Eagle Radio Remembers John R. Jones – Panhandle Post Archive

From 1975 to 2012 John Jones, who died last week after a long battle with illness, was a fixture at AM 1400 KCOW, Double Q Country and B94.7. Jones served as Sales Manager, supervising account executives and developing a variety of sales promotions. KCOW listeners may recall him as the decades-long voice of Art and Jerry’s Boot Shop (“the post office is just there across the street”).

Jones also took a management role in the stations’ annual home show event held at the Alliance High gym. He was there from the set-up Friday night to the tear-down Sunday afternoon, mapping a floor plan, working with school staff and third-party services, and–most importantly–assuring that the show vendors’ needs were met.

Eagle Radio team members who worked with John Jones share their thoughts:

Helen Iossi, Account Executive 1985-present
John Jones was a special person. He was a co-worker but also a friend. When I started at KCOW, the sales office was in the very back of the building. For 27 years, John and I sat across the room from each other. What a kind person!

Mike Glesinger, Sports Director & Operations Manager 1986-present
John was the first person I met when I came to KCOW for an interview in September of 1986. He greeted me as I was walking in and it wasn’t hard to figure out that he was a Salesman. He had that outgoing, down home personality that made him easy to get along with people. After I started working here he stressed to me the importance of being community minded and being involved with different events. He always complimented me on my Sports coverage and the way I hosted Open Mic.

John was an Outdoorsman and loved spending time in some of the rugged country of the Sandhills. He especially enjoyed Turkey hunting and he loved having family gatherings at Fort Robinson and Chadron State Park. John was one of the last of the “Old School” radio men and treating his sales clients with respect and excellent service was always his number one priority. John was a good friend and mentor to me and I will always smile when I think of him.

Jason Wentworth, Commercial Production Director 1998-present
His kindnesses to me were many…he was one of the last of an old school line of radio salespeople. He was the best at what he did. And I am glad to have known him.

Kalin Krohe, Studio Engineer, Production Assistant, News Director 2001-present
John taught me a lot about advertising, and promotions when I was in high school. I’ve thought about that more than he probably knows throughout my life.

jrj — John Jones (left) surveys the Home Show with then KCOW Account Executive Dennis Klinker in this archival photo.