Nash, Bob and Gordon Thompson 1982-03-11

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Gordon Thompson and Bob Nash, longtime employees of Radio Station KFYO, discuss the early years of the station’s operation, sports broadcasts, the Lubbock tornado, and former employees.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: Bob Nash and Gordon Thompson

Additional Parties Recorded: None

Date: March 11, 1982

Location: Lubbock, Texas

Interviewer: Richard Mason

Length: 1 hour 2 minutes


Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: KFYO Radio (Richard Mason), 1927 Breckenridge, Texas, 1928 to Abilene, 1932 to Lubbock, Transmitter location, 72 hour continuous broadcast, Sale to Plains Broadcasting (1936), Name change, Close relationship with Texas Tech, Farm Department, Gordon Thompson, Work with KFYO, Accomplishments, Education, T. E. Kersey promises, 1927, Lubbock tornado (1970), Gordon Thompson, Background, KFYO, Bookkeeping, Commercial management, Station management, Roy Furr, involvement, Staff development advice, Early years, Payroll, Minimum wage, Announcement fees, Trading out spots, Tech students, Meal tickets as compensation, Lack of competition, Need to cater to diversity of population, Dependence upon Mutual Network, Sports re-creations, Anecdote: Man left on third base, Live groups, Sons of the Pioneers, Hop Halsey and the Drugstore Cowboys, Wylie Walker and Gene Sullivan, R. B. "Mac" McAlister, On the Street Broadcast, Austin Food stores, Death of Will Rogers and Wiley Post (1935), Lubbock Hubbers baseball games, Judge Dewitt Landis, Gordon Thompson (again), First job with Lubbock Hubbers, Morton Potato Chip factory, Broadcast voice, Announcers, Pete Cawthon, Views on football broadcasts, Texas Tech invitation to Raisin Bowl, KFYO-Radio, Commitment to news, Avalanche-Journal news reporting, Recorded music, Judge Dewitt Landis (again), Early day soap operas.

Tape 1, Side 2: Red Raider Club, Humble Network, Basketball, Bob Nash and Jack Dale, Jack Dale, Humble Network (again), Exxon account, Mutual Broadcasting, Southwest Conference, Gordon Thompson, Farm advertising, Bob Nash, Jack Creel, Problem Farm, Problem Ranch, Clear channel stations, Frequency changes, Call letters, Gordon Thompson (again), Former employee, Changes in the radio market, Competition, Specialization, FM transmitter, Anecdote, Television, Lubbock, Texas, Allocated TV stations, Channel 5, Monahans, Texas, Globe-News, Broadcasters, Ratings, Bob Nash, Gordon Thompson, Lubbock tornado (May 11, 1970), Lubbock broadcast, Financial foresight, Downtown generator, Gasoline supply, Communications following tornado.

Tape 2, Side 1: Citations, Distinguished service.

Tape 2, Side 2: Blank

Range Dates: 1927-1970s

Bulk Dates: 1927-1982


Access Information

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Transcript:



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