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3 thoughts on “Top 10 Flashback: March 2, 1979 – KEOS Flagstaff, AZ”
Saturday, March 23, 2024
Former KEOS DJ Honored......
Pembroke Pines, FL (March 2024) – The Suncoast Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is pleased to announce the 2024 Gold Circle honoree, Hank Tester. The Gold Circle recognizes individuals who have worked with distinction in the television industry within the Suncoast region of the State of Florida, the State of Louisiana, the Mobile, Alabama – Pensacola, Florida television market and/or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico for fifty years or more. This recognition will be given at the 2024 Suncoast Emmy® Awards on Saturday, December 7th at the Hyatt Regency Orlando.
Hank Tester
2024 Gold Circle Honoree
Hank Tester is a 60-year veteran broadcaster who arrived in South Florida in July of 1992, two months ahead of Hurricane Andrew. His reporting during that historic event contributed to Miami television station WTVJ’s staff being recognized with the DuPont-Columbia University Award and the George Foster Peabody Broadcasting Award.
In 1963 Hank began his broadcast news career behind the microphone at KEOS Radio in Flagstaff, Arizona, while attending Northern Arizona University.
After graduation, his television career took off in Las Vegas, Nevada after accepting a teaching position with the Clark County School District. He transitioned from the classroom to the School District’s PBS station where he developed the station’s newscast.
In 1971, Hank and other investors formed Las Vegas Valley Broadcasting Company and acquired the Las Vegas NBC affiliate. By the late 1980s the company operated TV and radio stations in several western states.
Hank’s broadcasting career has included working as news director, news anchor, reporter, political commentator, and assignment editor.
A business buyout opportunity and a surprise job offer from WTJV brought Hank to South Florida. “Best move I have ever made,” he will tell you.
In 2015 Hank departed WTVJ and joined WFOR CBS News Miami where he continues his work as a special projects reporter. “I appreciate the CBS News Miami’s management over the years supporting the continuing career of an “old school” storyteller.” Hank Tester is an Emmy® award winner and a member of the Suncoast Silver Circles.
Hank and his wife Lourdes (Luly) Tester live in Miami and share four daughters and five grandchildren.
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Former station owner, Jack Bird, won 690 KEOS in a poker game! The station struggled to turn a profit because instead of selling clients air-time, Jack would “trade” for services, like gas and food. Jack even used to visit the station to take the quarters out of the soda machine. Employee paychecks occasionally “bounced” for lack of funds.
The main rival to 690 KEOS was 600 KCLS. Some deejays (circa 1980) of note were Doctor Dick Raymond (morning drive) Carey Edwards (“tradio” midday) Steve Sapp (afternoon drive), Tom Anthony, and Russ Knight. Other notable personalities included Al Sigala, Dave Allison, Bart Graves, and Barb Cortese. The station engineer was Jon Swett and the mgr was JIM Manley.
KEOS was located on Huntington Drive in Flagstaff and changed its call letters (1981-82?) to KZKZ for a brief time.
I worked the station in 74-75, Russ Huntington was manager, jon was the engineer. I believe Eric Michael ? was program director. it was located on Huntinton drive in the middle of the field. AP was both the teletype and network feed. While there, jack was involved with some kind of altercation with law enforcement and shortly after we were told the station had been sold. two fellas showed up claiming to be the new owners and essentially gave us all our 90 day notice. Russ and others bailed pretty quickly, Russ going to Sedona I think. he bought a Mexican restaurant there. I moved to Ventura ca and worked radio there until I changed fields.