Recognizing Kermit Womack, A Legend in Arkansas Broadcasting

Floor Speech

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Mr. WOMACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a legend in Arkansas broadcasting who has decided to retire after more than 70 years of outstanding service to the industry, and the last nearly 45 years as the owner and operator of KURM Radio in Rogers, Arkansas.

Mr. Speaker, he is not just a career broadcaster, he is my father, Kermit Womack, or ``The Colonel,'' as we all know him.

Kermit grew up in rural Arkansas just outside the small town of Danville. It should be noted that on that little farm in the Ranger community, he didn't enjoy the modern conveniences of life: no electricity, no indoor plumbing, no car.

He picked cotton for mere dollars a day to earn money to buy school clothes. My dad knew what it was like to be poor.

Dad was a great speaker. Through the FFA organization, he competed in public speaking. It was that gift that gave him an opportunity to go to college, and it was in college that he joined the Army ROTC program.

Commissioned in 1957, the year I was born, my dad began a 36-year career in the National Guard. He also worked at the local radio station in Russellville to help support his family.

His broadcast career took him to Lexington, Missouri, for 5 years, then to Moberly, Missouri, for 11 years. It was there at KWIX/KRES in Moberly that he became the broadcast voice of the local junior college basketball team.

The Moberly Greyhounds, under Cotton Fitzsimmons, won two national titles during that time, both in 1966 and `67, with Kermit providing the description for the fans unable to make the trip. As sales manager, he practiced and he perfected the kind of radio that reflected the interests of his area.

In 1973, Kermit returned to Arkansas and became the general manager of the station where it all began: KXRJ, now KARV. There he brought true community involvement radio to that region. He was even the play- by-play voice for my high school football games. I cherish those recordings.

Soon Kermit began to yearn for his own station and in 1979, we founded KURM Radio in Rogers, Arkansas. On November 9, 1979, at noon, KURM took the air for the first time.

Mr. Speaker, in the last nearly 45 years, KURM has been the regional voice of northwest Arkansas, southwest Missouri, and northeast Oklahoma with its booming AM signal. In the early years, he added FM service as well.

Local talk shows like a free want-ad program ``Dial-A-Trade,'' his personal talk show ``Party Line,'' and his unique style of broadcasting covering local events, daily news, weather, and sports, with a special emphasis on production agriculture, has been so vital to our local economy. You would hear him, live weekly, broadcasting from the local cattle auction.

KURM was unique. No other station did what KURM did, but it was hard work and required dedicated people to perform such a unique service.

Mr. Speaker, times have changed. The habits of consumers have changed. As time has marched on, the responsibilities fell more and more on The Colonel and very recently at 89 years of age, health issues have begun to catch up with him.

So, come Monday, this Monday, July 1, The Colonel will sign off for the final time, and KURM, the last of a vanishing breed of stations, will retire with him. It will mark the end of an era, and it will most certainly leave a void for his listeners.

Today, Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart but a grateful heart that I recognize and congratulate my dad, Kermit Womack, for his contributions to the broadcast industry and the communities he has called home. It will be sad not to hear his signature signoff: Agree or disagree, we are still going to be friends. You take care. Have yourselves a great day. We love you.

The Bible says in the Book of Matthew: ``Well done, good and faithful servant.'' That is a fitting Scripture for a man who has given more than 70 years of his life to his community and Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I will say to my dad: Colonel, we are proud of you. We are going to miss your service to your country and your fellow man. May God richly bless you in retirement.

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