Harold Soderlund
CLASS OF 1979 Harold A. Soderlund had already spent over 40 years in broadcasting and related businesses at the time of his induction into the Nebraska Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame in 1979. He graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1935 and was sales manager of radio station KFAB in its early years. He founded […]
James McGaffin
CLASS OF 1980 James McGaffin was only part-time and alone in the newsroom that Sunday morning in 1941 when he witnessed the Pearl Harbor bulletin cross on the news wires. He joined the Army six months later serving as a news writer for military stations broadcasting to American troops in North Africa. He returned to […]
Leroy Lenwell
CLASS OF 1980 Leroy Lenwell and three partners signed station KBRL McCook on to the air in 1947. Since then he served as president, general manager and chief engineer until his retirement as the sole owner, selling the station in 1972. He is credited for being one of the few engineers to establish and operate […]
Karl Stefan
CLASS OF 1981 When WJAG was founded in 1922 by Gene Huse, publisher of the Norfolk Daily News. the newspaper’s city editor Karl Stefan anchored the station’s first news report. He continued to serve as WJAG’s chief announcer until his election to Congress in 1935. Born in 1884 in Bohemia, now the Czech-Republic, Stefan’s family […]
George Kister
CLASS OF 1981 George Kister (pronounced Kee-ster) spent much of his 43-year broadcast career at KMMJ Grand Island. He entered radio almost by chance. He became Assistant Secretary of the Hastings Chamber of Commerce in 1925 which at the time acted as manager of radio station KFKX Hastings. As Assistant Secretary, Kister began his air work […]
Joe di Natale
CLASS OF 1982 Joe Di Natale spent 35 years at KODY North Platte working up from sales to part owner. He was a tireless promoter of North Platte, Nebaskaland Days, the University of Nebraska, and Nebraska itself. Joe’s family moved from Ohio to Lincoln when he was nine. He graduated from the University of Nebraska […]
Max Brown
CLASS OF 1982 Max Brown was the driving force behind what today is the nation’s only farmer and rancher owned radio station. Through private membership donations from nearly 5000 ranchers and farmers he created KRVN Lexington, the Rural Voice of Nebraska. After graduating from South Dakota State College with a Masters degree, Max served in […]
Arthur Thomas
CLASS OF 1983 Art Thomas was one of Nebraska’s pioneer broadcasters. After a stint with the Omaha Chamber of Commerce, he was named manager of WJAG Norfolk in 1932. During that time he also served as Chief Newscaster and produced one of the first Man On The Street interview programs that were becoming popular in […]
Paul Jensen
CLASS OF 1983 Paul Jensen began his career as an announcer for KOLN Radio in 1948 and later became production manager and program director for KOLN TV. After working for WXEX-TV in Richmond, Virginia, Jensen returned to KOLN-TV in 1956 as sales service manager. He served as program director, assistant general manager and station manager […]
Arden Swisher
CLASS OF 1984 During his varied career, Arden E. Swisher was a musician, newspaper columnist, and broadcaster. He was responsible for the syndication of “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom” TV series while vice president of advertising at the company, a job that brought him face-to-face with such celebrities as Lawrence Welk and Johnny Carson. A trumpet player who formed […]