|
It was March 17th…a week and a day ago…that Ken and Dottie
Dowe (and her sister Melissa), Hymen Childs, Pat (my wife)
and I were lunching at Patrizio’s (Highland Park Village in
Dallas). They do present some great salads there!!!! A
column about Ken and Dottie had been on my mind for several
weeks because they have been wonderful friends. So here it
is.
For those of you who like ratings take a look at KKDA in
Dallas. It is owned by Service Broadcasting. The
aforementioned Hymen Childs in the primary owner, and Ken
Dowe is his chief executive in charge of the world. Hymen
picked a great one!!! As you probably know KKDA is one of
the few independent stations with a history of first place
twelve plus ratings. That is where they are perched now!!!
They are THE “local” station in Dallas (the Metroplex if you
prefer).
Ken started as an announcer in Mississippi and Alabama (at
WABB for Bernie Dittman). He also was Program Director for
me (I’m happy to write) at WQXI in Atlanta in the 60’s. He
was THE morning person in Dallas…with 40 shares of audience
for years. It is there that he met Clint Merchison
(spelling?) who was then owner of the Dallas Cowboys (Staubach
at quarterback, etc). Seems as though Ken and Clint became
good friends, and somewhere down the line decided to buy a
couple of radio stations….in Oklahoma City and San Jose as I
recall. They eventually sold the stations and took their
well deserved payday. Ken got back into ownership for a
while in Lubbock and Shreveport. But, he preferred being a
broadcaster in a larger market. So back to Dallas!!!
Ken for many years was the right hand man of the brilliant
Gordon McLendon. As Ken often says “I’ve met a lot of smart
guys….but only one genius and his name is Gordon McLendon”.
For sure, a lot of that Gordon type of genius must have
rubbed off on Ken Dowe.
Actually, my view of it is that Ken started as a broadcaster
who had a lot of artistic feel in programming. Heck, his
fertile mind could have provided him a great sales career as
well. But, he liked programming. He started as an artsy
programmer, and as he commercialized his programming
technique he kept the art in it….most unusual, and very
valuable!!!!! McLendon recognized this as does Hymen.
Ken and I have a lot of mutual friends, and I only hear
personal and professional raves about him….and Dottie too.
Pat and I recently visited their beautiful new home in
Dallas. WOW!!!! A perfect blending of the old, new, and
future.
During our lunch we discussed those items on today’s front
burner…I-pods, satellite radio, etc. We all came to the same
conclusion. I know because I WAS THERE!! Radio will be
around forever….and “local” leads the way. KKDA listeners
know about “local” because they hear it every day.
Ken was inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame a few
years ago…on the first ballot…along with Gordon and Hymen.
Pretty solid group of broadcasters if you ask me. So, the
next time you are in Dallas call Ken and buy him some ice
tea, and chat about radio. It will be an hour you will
remember!!!
Ken has been one of the people who has urged me to move back
to Texas. Well, if I could have a couple of lunches a week
with Mr. Dowe at Patrizio I just might consider it. Keep
moving forward Ken. We are counting on you!!!!
e-mail Kent
kent@kentburkhart.com
|
