Hello George-
You hear about radio people with inflated egos, but the truth is that some of the finest folks I ever encountered were in the industry.
Two of my all-time favorites are Dr Al Adams and the late Sonny Knight. I didn't work with Al in Knoxville. He had already moved on to WKDA in Nashville by the time I got to WKGN, but he was in town visiting, heard me on the air. and asked Sonny to introduce us. A year later I went to WKRC in Cincinnati and Al was doing the night show. We became fast friends. I later hired him to do evenings on WEBR in Buffalo, where I was PD. He and Carolyn are two of the world's sweetest people.
Sonny was doing mornings when I came to WKGN as midday jock. I hired Loren Owens (Jefferson Kaye) to do the morning show when I became PD, but no way was I going to lose Sonny. I shortened the shows by one hour, sharing middays with Sonny. He was as solid as they come- dependable, friendly on air and off, and related well to the listeners. He and Janice were newlyweds and as great a couple you would ever meet.
Eddie Beacon was yo' Swingin' Deacon whether he was on the air or not. Eddie is one cool cat, and I like him very much.
You don't hear much about the "front office guys", but I think one of the smartest people I ever met was Bob Crenshaw, who managed WKGN and was the VP of Mooney Broadcasting. He was also drop dead funny. He took an afternoon off to go run his hunting dogs and stopped by the station on the way back home. I'd never seen Crennie in anything but a suit and tie, but he walked in wearing faded jeans, a work shirt, and boots. He drove an Olds Cutlass convertible. The top was down and his dogs were in the trunk. It was unlatched and there was an extra set of keys in the trunk latch. Receptionist Polly Loy looked out the big front window and said "Crenshaw! Someone's gonna take your car, you leaving keys in it" Crennie looked at her with a puzzled visage, then shook his head saying "Aw, Polly. Them dogs can't drive".
Thanks for hangin' with the Possum
