Vacation

In late May 1975, nine months after Jack Roth had named me the General Manager (GM) of the stations, my six-year stay at KONO/KITY came to an end. I was barely 30 and full of enthusiasm, and the fourth GM in three years, but…that's not the story. Rumors had been flying, but I was still surprised when I got a phone call from John Barger, who said he had just been hired as GM of WOAI, which was being purchased by a group of local businessmen—Lowry Mays, Red McCombs, and John Schaefer.

The next morning at the downtown Denny’s restaurant, I met with John to discuss the opportunity of working at WOAI. John and I quickly discovered that we had several things in common. We had both worked for Gordon McLendon, and we shared several friends in the radio business. Our discussion about what was going to happen with WOAI lasted for several hours. John wanted me to meet with Lowry Mays right away. Before we left the restaurant, John went so far as to write out the financial deal on one of Denny's fine cloth napkins. That evening, I went to WOAI and met with John and Lowry. Lowry's first question to me was, “Why are you taking so long to make a decision?” I told him I had another opportunity I wanted to investigate, and I would get back to them in a couple of days? As the meeting ended, Lowry informed me that they were going to host a breakfast the next morning. He invited me to attend so I could “watch them in action.”

The next morning I made my way downtown to the Gunter Hotel for the breakfast. In attendance were all the San Antonio area who's who business types. Lowry wanted to tell the business community the new ownership’s plans for WOAI, and introduce the new staff.

Lowry began by telling everyone that, in just a few days, he and Red and John Schaefer were going to close on the purchase of WOAI, and the corporate name would be Clear Channel Communications. After introducing the corporate staff, he then introduced John Barger, “who will be moving to San Antonio from KRLD in Dallas to become the new General Manager,” and Stan Webb, “from KONO, who has just accepted the job as General Sales Manager (GSM).” This was my first encounter with how Lowry always "assumed the sale."

After the breakfast I told John Barger that I “guessed I was in,” but…there was a problem. I had already purchased airline tickets for my family to go on vacation to Montana. The outcome…I became GSM of WOAI…AFTER my Montana vacation.

Stan Webb

Stan & Paula on vacation in Montana

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