[BC] Re: The Sate of Radio

[DHultsman5@aol.com]

Jeff and group.
 
I know I am guilty of recalling the bad side of this business.  But  
basically radio has been very good to me over the years.   It is like  many other 
businesses there are both good an bad people involved. 
 
 As a sage old gentleman owner once told me, I am a wealthy man  because I 
was lucky enough to win a license which was exclusive in my community  for many 
years.  The businesses and the people of the community all helped  us be 
profitable. I always tried to return that to the community and businesses  in any 
way I could, public service, free promotions, involvement, etc.
 
As he was retiring and selling the station he said that it would be  
difficult to achieve what he had done mainly, because the city had grown but so  had 
the number of stations, about 2 more than the five the city had grown to.  
Cable TV advertising was a cheap as radio or cheaper.  He had owned the  stations 
for over 45 years and built al local college station.  He said  radio had been 
wonderful to him.
 
 
Likewise I can say, I am not wealthy but as a young radio ham, with  
recording experience, radio paid for my time in college and let me work odd  hours 
based on my school schedule.  I moved my hobbies to be my business  and was 
totally dedicated. Just ask my wife of 42 years she claim to  be a radio widow. We 
have had a lot of opportunities to be involved in some  pioneering work and 
systems.  And then later on to be called by Collins and  given a position which 
has allowed me to interface directly with many great  engineers around the 
country.  I have had a tremendous amount of fun in  this industry and about the 
time I figured I knew everything, I learn something  new from another radio 
engineer.
 
 A couple of years ago I was supposed to arrive at the NAB by  Sunday morning 
and Eddie Fritz was at our booth with an award for 40  consecutive years of 
attendance at NAB Conventions, both as a broadcast engineer  and an equipment 
peddler. I was late so another VP came later an presented me  with the award 
and gift.
 
I complain but over all life is good.
 
Dave