CLASS OF 1997
George Haskell spent his entire career in Nebraska broadcasting from age 16 until retirement in 1980.
A Lincoln native, Haskell was a piano player in local and traveling dance orchestras during the Depression, earning $1 a day. In 1937 he took a part-time job in radio as a mail boy at KFOR Lincoln. He met Johnny Carson at that time and was his organ player at appearances where Johnny did his ventriloquist act.
Haskell stayed with Central States Broadcasting as it expanded into Omaha by purchasing KOIL and constructing Omaha studios for co-owned KFAB Lincoln. He took the traffic manager and programmer jobs in 1939 for both stations. In 1946, George became KFAB’s assistant Program Director and then Assistant General Manager to Lyell Bremser in 1956.
In 1957 George Haskell took his years of radio experience to Scottsbluff where he was named general manager of Platte Valley Broadcasting Corporation owned by Russ Stewart. He oversaw three stations: KNEB AM and FM Scottsbluff and KOLR Sterling, Colorado. During this time George served on the Nebraska Broadcasters Association Board of Directors in 1963.
George was very involved in the Scottsbluff community, serving on many civic boards and committees.
By 1970 he was president, general manager, and partner at the Scottsbluff stations until retirement in 1980.
George passed away on August 4, 2005.
