 20 diciembre, 2019

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