I Never Wanted One

In the summer of 1968, I had graduated from Kenedy High School in Kenedy, Texas, and spent the summer days and nights mostly running around with my friends and listening to KONO 860 AM.

After working for three years at KAML 990 AM in Kenedy, doing weekends, I transferred nicely into the radio program at San Antonio College.

By 1970 I had talked my way into the morning show at KONO's sister station KITY, beautiful music at 92.9 FM.

In just a few weeks, KONO Program Director Rick Reynolds saw some potential in me, and put me on weekends on KONO. In an astoundingly short time I went from driving around listening to my radio heroes on KONO, to working right along side them! This was huge for me...and I was pretty nervous.

On my first tryout on KONO, DJ George Jay watched over me on the overnight show. After a couple of hours I asked him how I sounded and he declared, "You are probably the worst I have ever heard!"

The KONO lineup at the time included Howard Edwards, Rick Reynolds, Steve Jordan, Todd Stevens, Johnny Shannon, Rod Tanner, and B. Bailey Brown. To a man, all these gentlemen were so very kind and patient with me, and allowed me the space and time to grow into a radio personality, gently grooming me along the way.

For some reason, I changed my name to Charlie Scott. On Sunday evenings, I would turn over the trashcan and sit on it in the KONO control room so I could watch Johnny Shannon do his show. He gave me great advice and instruction.

Eventually Chris Cooper and John Steel joined the staff from KOIL in Omaha. That was when the fun started.

Rod, Chris, John and I all ran (hung out) together and partied at night. It was the 70s and we were determined to keep up the reputation of the decade. Additionally, we gave Program Director Rick Reynolds a multitude of migraine headaches with our insane on-the-air stunts.

At the time, all KONO air personalities felt they were part of a dynasty...a real part of radio history. We tried our very best to live up to the reputation while simultaneously giving KTSA some very tough competition.

My initial KONO weekend shift was Saturday night, from 6 pm - midnight. I returned early Sunday morning to do 6 am - noon. Long hours...but I figured if you listened to KONO Saturday night and then again the next day any time before noon, you heard Charlie Scott. I was thankful for the hours and the shifts.

Eventually KONO offered me the 6-9 pm shift...really my cup of tea at the time. Later that changed to 8 pm - midnight. So, I remained KONO's nighttime mad man.

I never did the overnight show at KONO. Here’s why: at the time, the overnight shift required an FCC First Class license. I begged KONO management to send me to school to take the training for the license, and then put me on the all-night show. Management wouldn't budge, and I was devastated! I hung on a bit longer and was given the much-more prestigious 6-9 pm shift, partly because I had no First Class license! I never wanted one after that!

Steven O. Sellers

PHOTOGRASP by PURPLE

Charlie Scott in the Alamobile 1971

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