Lights, action, Colby

Bella Vistan goes from military tech to elite fashion photographer

Colby
Colby

What do Marvin Hamlisch, Jacqueline Bisset and Frank Gifford have in common?

They all worked with renowned photographer Ron Colby. A multifaceted artist, Colby's talents took him from the Eisenhower White House to "Mad Men"-era Manhattan, with several international stops in between. He's been retired and living in Bella Vista for about 11 years.

A New Jersey native, Colby graduated high school in 1951. During his senior year, he was a disc jockey on a local radio show. He followed high school with two years at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. But in 1953, Colby decided to join the Army at 19.

"I was in the Signal Corps and after basic training I was sent to radar school in Fort Monmouth, N.J.," Colby said. "That was a good assignment, because I was close to home."

Colby quickly became a radar instructor and earned the respect of his superiors, winning the nomination for soldier of the month. Not long after, he was called by his first sergeant into a private meeting.

"The first sergeant called me in and told me I was shipping out," Colby said. "He said, 'You have been handpicked from hundreds of men for special secret duty.'"

"He couldn't tell me anything else," Colby said.

When Colby arrived, he met a handful of other soldiers, all with different military occupations.

"We didn't know what was going on, but in walks this very distinguished looking colonel," Colby said. "He introduces himself as Col. George McNally of the White House Army Signal Agency. He said, 'You men have been screened and handpicked to be a part of my unit, which provides and maintains communications for the president wherever he travels in the world.'"

Colby reported to the Pentagon in Washington and was placed in the recording division. The position put him right inside the White House. Wherever President Dwight D. Eisenhower went, his recording division tagged along to capture all of the president's press conferences and speeches.

"I felt very honored and privileged to have been chosen, to serve there," Colby said.

Colby spent the next two years traveling around the country with Eisenhower. He rode with the presidential party in Columbine II, the predecessor to Air Force One.

"I would set up ... my equipment right below the podium," Colby said. "Ike would come in with the Secret Service and -- without fail -- he would look down, nod and smile 'hello' to me every time."

In the West Wing

Colby's time in Washington also helped launch the next phase of his career. It happened one weekend in 1954, when Colby was called to the White House to play Eisenhower a film of his grandkids.

"We had to rotate when to be on call on weekends and so forth. So this one weekend I get a call from (actor) Robert Montgomery," Colby said. "He says, 'Do you know how to run a projector.' I said 'yes,' and he tells me to meet him at the West Wing in an hour."

The film and television actor had been hired by the White House to coach Eisenhower for his on-camera appearances.

Colby drove to the White House, parked and headed over to the West Wing. Montgomery informed him about the situation and escorted him to the president's private quarters.

"I'll never forget this," Colby said. "We go in and there's Ike in his bathrobe, pajamas and slippers. He shakes hands with Montgomery, and Montgomery says, 'Mr. President, I'd like you to meet Cpl. Colby.' Ike comes over and shakes my hand -- very friendly, very warm -- and says, 'Corporal, welcome to the White House. Thank you for coming in today to do this."

Apparently Colby made an impression with Montgomery, too. The esteemed actor spoke with Colby about his plans after he was discharged from the service. Colby said he wanted to go into broadcasting, hopefully directing TV commercials.

Camera work

At the time, Colby only dabbled in photography as a hobby. But one of the creative directors at the agency where Colby was working saw Colby's photos and urged him to show the slides to a good friend of his. That friend just happened to be George Hartman, the art director at Glamour magazine.

"He's looking at my pictures and he's not saying a word, and I'm thinking I'm dead in the water," Colby said. "So he puts the lights back, and I said, 'What do you think?' And he says, 'Ron, I love your pictures. Anytime you want to leave advertising, call me. I'll give you work for Glamour magazine.'"

Because he was a freelance photographer, Colby also shot for Glamour, Clairol, Revlon, CoverGirl, GQ, Ladies Home Journal, Redbook and Family Circle, among others. He spent the next 20-plus years traveling the globe photographing famous models, actors and athletes.

Colby continued his career as a photographer well into the 1990s. But when it came time to retire, he wanted a quiet place away from the big city. That's how he came to Bella Vista, where he's lived for more than a decade.

NAN Our Town on 03/26/2015

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