Taken in the Peck’s backyard in Kennett, MO. Buddy Peck, Joanne Peck and Jan Miltenberger on the left; Pam Pylant and Alan Johnson in the middle; Barb and Steve getting frisky; Richard Peck looking at the eclipse.
This was taken after one of the sad little promotions at the radio station. A watermelon seed spitting contest, as I recall.
Sometime after Richard Peck‘s abbreviated and tumultuous stint in the U.S. Air Force, he signed on with an overseas construction outfit to work in Saudi Arabia. As I recall, he had to sign a two-year contract but he didn’t last the full two years. Allan Johnson recently unearthed a couple of Richard’s letters from that time (1977). One to John Robison and one to Allan Johnson and me. Vintage RP.
It’s been raining all day in Jefferson City, MO. I’m going to have to take the rubber floor mats out of the Land Rover because they’re stopping the water from draining. Not airtight… not watertight.
Barb and a friend are in Destin this week where it is sunny and warm.
In one of the episodes of Ken Burns’ series on the history of country music, they trace the shift from country to pop music. I believe it was in the early 50’s. My father, John Mays, would have been at KBOA for several years by then and he had a better feel (and preference) for pop than country so he played that music while other announcers played different types. Rudy Pylant (Mr. Rudy) was known for Old Camp Meetin’ Time which was country gospel and “old time” music. Jimmy Haggett was — during this period — known as the country DJ.
The photo below was the result of a “popularity” contest in which listeners voted with 3-cent postcards.
This must have been an incredibly exciting time to be in radio, even at a small market station like KBOA. Nashville station WSM (home of the Grand Ole Opry) was featured prominently in the Burns documentary Haggett worked there at some point after leaving KBOA.
I was 13 years old in 1961. Eighth grade? Kennett was a real-life Mayberry in the 50’s and 60’s. A great place to grow up.
If you really want to communicate with me… just pick up the phone and call me.
Yes, I regularly check email and love iMessage, but I much prefer real-time communication.
