HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 97-4645, by Representatives Romero, Wolfe, Alexander and DeBolt

      WHEREAS, KGY Radio is one of the Northwest's oldest radio stations and is celebrating its seventy-fifth anniversary this year; and

      WHEREAS, On April 4, 1922, the KGY call letters were issued to Father Sebastian Ruth, OSB, a Benedictine monk who taught at Saint Martin's College early in this century; and

      WHEREAS, Father Sebastian thus received only the one hundred tenth set of call letters issued in the United States; and

      WHEREAS, The first three years of KGY programming were aired from a shack on Saint Martin's campus; and

      WHEREAS, After moving several times over the years, KGY settled into its current state-of-the-art facilities on the Olympia waterfront in 1960; and

      WHEREAS, Newspaper person Sam Crawford began his sixteen-year tenure with the radio station in 1932 and pioneered radio newscasting in the region; and

      WHEREAS, KGY's Archie Taft owned the station for a time in its early years and pioneered election coverage in the south Puget Sound region; and

      WHEREAS, Olympia native Tom Olsen, who purchased the radio station in 1939, was a charter member of the Washington State Association of Broadcasters and helped organize the state's first wire service; and

      WHEREAS, The late Mr. Olsen's daughter, Barbara Kerry, owns KGY AM/FM today; and

      WHEREAS, KGY Radio is known for its thorough regional news coverage, as well as for its attention to local and professional sports; and

      WHEREAS, KGY has provided wonderful local programming, live music, including a drive-in broadcasting studio, and a recording venue for the Fleetwoods, Olympia's own rock-n-roll legends; and

      WHEREAS, Dick Pust, who started his storied KGY career in 1959, is a legend in broadcasting the likes of which are seldom seen; and

      WHEREAS, This pioneer radio station is a tremendous asset to the region and a wonderful example for other media outlets to follow;

      NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives salutes KGY Radio and the continuing radio excellence of its staff and management today, as well as the radio excellence of the many men and women who have called KGY Radio home in years past; and

      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to KGY President Barbara Kerry and to her team of radio professionals at KGY Radio.

          I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of

         Resolution 4645 adopted by the House of Representatives

                             April 22, 1997.

                     ________________________________

                      Timothy A. Martin, Chief Clerk