By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Thursday marked the 85th anniversary of the sign-on of KWBW. Eagle Radio Market Manager Terry Drouhard called the longevity of the station a triple blessing.
"It has the longevity, using that word again, of the people who work through the Morning Show and the Party Line, where people can visit with listeners one on one and over time, get to know them, not only on the air, but in some ways, even personally," Drouhard said. "We're communally tied in with our listeners that way and tying in with events, I think, also helps with making it a community radio station. I'm very proud of what the company has done through these decades."
Drouhard is a firm believer that radio is still powerful, even after 85 years.
"There's been research that has shown that radio has not only not lost its value, it has actually increased or held steady since 1972, which shows how valuable listening is," Drouhard said. "It's listening to voices on the air with human contact. The audio side of life is as strong now as it was when BW started 85 years ago. I'm very, very proud of that and I think it has to do with what goes on into the mind that's being fed in by the medium."
Drouhard notes that it is the personalities, the advertisers and the listeners all together that makes KWBW as strong as it is.