Dana Greene Writes:
David,
In case you have not heard, I'm sad to report that South Bevins died suddenly yesterday
(12/14/11) at his home.
http://www.arnettsteele.com/obits/obituaries.php/obitID/467078/obit/South-Bevins
Here's wishing all is well with you and your family.
Dana C. Greene,
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Mike Sullivan Writes:
David,
Just ran across your site the other night and was immediately whisked away to memory land. In
reading through the readers comments, I saw so many names of people that I knew during my
involvement in radio in Richmond.
I was probably the shortest term "non employee" that WEKY ever had. I worked a total of one
shift and did not even get paid for that. There was another jock at WEKY with the last name of
Cox, besides you and Tyler. His name was Gary Cox and he and I were roommates for about a
year. I filled in for him one night for some reason and the very following week I went to work at
WCBR. He was working at EKY and I was at CBR.. plus we were both student broadcasters at
EKU. People used to think I had some kind of "in" at WEKU because John Sullivan and I had the
same last name..no such luck for me. Back in those days Dan Mason did the only DJ shift that
WEKU had and it was considered "a plum" position. Dan went to work full time at WEKY and I
took over that shift and used to have to listen to John and Loy Lee critique every show. Fun
times...
I attended EKU from 69-73 and spent a hell of a lot of time either at the campus station or above
the Western Auto Building behind the jail. Phil Herald hired me way back when. He had just
started at WCBR as GM and Chuck Ham was PD and the station was one week into transition
from rock and roll to country western. J.T. Parker had acquired majority share of the station. It
was his second radio station, his first being in Kingsport, TN, also a C&W station. It was a wild
and crazy time with all the changes going on and everybody moving in and out.
Back when I started there we were a dawn to dusk station. We thought we were really
something when we brought the FM online and simulcast, and was able to keep the FM on the air
till midnight... I remember Tyler Cox doing his "Willie the worm" voice for Barry's Bait and Beer
commercials, and how on Saturday nights, the guys at Barry's would call up and request a song
and once we played it a guy would show up at the station with a cold six pack. Fun times. Used to
have a blast doing the remote broadcasts and basketball games, we covered Madison High
basketball and Berea College basketball...big time stuff...LOL I was actually PD for awhile after
Chuck Ham left and I finally left in 72 to go to WBLG in Lex. where I did a talk show for awhile until
I decided I was just not making enough money and left the business.
True story, I went off to college to become a broadcaster and I girl I knew in high school and was
a year behind me went off to college to major in political science and she became a huge
network star..Jane Pauley. I was class of 67 from Warren Central High, Indianapolis. And she
was class of 68..go figure...LOL
Lot of great guys around in those days, and despite the rivalry I was buddies with a lot of the guys
from WEKY. Even before I got in the business I used to hang around the station and just watch
and try and learn. Some good times.
Mike Sullivan
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Don Walters Writes:
Hi David,
I was a student at Eastern Ky. State College in 1953, when a friend and fellow student, Don
Schaefer, went on air at WEKY to play Santa Claus during WEKY's first Christmas season.
Schaefer was an Army veteran returning to study at EKSC -- he was a Junior in school at the time
-- and was from Bellevue, Ky. I remember going to the studio with him a few times, and when I
say he played Santa Claus, I mean that he read aloud letters many Richmond-area children had
written to Santa Claus. I seem to remember he'd made arrangements with the Post Office for
that purpose. At any rate, Schaefer was nervous -- his hands trembled while reading the
children's letters on air -- and although I lost track of him the following year (when I entered
military service), I don't believe he made his career in radio broadcasting. Nonetheless, he was a
good reader, made a kind comment on each kid's letter, and tossed in an occasional Ho-Ho-Ho.
Schaefer read the letters on air for a half-hour each Saturday morning for several weeks before
Christmas and, if I'm not mistaken, read them during a fifteen-minute slot on a few Sunday
afternoons, as well. It was a novelty, a popular show, and as a community service, it enhanced
WEKY's good relations with its listeners. I was a sophomore at Eastern during WEKY's first
Christmas season (1953) and went into military service the following summer. When I returned
to Eastern in the fall of '56, I became involved in theater on campus and wrote a good number of
10- and 30-second spots to promote forthcoming EKSC theater productions. WEKY broadcast
the spots as a community service. I didn't work for WEKY at any time, but I was in and out of the
studio so often that I feel like I did. It's a good feeling even now.
I really enjoy the work you've done on your website, and I thank you for the opportunity to offer
the above bit of history for your site's visitors. Judging from what I saw of the studio's
operations during the 1953 Christmas season, it was an exciting, nerve-wracking, glorious time
to be a part of WEKY radio.
Best wishes,
Don Walters
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Don Stocker Writes:
Dave,
Thanks for posting the air check I sent you. I read your page a lot just for the history. The 70s
were the good ole days of radio for me. I had several great job offers in the 70's just from being
on the air at WEKY, WKXO, and WLAP. I forgot to mention the part time position at WLAP in the
70s. I also worked at WAXU in Georgetown, WKDJ in Winchester, and WCBR in Richmond. In the
90's I even tried working in radio again for WEKY doing mornings for Bob Spradlin. I think all of us
took a tour at each of the stations, some repeatedly. Good memories.
Don Stocker
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Robert Hanger Writes:
David Cox:
Just found the WEKY web-page & you may now call-off the hounds, & close down the roadblocks;
you have found me!
Yes, I was at WEKY & took Bob Doll's place first of 1955. I have lots of stories to share, one of
lost talents you list, plus my bio too. (Now finally retired)
KY Col. Robert Hanger,
San Angelo, TX & Phoenix, AZ.
Robert Writes again May 5, 2011
Friends:
It is with pleasure that I announce that my name has been selected for nomination into the West
Virginia Broadcasting Hall of Fame. I was advised today there are 20 nominees and 10 will be
selected for induction within a few weeks by the committee in Charleston, W. Va. Those selected
will be inducted on Nov. 19, 2011 in Huntington, W. Va. I am pleased with this news and would be
honored to be selected for induction into the W.Va. Broadcasting Hall of Fame. I will advise you of
their decision in near future.
Robert.
NOTE: Read more about Robert and his days in Richmond on the WEKY Info Page.
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Ike Smith Writes:
Looking at your WEKY/WIRV website....My info should say worked at WIRV in 1969/70 while at
EKU, then went to WVLK, WLAP, WAKY and WKLO. Anyway, good to see the pictures and info on
all. By the way, I worked weekends... then overnights at WEKY in 1968 as "Colonel Ike's All Night
Music Machine"...played Top 40 from Midnight to three and country from three to six. WOW!! Ron
Boone was P.D.
Take care and tell my buddy Karl Shannon "hello" for me....
Ike Smith
Louisville
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Terry Rice Writes:
David...Googled WEKY and found your site. WEKY was my first radio job. I was attending EKU and
bugged Ralph Gabbard until he GAVE ME a shot. I was hired to do week-end overnights. I went in
and watched the evening jock, Mark Allen Porter, and was to set in with the regular overnight guy
to learn the board, etc. The overnight guy didn't show and around 1:30 a.m. Mark called the P. D.,
Mike Morris, to see what to do. Mike got me on the phone and asked if I thought I could play
records all night by myself. Not to be deterred I told him of course I could. He said for me not to
try and intro anything, just play records. I agreed and promptly introed everything. The next
morning Mike called me in and hired me for overnights full time. While I was there a guy by the
name of Marshall Sidebottom (real name) became P.D. He was great to work for. Also, while I
was there a rival station in Richmond started up, called WCBR, which we said meant "We Can't
Beat Ralph." (Gabbard) So many great memories have come flooding back from that time. With
your permission from time to time I'll email you with other stories. Thanks for such a great site.
Terry Rice, Nashville, TN
p.s. I was at WEKY in 1969 and 1970. I left because I came down with Hepatitis, and came back
when I got over it. TR
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Tyler Cox Writes:
David,
Although we share the same last name, we also share common roots at The Sporty 1340, WEKY!
I stumbled across your website today, and was amazed at some of the names I saw posted there.
I was a student at EKU from 69-73…and spent the last year working at WEKY. How I first got on
the air is a bizarre story.
In 1971 I was in the Sigma Nu fraternity, and across the hall was Richard “Duke” Baxter, who had
a jock shift on WEKY on weekends. One Sunday morning we were, I think, all playing touch
football and Duke broke his arm or shoulder. He couldn’t run that huge old Gates board, much
less flip the light-switch toggles to start the turntables…or get the transmitter readings with the
old phone dialer. He couldn’t find the PD that weekend…”Dave Little”….so he asked me to do his
show. I had been messing around a bit at WEKU-FM, where I got to know John Sullivan. Anyway,
I went in with Duke at Noon, to do his 12-6 shift. His relief was to come on at 6pm and work till
1am Monday. That guy didn’t show up. So my first time ever on the air was 13 hours.
During the middle of the evening, the studio phone rang, and it was Dave Little….driving back into
town and found a pay phone as fast as he could….and said “Who the F--- are YOU?” I handed the
phone to Duke who explained. Dave then asked to speak to me again….we talked a bit…..but it
didn’t lead to anything at that point.
In 72 I got married between my Junior and Senior years…and was the first guy to do the night
shift on WCBR-FM. The AM daytimer just got an FM stick, and I was cheap, so Phil Herald gave
me the gig. I’d never listened to country music a day in my life….which was apparent when I
mispronounced Lefty Frizzell’s name. A caller on the request line said “Yer new, ain’t ya boy?” I
asked that listener to go over every name on the 45’s in the record stack.
Finally got a full-time job at WEKY in the Fall of 72. I would do news in the morning, do the mid-
afternoon jock shift, then go cover news at night like Richmond City Council. Had a blast. About
that time Rich Gimmell was the PD, I can’t remember the GM’s name, but his wife picked all the
music. It was all written on a legal pad, we played all the songs in order, then flipped back to the
beginning and started over. Great rotation. One day the GM was in the hospital, Rich went to Fred
Hensley, the owner, and said we needed to stop playing all that easy listening stuff and play
rock….we were in a college town, after all. Fred said sure. Rich walked back into the studio,
gave me a record, told me to fade out of Tony Bennett’s “I Left My Heart in San Francisco”…to
then scream as loud as I could “THIS IS THE ALL NEW WEKY”….and kick it off with The
Raspberries and “Go All The Way.” The GM and his wife never came back.
A few years later, I had the chance to tell that story to Howard Hessman, who we all know best
as “Johnny Fever” from “WKRP in Cincinnati”, comparing it to the famous first episode when
Andy convinced Big Guy to change formats. Hessman said that every time they thought the
writers for the show had created something new, they would find out something similar had
actually happened in radio somewhere!
I also got to do “Man About Town” for a time. One day a female college student called in (there
was, of course, NO delay), who said she needed “someone to plow my field.” We then tried to rig
up a delay with the two Ampex reel-to-reel decks in the rack….recording the show into the top
one, dropping the tape down to the bottom deck, and sending the playback to air. It worked for
about 3 minutes until the top deck reel speed got faster than the bottom one…so the audio
dropped out. Another day my brother-in-law driving into town was cracking up hearing me doing
the swap shop thing, so he tried to call in and list my car for sale. Greatness.
Career since WEKY includes stops at WVLK (very short), 10 years at the old WAVE Radio in
Louisville, then to WRNL/WRXL/Richmond, VA; KFBK/Sacramento (I got to be Limbaugh’s PD!);
WBZ/Boston; WWRC/Washington, DC….and now in Dallas/Fort Worth for 18 years. I’m on my
second tour of duty as PD at WBAP, after a brief (and very ill-fated!) stint into station
management. My oldest son has caught the radio bug, and is the morning guy at an AC station in
Brownwood, Texas.
John Quincy and I overlapped our time at WEKY briefly. In fact, John is in the middle of
transferring my old WEKY tapes to CD. I’m afraid to hear them! Bill Purdom rocked it at night as
only Bill could with that amazing voice. Woody Stiles was our chief engineer….rest his soul.
Once a snake got into the transmitter building, and shorted out the transmitter. Took Woody
forever to get us back on the air! When I was there, we moved from the McKee Building
downtown out to the ByPass. There was something really cool about that old building downtown,
but we didn’t know it at the time.
I could go on for pages….but I’ll spare you. Those years at WEKY are great memories. So….
when did I get so dang old?!?!
Tyler Cox
Operations Manager
WBAP NEWSTALK 820AM & 96.7FM
Dallas/Fort Worth
817.695.0861
www.wbap.com
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G.C. Kincer Writes
Hi David,
My son Jason somehow ran across your site. What great memories you have brought back for
me. I worked as a DJ at WEKY beginning the fall of 1964 for my cousin Jimmy Kincer. What
great admiration I have for him this day and can never thank him enough for taking care of me
during those tender years of broadcasting. I worked with greats like Byron Crawford, Ron
Statzer, Harry Minix, Buddy K, Ralph Gabbard, Ralph Hacker, Jan Fisher, Woody Styles, Dwight
Goins, and so many more I can't think of right now, but WOW, what an honor!!
After leaving WEKY, I then pulled 4 or 5 years with then WLAP Lexington. Had a short stint with
TV (I was terrible), returned to college and finished my degree in Broadcasting. I then returned to
the Mountains of Eastern Kentucky where I have since owned five radio stations. As retirement
approached I sold three of the stations, leased one to K-LOVE, and just for giggles have
resurrected the old station in Neon, Kentucky where Jimmy, Buddy, and I began (in that order). It
is a 5kw Day timer, and have recently purchased a FM translator to give it its first opportunity in
the market since Jimmy and Buddy left over 50 years ago. Again I have loved every second of
Radio and thank my cousins for giving me such a great career..
One great story of many as we all have. One evening in Richmond Ralph Hacker ask me to go
along with him to the EKU game and he would teach me to do color. I said to Ralph, "why do you
keep fooling with that sports announcing, you know there's no money in it"
Thank you for this web page, what a treat!,
respectfully,
G.C. Kincer,Jr.
AKA "Rick Karr"
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Dan Watts Writes:
Dave,
I was on the air there for about two years from 1989-1991 while I was at school at EKU. I did the
night shift after classes as well as some weekend work. Some of the people that I remember
working with are: Dan McBride…I believe he was the PD; Vince Coakly, on the air; a guy named
Chris something was on the air late afternoons before me; a crazy individual that called himself
something insane like the Sunshine Superman or something like that worked the overnight shift;
Ron Boyd I believe was the owner at the time; Kyle Sowers did a lot of the news stuff; Rob Ellis
was doing sales; also remember Webber Hamilton and Greg Stottlemeyer doing EKU ball
games. That was a long time ago for me, but those are about the only people I remember.
Since then I was on the air in Bowling Green and then got into the sales side in Columbus OH,
Wheeling WV, Scranton PA and now in Cincinnati.
A couple of incidents that I do remember. One is that I was working a long shift on Christmas
Day and one of the other jocks (can’t remember his name) brought some leftovers from his
family’s Christmas dinner to me at the studio. That was too cool and I’ll never forget that guy
remembering a poor lonely college student on Christmas.
Best wishes on developing the site!
Dan Watts
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Joyce Marcum writes:
Couldn't get through the whole website --- but, it was so interesting I could hardly find a place to
stop. I'll be right back on it at first chance. I've always been proud of you, but this website is one
of the best, if not the best, I've ever seen. You've brought back wonderful memories for all of us
and paid a wonderful tribute to Irvine/Estill County.
Joyce Marcum
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Bill Kelly writes:
Wow! This is great!
I was a DJ for WEKY in 1981-82 for Bill Walters and listening to the old Million Dollar Hot Wax
Weekend airchecks brought back a ton of memories.
Rob Ellis (Harkleroad) hired me after I dropped off my 'faked' aircheck. That's the best word for
it since I had never been on the air. I made it at home using a cassette recorder and two sources
for music! He called and said be here at 5:30pm to undergo some training. After an hour and
thirty minutes of training, he promptly got up and said 'you're on!' My first break was horrible! I
remember trying to read the label as the record spun around 'cause I forgot who was playing. I
walked all over the record, finally blurting out "Gerry & The Pacemakers on WEKY!" What a
disaster, I thought, how could it have been any worse! Then I blurted out the "F" word to myself,
I thought. I pulled my headphones off and wondered why I didn't hear any music from the studio
monitors. Yup. I cursed on the air
in my very first break!
I remember working with Greg Stottlemyer, Gene Hardy, Rob Ellis and others whose names
escape me. Frank Ranicky, another former air personality, lives here in Tallahassee and
recently retired from WCTV-TV after several years as anchorman. I've also connected with
Vince Coakley who worked at WEKY back in the early 80's. He's doing TV now as is Kirk
Harnack who is a weatherman. Rob Ellis left WEKY to work for WKQQ in Lexington and then on
to work for a record label. I saw him last in the Opryland Hotel for Country Radio Seminar 10-12
years ago. I went on to WFMI-FM in Lexington...KSTT-AM in the Quad Cities...WJAD-FM in
Albany, Georgia and then to WTNT-FM in Tallahassee. I worked on air from 1986-2000 and then
in the sales department through present day.
I have one old picture of me on the air flying around somewhere that I'll have to send you.
Awesome sight!
Bill Kelly
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Pepper Hardy writes:
Dave
Your interviews brought back so many memories. When I walked from Irvine Grade School to
the Estill Co High, to catch the school bus, you would always stop in the new station. I believe it
was Steve Spicer that went with you most of the time.
The "Live Wire " program was a boom for our store. Sometimes when dad, "H T", was gone I
would talk with Jim or whoever was filling in for him. The other workers in the store would not
answer the phone from 9 to 9:30 because they were afraid to talk on the radio. One guy said Jim
and dad cost him a tobacco crop because he wouldn't get out to work till after the Live Wire was
over. I have a tape of one program somewhere that Jim copied for dad. I'll try to locate it.
The WIRV station helped Estill county come out of the woodwork. For once people were
informed and could keep up with the times. Not waiting a week for the paper to inform them.
Again, thanks for letting us visit the old days again. Stop in at Hardy Gas when you are over this
way Dave. I'm almost retired but I stay around here to fill grill tanks. Your mom and my mom
shared the same hospital room when we were born so looks like I may need to retire if you
already have.
Later, Pepper
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Ron Lowe writes:
David,
What a joy it has been for me to hear from both you,and Dwaine. It is also great to read about old
friends on your website. I have spent the past 32 years in the hotel business. I have been
opening hotels for Hilton,Four Seasons,and Ritz Carlton. My role has been as opening
Purchasing Director for about 9-10 properties. This has allowed Bev and I to live in areas that we
thought we might be lucky enough to visit. Radio or entertaining never leaves your blood
however,and I have acted as MC for all of the hotel parties,and talent shows over the years.
I have two sons. Ages 41,and 35. Four grand children ages, 14,13,12,and 9.
I remember the time I spent in Irvine as the best time of my young life. I have been back a couple
of times to visit Granny Hall's grave,but they have been on the fly visits, when we were on our
way to somewhere else. I was amazed when I looked at your site. There were so many people
that I knew who had made comments.
I wanted to take my sons to meet Jim at Renfrow Valley, but I was too late. My sister-in-law let
me know about his passing.
Enough. I could go on all day. We will catch up later.
Best always Ron & Beverly Lowe
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Lyda Stamper Benson writes:
Although I do not have any tapes or videos or photos of WIRV, I remember you well. I remember
dinging the car in the bend of Broadway, when I took my FIRST driver's license road test. The
car I hit belonged to Jim Gaskin. That was so embarrassing to a 16 year old girl, but if I had
known how funny it would be, when told at age 59, oh well, I digress. The State Policeman made
me go inside WIRV and tell Jim Gaskin, I had hit his car, even though it did no damage. So funny
these many years later. I looked for you on face book, when the subject came up about class
reunions. I don't have the patience to look through hundreds of Dave Cox photos to find you, so
google worked just as well. Love the then and now photos of you. I hope all is well with you.
Lyda Stamper Benson
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Byron Crawford writes:
Hey Dave!!!
Stumbled across the WEKY/WIRV Website and remember both stations very well. I can still see
you sitting at the board at WIRV and I can well remember my mornings at the old Gates board at
WEKY in late 1965 and part of 1966. I did mornings at WEKY and then handled the Man on the
Street show (with a mic cord run outside the window) often with my sidekick Buckhorn in tow.
He was the life of the on the street program, a real life Forrest Gump, who loved the cameo role
on the air and was a favorite with listeners.
I also worked as the color commentator on EKU football one season with Jim Reardon doing
play by play. Jimmy Kincer was the station manager,and owner, I presume. Dwight Goins and
G.C. Kincer were jocks, and Harry Minnich came from Hazard maybe to do news. His future
wife, Francis, was a secretary at the station.
I left WEKY in October 1966 to take a job as a full time newsman at WAKY in Louisville, where
Ron Statzer, formerly of WEKY, had worked before leaving for WCKY in Cincy. Then I took his
place at CKY when he moved to WLW. Ron was later killed in a hang glider accident while a
reporter for a Baltimore TV station.
Harry Minnich followed me to WAKY and then left to do TV news in Winston Salem, NC. I
returned from Cincinnati to WHAS Radio, then moved to WHAS -TV and then to the
Courier-Journal where I retired in Dec. 2008. It is remarkable how my career path continued to
cross many WEKY/WIRV former employees---Dave Bratcher (Mason Lee Dixon) of KXOK and
WAKY fame, John Quincy, Ralph Gabbard, Ralph Hacker, Buddy and Jimmy Kincer and
others------including you, Mr. Cox----a credit to the profession and a long time friend, though we
have not seen each other for several years.
My best to you and to all of those who once spun records at WEKY and ad libbed spots from
advertisements clipped from the Richmond Register.
Byron Crawford
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Keith Chatfield Writes:
Dear Dave,
I ran across your website one day and really enjoyed the radio memories. I'm not sure that you'll
remember who I am. My name is Keith Chatfield and I used to work for Chuck Edwards (Lynch)
at WSKV in Stanton from 1975 until 1979. I also came back for 6 months in 1981. I believe I first
met you when the ham repeater was put at WSKV's tower site in the 70's. I also came over to
the WIRV studios with Chuck and you let us put some oldies, we didn't have, ,on reel to reel tape
to help flesh out our library.
As for stories, you told me a couple while visiting your studios. I distinctly remember you telling
me about the guys from Exile, who you said you knew while in college at EKU. If I'm not
mistaken, it was your station that had the barbers chair for the guy on the air. I also remember
the story of a famous newsman who you worked with at WEKY who could rip and read from the
news wire and do it perfectly. A memory about the ham repeater at the SKV tower site, I got a
call from you one day warning about copperhead's in our transmitter building. Seems that the
repeater went off the air and you or someone went to check it out and found a big female cooper
head had gotten in the
repeater and fried itself. When you guys cut it away, live babies dropped sending baby
copperheads on the loose. I never went the that tower site again without someone with me!
I'm still behind a microphone, some 30 years later. I'm doing morning drive and serving as
production director at WPAY in Portsmouth, Ohio. Our AM is satellite news talk, but our FM is a
monster on 104.1. We are a class C with 100,000 watts ERP now from a 1200 plus ft tower on a
hill just south of the Ohio River in Kentucky.
Again, thanks for jogging my memory. I dredged up things I hadn't thought about in years! Stay
in touch!
Keith "KC"
Chatfield
|
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Bruce Cox writes:
Brother Dave,
I remember well the early days at the BBC. I made a lot of visits during the construction at the
coup. The first listening experience I had, other than on sight, was at the old White service
station on Main Street. The song was Apache which was an instrumental. When I hear that
song today I always think about those times. I made many visits to the old WIRV after school
and on Saturdays when you were on the air.
Thanks for all the great memories.
Bruce Cox Your Cousin Brucie
|
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Bob Hauck writes:
David:
Came across your wonderful retrospective on WEKY, Richmond KY, and had to add my name
as an alumnus who went on to (hopefully) bigger and better things in broadcasting. I was a
part-time college student-newsman/DJ hired by the newly-named manager, Cavin Barnette back
in 1959. The previous manager, O. C. Halyard, was promoted to the Garvice Kincaid station
(WCMI) up in Ashland KY. Staff consisted of John Sullivan and his "early bird," in the mornings,
George Wilcox (great pipes) and an assortment of semi-talent, including myself in evenings.
Also on board was Loretta Halyard, O.C.'s wife, Bob Spradlin in sales, Charlie Mastin in sales
and on EKSC sports, Jim Brown at nights.
Occasionally, when I worked the late shift, I'd sign off the station at 12M then re-sign it on
clandestinely and play perfectly anonymous smooth jazz directed to a few co-ed friends at the
college. Worked well until I was caught by Cavin and appropriately reprimanded.
I was kind of responsible for bring Ralph Hacker on board, who went on to a successful and
varied career in sports play by play at UK and management/ownership at WVLK, Lexington. By
the way, that's all true about Harvey Yeary (Lee Majors). We were football player/roomates,
residing in the infamous Hangar Stadium. He disappeared in 1960 and turned up next on the Big
Valley. Yeary is from Middlesboro KY.
I went on to a career in broadcasting ownership, with stations in NC, WCMI in Ashland, as well
as several in Florida. Now retired at age 69 and living in Ocala FL and would love to hear from
any other WEKY, WCMI, Bluegrass Broadcasting alumni.
rhauck@embarqmail.com
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Bob Doll writes:
David:
I was the original program director at WEKY, arriving two weeks before it went on the air on
October 17, 1953. I was the first voice heard on the station at 5:45 AM that morning with "My Old
Kentucky Home" playing in the background, I introduced O.C. Halyard, well known in the area as
the Eastern football and basketball play by play announcer, on WVLK and other stations on the
Ashland Oil Sports Network. O, C. welcomed the radio audience to the new station and
introduced his pastor, Dr. Poore from the First Baptist Church in Richmond. I was the original
morning disc jockey and did the local news at Noon and 6:00 PM and most notably "The Man on
the Street" program sponsored by the Rogers Sausage Company of Richmond. I did the
program from in front of the Owen McKee Store on Main Street. WEKY was on the second floor.
The announcer on duty pitched the microphone to me for the show, Lerman's Department Store
became a co-sponsor, so the program was moved a block up the street to their store. WEKY
was my third stop in my radio career after WDLB, Marshfield, Wisconsin and WCSI, Columbus,
Indiana. It was the most popular radio station of my early career. Before the interstates were
built it was pretty remote, although it was only 25 miles from Lexington by "bad road." It was a
fun, friendly town. It was a great stop in my early radio career.
Bob Doll
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Bill Buchanan writes::
HI DAVID:
GLAD TO REHASH! AS A BROADCASTER I HAVE NO SHORTAGE OF STORIES TO TELL.. I WAS
ONLY AT WEKY FOR A FEW MONTHS IN 1964 BUT MY MEMORIES EXTEND LONGER SINCE I
WAS RAISED IN RICHMOND. THAT WAS BACK IN THE EARLY DAYS OF O.C. HALYARD, BOB
DOLL, JOHN SULLIVAN, AL WEAVER, JIMMY AND BUDDY KINCER.
BEFORE GOING TO WORK THERE I HUNG AROUND THERE A BIT AND REMEMBER WHEN
THEY WENT FROM 250 WATTS TO 1000 THEY HAD A SLOGAN THAT SAID: "1000 WATTS
THAT SOUNDS LIKE A MILLION" BEFORE I GOT MARRIED, I OCCASIONALLY WAS AT THE
STATION, WHILE IN COLLEGE, VISITING. JIMMY KINCER AKA "JIMMY KAY". HE HAD A
FABULOUS NEW PLYMOUTH FURY CONVERTIBLE, EGGSHELL BLUE. HE WAS THE FIRST
PERSON TO HIRE ME IN RADIO. I HAD WORKED IN NEWSPAPER BUT THIS WAS WHAT I
WANTED TO DO.
WHEN I FIRST CAME ON BOARD I DID SALES WITH RALPH HACKER - I DID MOST OF MY
COMMERCIALS THAT I SOLD, THE MAN ON THE STREET AND I WAS SANTA CLAUS -
READING LETTERS FROM KIDS TO THE JOLLY OLD ELF. I WAS TOLD TO GO OUT AND FIND A
SPONSOR FOR SANTA CLAUS - I DID AND WHEN I ASKED WHO WAS SANTA CLAUS - JIMMY
KINCER SAID, YOU SOLD IT -YOU DO IT. GULP!!!! J..J.. NEWBERRY'S 5 & DIME WAS THE
SPONSOR. WHY DO I REMEMBER THESE THINGS? I CAME IN EITHER LATE SEPTEMBER OR
EARLY OCTOBER OF 1964 AND LEFT IN MARCH OR APRIL OF 1965.
ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I DID AT WEKY WAS TO GIVE RE-BIRTH TO "THE MAN ON THE
STREET" PROGRAM IT WAS AN INTERVIEW PROGRAM WITH FOLKS WALKING BY THE
STATION. WE DID IT IN FRONT OF THE DOOR LEADING UPSTAIRS TO THE STATION IN FRONT
OF THE MCKEE BUILDING DOWNTOWN. MY VERY FIRST DAY I WAS READING A
COMMERCIAL FOR A USED CAR LOT, (BAD IDEA- TOO MANY DISTRACTIONS) WHEN A
DRUNK WALKED UP AND STARTED TRYING TO TALK TO ME – SO, AS I READ, I TURNED IN
A SLOW CIRCLE TO GET AWAY FROM HIM... AS I TURNED I WRAPPED THE MIC CABLE
AROUND MY LEGS. FINALLY I FINISHED THE SPOT AND IN ROOKIE BROADCAST BRILLIANCE
I BLURTED OUT - WHO ARE YOU.... THE DRUNK SAID "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING"..
NOT A GOOD START. THE MAN ON THE STREET HAD BEEN DONE FOR YEARS BY OC.
HALYARD, BOB DOLL, BOB SPRADLIN AND OTHERS BUT HAD BEEN DISCONTINUED UNTIL I
RESTARTED IN 1964.
ANOTHER STORY: ONE DAY I GOT BACK FROM LUNCH TO FIND THAT A GUY I HAD ONCE
KNOWN FAIRLY WELL AS A GOOD BUDDY OF MY BEST FRIEND AT EKU. HIS REAL NAME IS
HARVEY YEARY - BUT HAD MORE RECENTLY CHANGED IT TO LEE MAJORS WHEN HE WENT
TO HOLLYWOOD AND BECAME AN ACTOR. HE WAS AT WEKY TO DO AN INTERVIEW WITH
OUR TOP NAME OF THE DAY, JOHN SULLIVAN. HARVEY HAD JUST SIGNED TO BE HEATH
BARKLEY IN THE SOON TO BE IMMENSELY POPULAR TV SERIES - BIG VALLEY. HE CAME
OUT OF THE CONTROL ROOM, AFTER THE INTERVIEW, AND REMEMBERED ME. WE SHOOK
HANDS AND SAID HE WANTED TO SHOW YOU MY NEW CAR WE WENT TO THE FRONT
WINDOW, LOOKED DOWN ON MAIN STREET WHERE HE POINTED AT A DARK LIME
COLORED CADILLAC CONVERTIBLE. IT HAD A LIGHT TAN CONVERTIBLE TOP. MY GOD IT
WAS THE UGLIEST THING I HAD EVER SEEN, BUT BRAND NEW HARVEY WANTED ME TO
TELL HIM HOW BEAUTIFUL IT WAS - SO I DID. IF I HAD KNOWN HE WOULD BE THE BIONIC
MAN LATER I WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE FLATTERING BUT I DID THE BEST I COULD.
SORRY ABOUT THIS ALL CAPS, I ACTUALLY DEVELOPED THE HABIT AT WEKY WHERE
JIMMY KINCER, THE STATION MANAGER TOLD US TO TYPE IN ALL CAPS BECAUSE THE
TYPE WAS TOO SMALL ON OUR TYPEWRITERS. I HAVE NEVER BROKEN THE BAD HABIT.
NOW YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT ALL CAPS ON EMAILS.
BOB DOLL WAS A BIG INFLUENCE IN MY EARLY RADIO LIFE. AFTER LEAVING WEKY, I
WORKED FOR BOB AT WMST AND HIS SMALL STATION CHAIN AND CAN TELL YOU HE
HUNG THE MOON. HE WAS AT WEKY IN ITS EARLIEST DAYS AND WAS A GREAT TEACHER
WHEN I WORKED FOR HIM IN MT. STERLING AND DELAWARE OHIO. WHATEVER IS GOOD
ABOUT ME AND MY 44 YEAR CAREER BOB DOLL GETS CREDIT FOR THE BROADCASTING
PART. I WANTED TO MANAGE A STATION SO EVENTUALLY LEFT FOR TEXAS IN 1969 TO
MANAGE KGTN IN GEORGETOWN. THERE I PUT THEIR FM ON THE AIR. AFTER FIVE YEARS I
WENT TO LOCKHART TEXAS TO MANAGE AND GET A MINORITY OWNERSHIP. AFTER 3 1/2
YEARS THERE I GOT CONTROLLING OWNERSHIP HERE IN LIBERTY IN 1977 AND HAVE
REMAINED HERE .
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE EVER HEARD OF SPLIT CHANNEL SPOTS - BUT I DEVELOPED
THAT. IT HAS BEEN WRITTEN UP IN SEVERAL TRADES, PLUS READERS DIGEST, NEW YORK
TIMES, AND SOME OTHERS. IT IS STILL USED ON A FEW RADIO STATIONS AROUND THE
COUNTRY.
THERE WAS SOME REFERENCE TO WAYNE GREGORY AS BEING A FORMER WEKY
ANNOUNCER. HE AND I WERE CHILDHOOD, CHURCH AND SCHOOL FRIENDS. I REMEMBER
VERY WELL WHEN HE GOT INTO RADIO. THAT WAS WELL BEFORE I DID. IN THOSE DAYS
THERE
WERE A LOT OF LIVE COMMERCIALS DONE AND ON WAYNE'S SHIFT THE LOG CALLED,
EVERY DAY, FOR SOME BEER COMMERCIALS. WAYNE, AS I RECALL, A FAITHFUL BAPTIST,
CONCEDED HE WOULD AIR THE COMMERCIALS IN HIS SHIFT BUT WOULD NOT
READ THEM. MANAGEMENT, AT THAT TIME, APPRECIATED HIS WAY OF HANDLING IT AND
HAD THOSE SPOTS RECORDED BY SOMEONE ELSE. CLASSY BY BOTH, I THOUGHT. WAYNE
WAS AN EXCELLENT HAM RADIO ENTHUSIAST AND SEVERAL TIMES I SAT BESIDE
HIM, AT HIS HOUSE, AS HE COMMUNICATED WITH PEOPLE ALL AROUND THE WORLD IN
MORSE CODE. TO A JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL KID THAT WAS STUNNING.
THAT'S JUST A FEW STORIES - I SURE WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOUR FINISHED WORK ON THE
HISTORY OF A SUPER STATION IN A WONDERFUL TOWN. GOOD LUCK.
BILL BUCHANAN
KSHN/KPXE
LIBERTY, TEXAS
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Ray Cole writes:
Hello David,
My name is Ray Cole, I live in Lexington Ky. I have been a regular listener of the Coyote for the
last 4 years I enjoy it very much. When WEKY signed on in 1953 the studios were located in the
McKee building corner of First and Main streets. They would sign on the air at 6am and sign off
at midnight daily. They joined the Mutual broadcasting system for news, programming and
baseball games. The station manager was O.C.Higher. The morning man was John Sullivan, the
newsman was Bob Doll, the country music was handled by Ichabod Powell. They broadcast the
EKU football and basketball games, also Madison Central and Madison high football games.
Later on came Charlie Masten and Bob Spradling they broadcast the play by play games.
I remember some names in the early days of WEKY. There was Don Stewart who did the music
till midnight show every evening, he played the pop music. There was also Bob Hanger took over
in 1955 after Bob Doll went to Mount Sterling. The first WEKY engineer was Reed Anderson who
went to WCYN in Cynthiana. Then there was the very young Wayne Gregory and there was also
a guy named Ray Hooper. Some of the programing was the man on the street program and a lot
of the Mutual radio networks shows. When the station first signed on it had 250 watts then went
to 1,000 watts. Back in those days they had great music like Dean Martin, Perry Como, Frank
Sinatra and Rosemary Clooney. Thanks
Dave,have a great evening Ray of Lexington
Thanks Ray of Lexington
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Tim Clowers writes and asks for your help in locating old WIRV programs:
My name is Tim Clowers and I recently learned that my grandpa Gayle Clowers and my great
uncle Joe "Slim" Woolery Jr, had a 30 minute broadcast program on WIRV back in the late 50's
or early 60's . As far as I know it was a weekly show. I contacted someone from WCYO about
these possibly being archived and they suggested I email you. If these are archived I would love
to have a copy , as both are deceased now. I don't know the name of their show but if you have
any information could you please contact me . I appreciate your time. Thanks.!
Tim,
The Slim Woolery program aired on Saturday mornings in the early 1960s. As I recall, Slim also
was a frequent guest on "The Down Home Jamboree" which aired on Saturday afternoon. Your
Grandfather, Gayle Clowers, as I recall, sang on one of the WIRV religious broadcasts, maybe
Paul Arvin's program or Gentry Farmer's program. If you obtain additional information please let
me know.
Readers,
If you can help Tim with information or have recordings of the program, please email me at:
Coxde3@aol.com
Thanks
Dave
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Jim Kincer writes:
I just came across your (History) web pages for WEKY and WIRV (impressive and brings back
many memories). If you haven't already included the names below on your list, you may want to
add, so we can gather information about each, if possible.
John Sullivan (Deceased)
Jim Brown (Somerset)
George Wilcox
Ralph Hacker
Ralph Gabbard (Deceased)
Bryan Crawford (Famous author Louisville)
Mark Neeley (Public Relations for City of Cincinnati, OH)
GC Kincer (Former of several radio stations in east KY and VA) (Retired)
Buddy Kincer (Buddy Kay)(retired in Chicago)
Icabod Powell (very early morning in the early 60's)
Dave Bratcher (Louisville)
Woody Stiles (Deceased)
Johnny Fox (Retired Daytona Beach, FL)
Dave Slack (Salesman)(Deceased)
Tinker (Fox) Slack (Daytona, FL) Namesake "Tinker, INC"
Robert "Bob" Spradlin (Mt Sterling last I knew)
Just my initial "memory" but more will come to mind.
Good Luck and I will be glad to help you (as best I can) with this effort.
Respectfully,
Jimmy "K"
Jim Kincer
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Patricia (Estes) Rose writes:
I got this from an email and really enjoyed taking the trip down memory lane from my home
town. I hope you add to this or make more, if you do please keep my email address and send it
to me. Thanks, Patricia (Estes) Rose. I now live in Madison Co., but proud to be an old Irvine girl.
It sure has died down and changed a lot. I would love to see it as it was in the 60`s. Thank you.
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Tula Prewitt writes:
Sure am enjoying your home page on the computer. I remember the Trading Post, especially the
old people who use to call in each day with numerous things to sell and trade. Your site allows us
to go back down memory lane. The song you played for the Trading Post was a great Piece. It
gave us country folks a new chance to enjoy this type music. I am sure it will always be
remembered by us listeners who always included this program in our daily schedules.
Marvin Wilson, Ms Neal(from Plum Street) Cora Arthur who lived on top Daniels Addition. Just to
name a few..
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Dana Greene, Middlesboro Kentucky writes:
While browsing the Internet this morning, I discovered your site (which looks like a real treasure
for local broadcasters) and found Bill's name. I do recall learning that Bill spent some time in
broadcasting while at Irvine and it was interesting to your read your comments about him. By
the way, I occasionally have contact with South Bevins. South's son, Wade Bevins, is an
executive at a local bank (First State Financial) and I see Wade rather regularly. South is a local
broadcasting icon and it was interesting to see and hear his comments on your site. You have
certainly created an archive of information that must be priceless for those who spent time on
the air in Estill County and Madison County.
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Jim McPhail writes:
I enjoyed your site and thinking about "old times" The interview with Jim Gaskin was great.
Such wonderful memories!
Jim
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Joedy Ohr writes:
"Anne sent me your web site....enjoyed all the "stuff". The WIRV signal would come in over
several appliances and old record player in our house."
Joedy Ohr
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Phyllis Gould Drilling writes:
"Loved the walk down memory lane on your website. Be sure to keep June 21 available for the
school-wide reunion. We are hoping to have it in the "study hall" at IHS. More later."
Phyllis
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Don Richardson writes:
Dave,
" I really enjoyed your trip down memory lane, which most of us at 60 tend to want to do more of.
I think the most memorable of all with WIRV was the Saturday night Sock Hops, at the armory in
Ravenna. What a great time and what a real outlet for the kids. In a time when we are all
searching for things to occupy our follow on generations with, maybe someone would get the
message here and start that process all over again. I might even spend a Saturday night or two
myself reliving those trips down memory lane, and what great memories they were. Thanks
Dave to you and all the people you mention on your web site for they all participated during those
Saturday night departures from the week of School.
Don "Buckwheat" Richardson
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David Bratcher (Mason Lee Dixon) writes:
"Hey Dave,
I just checked out the web site and loved it. The historical value is obvious and the sentimental
value is precious. Listening to you and Jim was a wonderful reminder of the basic values I was
taught by you guys. I still hold those values today. I also realized how ignorant I was back then
concerning what it really took to build a radio station from the ground up. The energy output was
incredible. I hope some of these so called modern radio heads can hear and understand what
radio pioneers you and Jim and all were and take lessons from what you actually did in those
communities."
Dave
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Wendell Tipton writes:
"Thanks Dave for sharing the history of WIRV, really took me back a few years!"
Wendell k4wft
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Larry James (Jaye) writes:
"Dave - The Burger Barn spot is a classic! It was fun to hear what I sounded like in 1960 on a
couple of the audio files.
It's good to hear from you. Thank you for adding me to the WIRV list. I'll be passing the link on to
a few friends. I still stay in touch with Sue Carol Richardson (my first love) and her brother.
They both live in FL. We used to hang out at the Eagles Nest Restaurant.
I remember a drag race in Ravenna with Dougie Palmer. He had a hot car and challenged me to
a race in front of all his high school pals. I had a 1953 Plymouth. When he popped the clutch, his
axle broke and I won. I never let him forget it. LOL. OF course I was bragging about it on my
program and when the local sheriff at the time heard that I had done this and was on my tail a lot
after that.
Jim Gaskin used to do the news in the studio next to the control room. He would run in at the last
minute and tear off the news from the teletype and begin to wing it. I once sneaked in behind him
and set his copy on fire during the newscast. No one was hurt but he was scrambling around
trying to put out the fire and still read the news at the same time. I was in the control room
laughing. I almost got fired over that.
Bill Carroll was doing his show from the control room and the ceiling began to fall in during the
show. All of those loose ceiling tiles came crashing down bringing with them all the dust and dirt
that had accumulated over the years. It was a mess. We thought it was funny, but Bill didn't see
the humor in it.
One of the highlights for me was doing a 15 minute live program with Bill Monroe and The
Bluegrass Boys in the studio to promote his appearance at the local theater. I was MC of the
theater appearance and the opening act was Glenn Campbell. This was before Glenn recorded
"By the Time I Get to Phoenix" which was released in 1967. I ran into Glenn at the airport here in
Phoenix several years ago and mentioned this to him and he remembered the show. He lives in
Paradise Valley, AZ which is about 3 miles from where I live in Scottsdale."
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Paul Spicer writes:
"This is fantastic!! My nephew, EDA Director, Joe Crawford (Jayne's son,
obviously) called me today and told me about it. I remember the infamous Burger Barn spot. A
classic! It was already archived when I started in 1980. Which, by the way, thank you for giving
me the opportunity to get my feet wet. I worked part-time at an FM station in Greenup, where I'm
living now, for 14 years (1990-2004). I haven't been in "the business" since then. Vince
Richardson
(who, the last I heard was chief engineer at a radio station in Dallas) always
told me once you got out you would always want to get back in. And, that is so
true. I really enjoy this site and will return often for updates."
Thanks,
Paul
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Tom Broaddus writes:
Hey there!
I love the web site! So many great memories.
Tom
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Jim Gaskin writes in 2007:
The more I think about it, I think God smiled on us or maybe laughed out loud. My best to you and
yours. When I get to feeling better, we'll get together again.
As always, Jim
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Doc Spivey Writes:
I was checking your stuff out you added, that is awesome, it is good to here your voice on some
of the old jingles and the trading post,when I started the great American rock and roll show in
1987 I used the old format as much as i could. I get a chance i will stop and see you.
" Doc Spivey"
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