JIM ROSE REMEMBERS RADIO Issue #467
February 20, 2008 [Wednesday]
Issue #467
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ALL THE NEWS THAT IS NEWS
RADIO LOSES ANOTHER ICON
On Sunday the sad news of the passing of Bill Weaver comes as a shock to those of us who know him. Bill's wife Beverly sends us the details: Charles William"Bill" Weaver passed away on Sunday, February 17th in San Antonio Texas. Bill was born on March 1st in Hutchinson, Kansas to Carl H. and Mignonet Van Keuren Weaver. Bill served in the Armed Services from 1942 to 1946 as a second lieutenant with the 533rd AAA Separate Battalion. He was awarded six Battle Stars and the Bronze Star for heroism. A graduate of the University of Texas, Bill’s career was in Radio Broadcasting. He progressed to becoming general manager of several different major Radio Broadcasting Corporations. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, sister Alma Tobey and son Bruce Weaver. Survivors are his wife Beverly Bales Weaver, daughter Lorina Weaver White, brother Carlton Weaver and daughter Sharon Weaver Smith. Three grandchildren and three great grandchildren also survive him as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and many special close friends. Bill’s many hobbies included hunting, writing, and telling the most amazing stories about his life’s adventures. Visitation will be Monday, February 18th from 5PM until 8PM and the funeral service Tuesday, February 19th at 2PM in the funeral home chapel. Schertz Funeral Home, 2217 FM 3009, Schertz, Texas is in charge of the arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to Central Christian Church of San Antonio, Second Baptist Church of Houston, Pasadena Playhouse, Pasadena, California, or a charity of your choice. Beverly Ann Weaver
The loss of Bill Weaver is very sad news. In October 2004, I have the pleasure of meeting Bill Weaver while we're waiting in the hall for the doors to open to the Texas Radio Hall of Fame banquet in San Antonio, TX. Bill is Gordon McLendon's GM of KILT-610 in its glory years. Weaver brings the Beatles to Houston, TX during his period at KILT. We chat for a bit. Bill is a very nice man. One thing he says still sticks in my memory. He says, Radio has passed me by. Then they fling the double doors open wide and we broadcasters past and present make a mad dash to our seats at the tables in the massive ballroom. Meet and talk with Don Keyes there, too. Don is Gordon McLendon's PD of KLIF-1190 in Dallas, TX during its hey day. While we talk, I snap a photo of Keyes for my collection of radio legends. We chat by email often. Don dies in 2006. Too many of our friends leave us.
MOVERS AND SHAKERS
•ARETHA FRANKLIN is extremely mad at Beyonce because she calls Tina Turner The Queen at the Grammy Awards. Aretha says her royal title is The Queen of Soul and she refuses to give it up peacably. •DAVID HOOD returns to his morning spot on CBS Radio Classic Hits KLTH FM (K-Hits 106.7) Portland, OR. •ANDY FURMAN of Clear Channel Talk WLW-700 Cincinnati, OH for 18 years plus 1 year on crosstown Cumulus Talk that switches to Rock WFTK FM (96.5) Cincinnati-Lebanon, OH announces that his radio career is over. •SUPERSTATION wins 5 year license from Ofcom for a radio station on the Orkney Islands off the northern coast of Scotland. •GARY NOLAN moves on up to PD of Entercom AC KOSI FM (Cozy 101 Lite Rock) Denver, CO.
ENTERTAINMENT AND NEWS MILESTONES
•1946 JACK GUTHRIE singer-songwriter (Oklahoma Hills #1 for 6 weeks-1945) appears as a guest at the Grand Ole Opry on February 16th. •1954 BRYAN GREGORY founding member/guitarist with NY's Psychobilly punk rock band The Cramps born on February 20th. •1969 GEORGE JONES & TAMMY WYNETTE tie the knot on February 16th in Ringgold, GA. •1972 MAHALIA JACKSON Gospel singer widely regarded as America's best dies at 60 of heart failure and diabetes. •1986 JOHNNY CASH & KRIS KRISTOFFERSON star in The Last Days of Frank And Jesse James on February 16th on NBC-TV. •2002 PHIL VASSAR's self-titled debut album certifies Gold on February 8th.
EMAILS YES WE HAVE EMAIL
BILL YOUNG (Houston-Sugar Land, TX) Subject: Bill Weaver. Jim...please let your readers know that Charles W. "BILL" Weaver, formerly of the McLendon Stations and Cap Cities Broadcasting passed away this morning (Sunday) in San Antonio. Bill graduated ‘magna cum laude" from the University of Texas and served six and a half years in combat conditions in North Africa, France and German as a First Lieutenant and Platoon Commander under General George Patton in the US Army. He was awarded six Battle Stars and the Bronze star for Heroism. For McLendon, Weaver served in managment rolls at the company's stations in Milwaukee, San Antonio, Shreveport, Dallas and Houston. Bill was sent to Houston to create and then managed KILT in 1957 until leaving for a managment role with Cap Cities in 1966. He and the original PD, Don Keyes, were the major players that set off one of the most exciting competitive battles in radio history...KNUZ, the leader at the time with Paul Berlin and Buddy McGregor were challenged by KILT and such talents as Jim Wood, Chuck Dunaway and Russ Knight "The Weird Beard". In the mid 60s, Bill pulled off a major 'coup' by traveling to England to personally meet with Beatle's manager Brian Epstein and convinced him to rearrange their US touring schedule to include a show at the Houston Coliseum. In 2003, he was inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame. Bill was putting the finishing touches on a new book about the Kennedy Assassination and the book was/is due out this spring. Bill Weaver was a good man and a friend to many of us who share an enormous amount of gratitude for his support and leadership. Visitation will be Monday, February 18th from 5PM until 8PM and the funeral service Tuesday, February 19th at 2PM at Schertz Funeral Home, 2217 FM 3009, Schertz, Texas. Memorial contributions may be made to First Christian Church of San Antonio, Second Baptist Church of Houston, Pasadena Playhouse, Pasadena, California, or a charity of your choice.CHUCK DUNNAWAY (Houston, TX) Subject: In case you've not heard about this yet. Sadly, yesterday afternoon Bill Young called to let us know that Bill Weaver had passed that afternoon. Bill is in touch with Beverly and will let us know what we can do as soon as he knows. Bill may have contacted you already, but just in case. Chuck
ANDY WALDROP (Houston, TX) Jim, Charles W. "BILL" Weaver, formerly of the McLendon Stations and Cap Cities Broadcasting passed away Sunday morning in San Antonio. Visitation will be held Monday Feb 19 and services Tuesday in Schertz, Texas. A 2003 inductee of the Texas Radio Hall of Fame, Weaver served in management rolls at the McLendon company's stations in Milwaukee, San Antonio, Shreveport, Dallas and Houston. Bill was sent to Houston to create and then managed KILT in 1957 until leaving for a management role with Cap Cities in 1966. Bill had been putting the finishing touches on his new book about the Kennedy Assassination to be published this spring. There could be an obit in the San Antonio newspaper online. Andy
BRAD MESSER (San Antonio, TX) Subject: Mac Hudson's boy? Jim: A friend wrote to me saying "I saw a pic of KILT sportscasters in the Katy Times with names listed, including Mac Hudson. Could this be one of his boys, maybe Baxter or Vaughn?" The Mac Hudson we're thinking of was Hudson Mac Roach, who did some Texas and So. Cal. radio in the '60s-80s. Does anyone know if the Katy fellow is related to Mac? Thanks, Brad Messer
DAVE MICHAELS (San Diego, CA) Jim...clicked on the New Website...looks great to me...and its in English! I read Billy T's - radio history about being chased by the Feds; he should write a "Tell All Book"...would be very interesting to read ! ha ha Dave M. on the Road
FR. BOB TOMLINSON (Ft. Worth, TX) Hi Jim, I just wanted to congratulate on the new newsletter/website. It looks great. Keep up the good work. Best wishes friend. Bob Tomlinson
RICHARD GLANCEY (San Antonio, TX) Jim, This is a tremendous improvement...I am impressed and keep up the good work!!!
JOE FORD (Houston-Spring, TX) Love the new look, Jim. Keep on rockin'. Joe
JOHNNY SHANNON (San Antonio, TX) Jim, Congratulations on a great new site you have to share with all of us who were part of that wonderful place in history Radio was, and IS. Let the memories live on. The best to you and Tejas! Johnny
GILBERT CHESTERTON (1874-1936) The way to love anything is to realize that it might be lost.
Jim Rose and Tejas
Houston, Texas
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