Houston Pearce described his life in a very low-key way “Not a very exciting biographical sketch…but a wonderful and exciting career which began 1959 with a one kw daytimer in Butler, AL. Prior to that he graduated from the Commerce School at University of Alabama and spent a couple years “as a real gung ho soldier protecting this country against whoever the hell it was we were supposed to being protected from at the time.” (United States Army)

Houston has been a leader in Alabama and Mississippi broadcasting since his initial introduction to the world of radio. In 1959, Houston and two business associates built WPRN in Butler, Alabama and in 1964 they built WBIB in Centreville, Alabama.

He and his associates subsequently purchased WARF in Jasper. Sister station WFFN in Jasper was put on the air in June of 1987. He also has owned WTUG-WTSK, Tuscaloosa and in Mississippi, WJDQ-AM/FM in Meridian and WGUD – AM/FM in Pascagoula.

Currently Houston and his wife Voncile have three children Christie, Susan and Dean and six grandchildren. Broadcasting has been a family affair, Voncile joined Houston in the business in 1961 and went directly to CEO and Dean joined the business some 22 years later as second in charge. Presently, they are stockholders with Dean in a group of four FM’s and one AM in Charleston, S.C. The family has been in and out of ten different markets over the years. Houston and Voncile have not been active in the business since selling the Tuscaloosa cluster to Citadel in 2006.

Industry and Civic involvement

· Alabama Broadcaster of the Year 1994

· President of Alabama Broadcasters Association (1989-1990)

· Appointed by the National Broadcaster Association as Member to the NAB’s Congressional Liaison Committee

· Chairman of the Red Cross

· Board of Directors of Jefferson-Walker-Shelby United Way

· Chairman United Way Campaign

· President Jasper Area Chamber of Commerce

· Board of Directors Jasper Area Chamber of Commerce