Frank Thompson, KJR's news director in the '70s, passed away this weekend.
From Parker News Service: "Thompson began his career in radio in San Diego in 1957 at the first radio station playing Top 40 Rock-n Roll music, The Mighty 690, a powerful 50,000 watt radio station serving all of Southern California. In 1961, he, Ernie Myers, Rick Martell, and Art Way were hired by KOGO AM 600 radio to start a new MOR station.
Ernie was the Morning man and Frank Thompson was put into the 10am to 2pm midday show to do remotes in the KOGO mobile studio. Frank broadcast his show from a remote location almost every day from local shopping centers, banks, car dealers, food stores, even local attractions like The San Diego Zoo and The Hotel Del. Frank was the very first broadcaster to do his radio show from the Del Mar Fair everyday, and not only interviewed Don Diego (Tommy Hernandez) and the “Fairest of the Fair”, but Frank would also interview people that were at the Del Mar Fair on the air as well.
Frank Thompson would wave to people with a Big “HELLO”, and “HOW ARE YOU” to all who would be passing by his KOGO mobile studio, from kids at the 4H club who had a farm animal on display, to a man or woman who had just won a prize at the game booths, or someone who had just experienced one of the rides at the fair. It was at one of his mobile studio remotes that a 10 year old kid from Lemon Grove looked in the window at Frank talking on the mic and playing records, Frank called the kid into his KOGO mobile studio interviewed him on the air and gave the kid tickets to see the LA T-Birds at Westgate Park. That kid later became “Shotgun Tom” Kelly. In 1968 Frank went to work for KFMB radio for a short time, then KDAY in Los Angeles, followed by KJR in Seattle where he served as News Director for more the 10 years.
As an early civil rights activist, despite warnings of career suicide, Frank boldly championed the causes of the African-American community when he lived here in San Diego in the 1960s. Also, as a radio DJ and as a regular fixture at the legendary Sportsman’s Club, he was prone to promote up-and-coming African-American artists as well as the established like Nancy Wilson and Johnny Mathis (both of whom he counted as personal friends).
Frank passed away Saturday at the age of 85 in British Columbia, Canada."
hat tip to bt!
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