SAM SCOTT

Sam Scott is widely regarded as the father of public radio in Missouri. As the long time manager of KCUR, Scott also helped start the other stations licensed to the University of Missouri system. He also sparked the development of the Missouri Public Radio Association and the ambitious Public Radio in Mid-America group.

In this interview, Sam Scott talks mostly about early days at KCUR. He also offers some general observations on developments in public radio.

Interviewed by: Burt Harrison
Public Radio Oral History Project
August 23, 1978

Listen to the entire1978 interview. (43 min)

PATRICIA CAHILL

KCUR’s General Manager Patricia “Patty” Cahill has a long history with the station. Cahill started at KCUR as a reporter/producer in the early 1970s, and then moved to Wichita for other radio opportunities. In 1987, she returned to KCUR to take the job as the station’s second General Manager . Here, Cahill talks about “coming home” to KCUR.

Listen (1:11)

WALTER COPPAGE

Kansas City actor Walter Coppage has performed major roles in many local theatres, and appeared in national radio and television commercials. Coppage is also a co-founder of the Actors Theatre of Kansas City. His role at KCUR: local host of NPR’s Morning Edition in the mid-1990s. Coppage says it was a long shift from 4 a.m. – 11 a.m. and he became known for his “morning salutations.”

Listen (1:16)

JOHN C. DODS

John C. Dods, an attorney with Shook, Hardy, & Bacon, is a community volunteer and former chair of KCUR’s Community Advisory Board. During the membership drives, he can be heard talking about the Northland and its “zephyr winds.” Dods says he loves KCUR for a number of reasons, including the staff.

Listen (1:05)

CHARLOTTE HILL

Sam Scott, KCUR’s first station manager, was Charlotte Hill’s professor and mentor at UMKC when she was earning her B.A. and M.A. in Communication Studies. And Hill was there when the radio station first went on the air in October 1957. She remembers how KCUR has moved a number of times since then. Here, Hill describes some of the locations.

Listen (:53)

EDIE MCCLURG

Character actress Edie McClurg grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. McClurg started working at KCUR in the 1970s when she was a junior at UMKC (she remembers she was paid $1.10 an hour). She later took on the roles of Production Manager and then Operations Manager. McClurg says one of her best memories was collaborating with NPR on the live broadcast of the Nixon tape transcripts.

Listen (1:24)

ANN McELHENNIE

Phone room and on-air volunteer Ann McElhennie says she can’t remember when she first got involved with KCUR. But staff members know that it’s likely you’ll see “Annie” almost every day each membership drive. McElhennie says one of her favorite memories is volunteering during The Bad Music Hour.

Listen (1:00)

STEVE PAUL

Steve Paul is the senior writer and editor for The Kansas City Star. In the 1970s, while attending UMKC, Paul worked as an announcer and jazz show host on KCUR. He is still very involved with KCUR, as a Book Doctor on The Walt Bodine Show and member of the Community Advisory Board. Paul says he has “a real commitment and love for the station.”

Listen (:59)

REBEKAH PRESSON MOSBY

Rebekah Presson Mosby hosted New Letters on the Air from 1983-1995 and also worked for KCUR as a news host and arts reporter. Presson Mosby is known for her work in poetry audio, and her most recent collection, Poetry on Record: 98 Poets Read Their Works (1888-2006), was nominated for a Grammy. She calls KCUR’s Walt Bodine a mentor.

Listen (1:00)

GINGER (Untrif) RHODES

Ginger Rhodes produced The Walt Bodine Show and Ballads, Bards and Bagpipes. While working at KCUR, Rhodes met her future husband, author Richard Rhodes, when he appeared as a guest on The Walt Bodine Show. She remembers the challenges of researching and booking guests in the pre-Internet age.

Listen (1:08)