A LITTLE BIT OF HOME

My life in broadcasting was brief, but it is one of the most cherished times of my life. I made an embarrassing salary but I had a large time. There was something so cool about sitting in front of a microphone and speaking to hundreds of people as they went about their days. I always thought that I was a pretty good newsman at my various stops in Fairfield, Springfield and then back to St. Louis. I was good because I loved telling people something they didn't already know. That's probably why I was a decent teacher.

When I arrived in Texas I got the unoriginal idea of starting a radio broadcasting program at Western. I would remake Lewis and Clark in the Republic. And so I went about the job of getting FCC approval for a non-commercial FM radio station. About one year ago the dream came true with the birth of KGWB, 91.1 FM, a 244-watt station that could be heard in Snyder and most of Scurry County. My efforts to find a former student to head up the program failed and I was fortunate to attract Bob "Tumbleweed Smith" Lewis to join former Snyder Daily News Editor Bobby Allen to lead the program in its first year.

But I knew I needed a radio person to do the day-to-day work. So this summer we advertised for the job. I was torn because we had two superb candidates and I knew both of them well. In the end, the committee selected Geron Scates, a longtime broadcaster from Newton, Illinois to lead our young program.

I've known Geron for 35 years. He was one year behind me at Civic Memorial High School in Bethalto. And I only have fond memories of him. He was just one of those great and friendly guys that you remember over the decades. Having Geron here has opened up a flood of memories of my days at old CMHS. They are the most pleasant memories of my life and the people there really molded who I am.

There was the anal English teacher who abused me to become a better writer. There were a string of Marine Corps coaches that taught me to always give maximum effort. And there were the kids (like Geron) who I shared countless hours of fun.

I love the memories...but I don't live there. I was a mediocre athlete with a jovial approach to life. As one great man once said----"A great childhood is lousy preparation for life."

I've found happiness once again thanks to a wonderful woman and some distance.

But I count my blessings everyday for my past.

It made me who I am today.