Mike Bradd & Jack Ashmore

It's a bit dated, but here is a good article from the Daily Eastern News about two former WLBH staffers.

I don't know Jack. Really. I do remember Jack and Dave Kessinger doing Arthur Knight football games of which I would have to tape on Friday nights in the new production room while trying to engineer Greenwave football in FM and having another game recording in AM. Those were fun times.

I was lucky enough to work with Mike Bradd when he was news director at WLBH AM & FM and learned much from him in regards to writing and delivery. I recall Mike coming into the station after a school board meeting (during or shortly before the famed Mattoon teacher strike of the late 80's), and hearing him punching out news copy on his typewriter in the newsroom. 20 minutes later he brought in a two page story with carted soundbites well written and informational as a news story should be. I loved reading Mikes' stuff. He made you sound professional. I tried to emulate him as news director later on in my radio career in Illinois and Kentucky.

I also remember being a snot-nosed kid and listening to Ken Woodell and Mike Bradd...or Mike and Larry O on the Greenwave Basketball broadcasts when my brother was a varsity starter in the early 80's. I would play nerf hoops in my hallway during away games while listening to their broadcasts.

Later at Lake Land, Mike was my instructor and station manager. He was patient with his shallow wading pool of talent and gave us freedom to have fun on the air. I'm glad he's still instructing young eager minds as to the ways of broadcasting.