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Hall of Fame 1997George HaskellVideo |
George Haskell spent his entire career in Nebraska broadcasting from 16 years of age until he reitred in 1980.
George Harold Haskell was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, July 23, 1917. During school, George was a piano player in local and traveling dance orchestras from 1929 to 1937 earning $1 a day. In 1937, he took a part-time job in radio when he was 16 as a mail boy at KFOR/Lincoln.
He even did a State Pen show with Johnny Carson. George played the organ whileJohnny did his ventriloquist act. Years later Johnny wrote to tell him about a new job he got from Jack Parr with NBC....and you know the rest of the story.
Later George followed Central States Broadcasting Corporation to Omaha. He was given the traffic/manager/programmer opportunity in 1939 for KFAB and KOIL (at Council Bluffs).
Virginia May Zimmerman, his first and practically his only girlfriend, captured his heart and became his wife in 1943.
In 1946, George became KFAB's assistant Program Director and then Assistant General Manager to Lyell Bremser from 1956-1957.
In 1957, George Haskell was named General Manager of Platte Valley Broadcasting Corporation owned by Russ Stewart: KNEB AM, KNEB-FM in Scottsbluff, Nebraska and KOLR-AM in Sterling Colorado. He became President/General Manager and Partner of KNEB AM/FM 1970-1980.
George was very involved in the Scottsbluff community, serving on many civic boards and committees. He also served on the Nebraska Broadcasters Association Board of Directors.
George's children both followed in his broadcast footsteps. Stu isGeneral Manager/VP of Clear Channel Northern Colorado,and Julie (Gade) is General Manager/VPfor Clear Channel Broadcasting Lincoln.