Additional KWBG Information

     Our recent talk about former KWBG radio employees has brought responses from former BGers Tony Crandell, BHS-59, and Bernie Lewiston as well as from Sara Shaler Harwood, BHS-55, who's mother, Signe, was an important BG station staff member in its beginning years, and John Kueck, BHS-61.
     You will recall that I, the Kornerman, in a recent edition, set this subject on fire by ATTEMPTING to recall as many former KWBG employees, during my time there in the 50's/60's, as my 82-year old mind could muster. I knew there would be some misses but what was really upsetting was the fact that several of the "misses" should have been sooooo easy but didn't make my list. For example, for heaven's sakes, I was best man at Dennis Borwick's wedding and I worked quite some time with John Stribling. Then too, Freddy Lark, Floyd Killian, Vic Sayer.......those should have all been "front and center," and I missed them. Oh well, maybe I can rest on my old age as an acceptable excuse.
     Anyway, here we go with the responses. Sara wrote, "I recall another KWBG employee. I'm not certain of her position......probably in traffic or copy......but not on the air. Her name was Maribel (sp) Benson and she was from Ringsted, IA. and probably in her 20's. For a time in my early teens, I spent summer mornings with mother at the station. My job (unpaid of course) was to take local news reports over the phone, call funeral homes and follow mother's orders in general. The Golden Wedding anniversary reports were very detailed and woe unto anyone who made a mistake taking those notes. A stop on the way to the station was Boone City Hall to check with the police department for any news. I also recall a number of antics involving the fellows in the control room, Tom Quinlan in particular. This usually involved trying to get mother to "break up" while "on the air." Since she was a real pro, these attempts were usually unsuccessful."
     The Kornerman says, "such a big deal is made about viewer ratings in the media these days. Back when Sara's mom, Signe, was at KWBG, I think I'm safe in saying that the highest rated area program, at that time, was Signe Shaler's 11 a.m. local news, sponsored by Wester Furniture. To say it was a complete rundown of anything newsworthy happening in this community is a vast understatement. As Sara mentioned, her mother was a tireless "investigator" in all areas of local news and had a wonderful way of presenting all the info she had gathered on the air. It brings tears to these old eyes to think that we don't have anything like that to offer our people here in Boone, Iowa anymore. Let me be clear. These days, the KWBG News Director is Jim Turbes and he too, is a tireless worker who does a great job with his presentations. But, here's the difference. For attention,  Jim has to battle, on a daily basis, all these modern distractions known as facebook, twitter, cable etc. each, which demand their own attendance. Signe's daily newscast was IT, "the""main event" and all Boone area ears leaned her way each morning at 11 a.m..
     John Kueck added, "you missed Bob Barry, BHS-56. I was a  good friend of his brother, Rick, BHS-62, and I remember visiting Bob at the station. I was quite familiar with Bob because I was at the Barry home often. His personality and voice completely changed as he broadcast. That astonished me. He became a "radio voice." I'm guessing the time frame was circa 1958 since I must have been driving to get to the station. Keep up the great blog."
     Tony Crandell wrote, "here are some folks who were at KWBG when I was there, 1960-63. I started when the station was on Ledges Road and then helped John Stribling and Tom Quinlan wire the new Keeler Street studios. Do you remember when I fell through the ceiling during your Dial Your Neighbor program with Roger Weber? I had gone up to the attic to oil the transmitter fan motor." The Kornerman says, "I can't remember that "fall" but I sure do remember the program mentioned and who of us who worked with him could ever forget Roger Weber and his antics?"
     Tony added some names we missed including his (oh my).........along with John Erickson, Bob Gunderson, "Leapin' Lee Erwin, who ended up at KWDM in Des Moines, Wayne King, who went to KIOA in D.M., and Tony says I even missed the boss man, Harold Garvey. Wow! Harold wrote those big employee checks. How could I forget him?
     Bernie Lewiston cranked on his brain even harder and came up with a few more names that haven't been mentioned previously........Jerry Sheeder; Brian Brosemlee, who used the name, Brian Curtis; Gary Hoffman, Bob Brown, Dave Eliason, Al Johnson, Tom Carmody, Pete Burke and Bernie was the one who reminded me of  Borwick, Sayer, Lark and Killian.
     One other thing. I know many of you "out there" think we vocal media people never amount to much. Well, the Kornerman is here to tell you.......that's not completely true. Dennis Ryerson, who later became the Editor of the Des Moines Register, put in some time at little old KWBG. So, take that, put it in your pipe and smoke it. That was a highly successful move wasn't it??
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     BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Tom Duitsman, 62, rural Boone. Had worked since 1977 at Boone Cable Works and Electronics. Boone area survivors include his wife, Leanne, his mother-in-law, Rosemary Kemmerer, sister-in-law Deanna Stumbo and Jean Nelson all of Boone...........Terry Moran, 62, Ogden. Stratford HS-73. Lived with her husband, Jerry, in Ogden 42 years. She worked at Woodward State Hospital. Boone area survivors include her husband, Jerry, and sister-in-law, Debbie Holts, both of Ogden.........Ron Ahrens, 74, rural Boone. Grand Community HS-61. Was a trucker for Boone L.P. Gas until his retirement in 1962. Boone area survivors include his daughter, Lora Ahrens-Olerich, and his brother, Charlie Ahrens, both of Boone.........Verlee Mae Hein, 85, Durham, NC. She was the daughter of Herman and Ethel Swanson of Boxholm. Formerly a resident of the Boxholm area and Waterloo. Boxholm HS, Boone Junior College and Iowa State University graduate. She was a teacher. She and her husband, Clair Hein, were together for 64 years. Clair survives, as do three daughters and a son. Burial will be in the Boxholm area..........Arvid (Bud) Stock, 92, Boone. He passed away in May. Was a teacher for 41 years, 34 of those years in Boone. Boone area survivor is his wife, Shirley. A son, Steve, also survives. A remembrance reception for Bud's friends and relatives will be held at the Eastern Star Home August 4.
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     Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments/SUPPORT.........
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.