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 and was the principal owner of KOOO, Omaha in 1957 with a “format for all groups in its listening area.” He sold the station in 1959.
In 1957 he established the Soderlund Company which sold advertising time for its client stations nationally and regionally. At one time, the company represented 100 radio stations and 35 television stations.
The Soderlund Company also handled “The Martha Bohlsen Show”, a pioneer homemaker show that began as a promotion for the Nebraska Power Company. He published a cookbook of favorite recipes “From Martha Bohlsen’s Kitchen”.
Harold served the Nebraska Broadcasters Association as chairman of its Associate Members Committee for three years.
While Mr. Soderlund’s first love was broadcasting, he also was advertising manager of a country newspaper, account executive of an advertising agency, and co-owner of a company selling space on outdoor Scotchline signs.
He served as Chairman of a National Association of Broadcasters committee on agency recognition, spending three years traveling the country to sell the idea of an agency recognition bureau.
He remained active into his later years and in the late 1980s formed the Soderlund Satellite Sales Seminars in conjunction with the University of Nebraska College of Journalism and Mass Communications and the Nebraska Broadcasters Association.
He also made significant financial contributions to the Nebraska Broadcasters Association Foundation and was a strong proponent for increasing the number of scholarships for broadcasting students at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Omaha, and Kearney.
Harold passed away November 23, 2007.
