Emma Mays, John Mays, Aunt Golda Carter, Blane Mays (#18)
Tag Archives: John Mays
Some KBOA colleagues
Below are a few of the people I worked with at KBOA (Kennett, MO) in the 70’s. Not sure when or why these photos were taken and they’re obviously no professional pics but I share them here, for the record. Top row: Ted Guffy, Keith Parker, John Mays. Middle row: Charlie Isbell, Charlie Austin, Larry Anthony. Bottom row: Bob Conner. More on KBOA at KBOA830.com
The proper way to wear a wife-beater
John Mays and Opal Moore (circa 1950). Opal and her husband Arthur lived behind John and Evelyn on Washington Avenue in Kennett, MO.
In the Navy
My father was a Radio Operator (not sure if that’s the correct term) on a ship in the Pacific. He never talked about his war experiences to me but shared some with a friend of mine. Apparently he saw some action. The communications guys were, I’m told, some of the first on the beach. John Mays joined the navy on May 28, 1943. He was discharged on March 9, 1946. He served as a radio operator on several ships that saw action in the Pacific (USS Mount McKinley; USS Appalachian; USS New Jersey; USS Iowa; USS War Hawk). The man looked damn good in uniform.
John Mays
My kind of war
I’ve read a lot news stories, blog posts and tweets this weekend, reminding everyone to remember the men and women who served and died in defense of our country. How best to do that? Little American flags? Those magnetic yellow “Support Our Troops” ribbons?
My dad was in the Navy (a radio operator) and saw action in the pacific during WWII. He survived but never talked about it. To me or anyone else as far as I know. I do recall my mom telling me how relieved everyone was when it “started looking like we would win” the war. That was the first time I really understood it was possible for our country to lose a war. The movies always included some drama on that score but you knew the good guys would prevail. Not so for those who fought the thing.
Perhaps the best time to remember our men and women in uniform is before we send them off to fight and die. And if the cause isn’t just and right –whatever that means anymore– we don’t send them.
I grew up during the Cold War and I kind of miss it. If you think about it, a thermonuclear war is the only war where the politicians –who decide to go to war– might die in the first ten minutes. That is my kind of war.
John Mays in costume
Came across this photo of my father, obviously taken at one of those places that put in a costume for a vintage photo. Not sure when or where this was taken or who he is supposed to be.
The War
I’ve been watching The War, the Ken Burns documentary on PBS. The guy knows how to tell a story. Last night’s episode included the internment of Japanese-Americans, and I could picture Dick and W looking at map, trying to decide where to put the camps for Muslim-Americans.
I was also reminded of my parents telling me that for a good part of WWII, they weren’t sure they’d win. My father was a radio operator in the Navy and saw action in the Pacific, but he never talked about it. At least not to me.
Cueing records
I love this photograph of my father. It was taken in the control room (Studio A) of KBOA in Kennett, Missouri, probably around 1950.
Anyone that has ever “cued” a record recognizes that sense of touch and the delicate balance of the heavy tone-arm on the oh-so-easy-to-scratch record.
A skill (if you could call it that) that hasn’t been needed for many years. I’m glad I didn’t miss those final years of high-touch, hands-on radio.
We had one of the early automation systems (for our FM station) but it felt like telling someone how to make love to your girl friend.
And the thrill of having the program director walk into the studio while you were on the air and put the hot new single into “current” box. Is it as much fun to see the new single come into the rotation on a computer monitor?
Before I get carried away, allow me to say –for the record– I don’t miss using a grease pencil and splicing blog to edit tape. If I had to choose, I’d be th digital boy I have become.
KBOA, Studio A
I’m fortunate to have many photos from the early days of KBOA (Kennett, MO). This one of John Mays, cueing a record in the control room, was taken by Johnny Mack Reeder or Bob Miles. Probably in the early 50’s.
You can see into Studio B which served a number of purposes over the years. Live newscasts and commercials orginated from Studio B. Later it house a large “disc cutter” used for recording spots.
I’ll never forget the pleasantly musty smell of these ancient rooms with their massive doors