Don Smith

I am 10 years old. I am a big Beach Boys fan. The Beach Boys are coming to San Antonio, and KONO has a contest. Be the first caller when you hear a Beach Boys song on KONO, and you'll win a Beach Boys album AND a bottle of Formula 409!

It's Sunday morning–6:00 AM. Don Smith is on the air. I dial Capital Four-Nine-Two-Two-Two.

"Can you play some Beach Boys?"

"Maybe later..."

6:05 AM. Dial again.

"Can you play some Beach Boys?"

"I'll try."

6:10 AM. Dial again.

"Could you play a Beach Boys song?"

I call, at least, six or seven times. Don must have gotten tired of hearing from me.

At the first notes of "Sloop John B" I call, and Don answers.

"Did I win?"

I hear something that sort of sounds like "Doh!" Don has forgotten all about the contest. However he is a good guy about it, and writes down my name and address. A few days later, a "come claim your prize" letter arrives at my house.

Mom agrees to take me to the KONO studios on Arden Grove near Saint Mary's Street. We drive around KONO-TV, under the big KITY tower, park, walk in, and claim my copy of "Beach Boys Party" and my bottle of Formula 409.

From then on, KONO was the station of choice at the Crowley house. I could see the KTSA towers from my bedroom window, and I could pick up 550 on the toaster and other appliances, but we always listened to Howard Edwards, Woody Roberts, Lee "Baby" Simms, B. Bailey Brown, Nick St. John, Johnny Solo, etc.

In later years I met Woody, Johnny, B. Bailey, and I even worked with Nick. I did three "tours of duty" at Mission Broadcasting in the 1970's. I even worked with Don Smith at KENS-TV in the 80s. In recent years I have encountered him in the DFW area a couple of times. When I reminded him of that Sunday morning, so long ago, I heard that little "Doh" noise again–just like when I “tricked” him into playing that Beach Boys' song he wasn't supposed to play.

Bob Crowley

Bob Crowley

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