During my year as Manager of Programming Operations
at WABB in Mobile, the station went from single-digit ratings
to a 28.2% share of the audience in morning drive; to 47% in
PM drive; and 78% at 7 to midnight -- the highest ratings in
the station's history.
I took over PM drive from Ron
Martin on WTIX in 1964 when Ron was being beaten by Jim Stewart
with 28% of the greater New Orleans audience, and 30 days later
Stewart had dropped to 26% and my show had 30% of the
audience, eventually moving up to 37% and never looking back.
WNOE hired me away from 'TIX in 1965.
1973: assisted owner Ed Muniz with WNNR in New Orleans for a few
months, serving as morning-show host and Manager of Programming
Operations while Ed was trying to decide what to do with the station,
and then delayed his decision because the station began to make a lot
of money.
When I took over WNPS in 1974, that New Orleans station had
lost money for 17 years, and I had the station in the profit
margin within 90 days.
I served an emergency appointment with the Louisiana Department of
Agriculture in 1976, planning to be Commissioner Gil Dozier's
gubernatorial campaign manager, but left when I realized Dozier
was headed for legal trouble.
Attended New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 1976-77,
while publishing a Christian tabloid newspaper; served as Judge
Thomas L. Giraud's mayoral campaign manager in 1977; joined
WVUE-TV 8 as announcer and show host in 1978, becoming Community
Affairs Director, producing and hosting 17 program units per week
through 1982.
I hosted and sold 7 PM to 1 AM "live" on "America's Shopping
Channel" in Harahan, Louisiana (a suburb of New Orleans) from
1982 through 1985.
I left WNOE-FM/AM with 12.5% of the New Orleans area audience,
which dropped to the single digits when new owners took over.
Separated from Sylvia, wife of 31 years, in 1990, and divorced
her in 1991. Married Ira O. Inkeles' widow in 1999.
Helped longtime friend and employer James A. "Jimmie" Noe, Jr.,
for three years, creating and getting some segments and shows
on the air at KNOE-TV 8 in Monroe, Louisiana, formating
segments and shows, finding and training hostesses, booking
guests, writing, directing, producing and hosting segments and
shows.
In retirement, I write letters to the editors of newspapers
across the United States and around the world, maintain
Web sites, assist my wife with her agency business and travel,
nationally in my "Li'L' Red" Chrysler PT cruiser or on my
Harley-Davidson Ford FXDL Dyna low rider and internationally by
air and/or aboard ship with my wife.