A Koran War veteran, Earl attended the University of Alabama on the GI Bill where he majored in television and radio broadcasting. His career in radio actually began while attending the University and working part-time at WTBC in sales. After receiving his degree he decided to remain at WTBC as Sales Manager and later was promoted to Assistant Station Manager. His mentor was Bert Bank, then owner of WTBC.
In 1961 he purchased a minor interest in WTOT, a daytime station in Marianna, FL and in 1962 he added FM making WTOT AM & FM Jackson County Florida’s only full time station. In 1964 he moved back to Alabama and purchased WELR-AM , a daytime station in Roanoke. In 1969 he brought Cable TV to Roanoke allowing citizens for the first time to see the review of both Alabama and Auburn football games on Sunday afternoons featuring Coach Bryant and Ralph “Shug” Jordan. He expanded the cable TV service in Randolph County 1971 to Wedowee, Rock Mills and Wadley. In 1973 he extended cable TV into adjoining Clay County where it served Ashland and Lineville. In 1975, WELR took the Associated Press top state award for editorial comment for a single market station. He retired from broadcasting and cable in 1988 and 1989 successively to “fool around with his cows” on his farm in Roanoke.
He managed to also have a very successful volunteer civic career. In 1968 when Maremont one of the counties largest employer closed, Earl was instrumental in brining Kyser Tote, a New York based industry to Roanoke to occupy the vacated facility and provided 550 jobs. In 1979 he served with a task force in getting both Roanoke and Randolph County certified with the states EDO office as a “Prepared County” in search of new industry, assuring the task force the backing of both Governor Fob James and the Alabama Development Office in its efforts. In 1980, while he was serving as President of the Randolph County Industrial Committee, success came in the recruitment of Amoco Fabric, a new industry that would invest one hundred million dollars in a facility and provide more that a thousand needed jobs to
the area.
His fondest memories are having been privileged to work with friends, fellow community leaders and neighbors in the organization of the Roanoke Little League, Senior League and the Pee Wee football program and to have coached in of those leagues. Alongside this stands the competitive and friendly partnership of WELR and the editor of the Roanoke Leader in their joint contribution to the organization of the annual Randolph County Learning Center’s Bike Hike, a successful fund raiser for a local school for the mentally challenged.
Continued Service:
· President of Roanoke Lion’s Club
· The Roanoke Quarterback Club
· The Roanoke Chamber of Commerce
· Randolph County Industrial Development Committee
· Served as President of Alabama Broadcasting Association marking the first time in the history that someone form a single market station served as President
Recognition:
· Alabama Broadcasting Association , Broadcaster of the Year 1981
· Alabama’s Volunteer of the Year in Industrial Development 1981, recognized by Governor Fob James
· Randolph Press Man of the Year in 1979
· Roanoke Leader Man of the Year in 1980
Earl married his high school sweetheart, Mary Helen Powell of Atmore, AL and in 2008 they celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary. They have two sons, one daughter and nine grandchildren. Earl is a member of the First Baptist Church and has served on its building committee, President of his Sunday school class and as Chairman of the Board of Deacons.
