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Hall of Fame 2008Gil PoeseVideo |
Gil Poese is a native of Emma, Missouri,graduated high school at Waverly, Missouri and graduated Pathfinders School of Radio in Kansas City in 1948.
His first job in radio was at WLOI, La Porte, Indiana from 1949 to 1952. While there, he also served his country in Korea.
He continued to work in radio at various locations and then moved to O'Neill at KBRX in 1959, where he was offered the opportunity to purchase thestation. In 1961, papers were drawn up for Ranch Land Broadcasting, with Gil as Owner and President.
In 1974, KBRX FM officially went on the air and in 1981 was upgraded to 100,000 watts. KBRX is also noted for having one of the longest running programs in the state, called "Party Line."
During the Vietnam War, KBRX broadcast all military funerals. "We wanted to make people aware that we were in a war," said Gil.
The success of the stations is reflected in Gil's hard work. Still active at the station at 82, he can be heard daily reading the news along with other duties.
In 2005, Gil was named Nebraska's Outstand-ing Older Worker. He remains active in his community as a member of the American Legion and serves on their color guard/firing squad at veterans' funerals. He is a Friend of the Library, serving as their president for six years, has been an elder in the First Presbyterian church, is a member of the Greater Nebraska Workforce Board and served twenty years on the O'Neill School Board. He is a member of theO'Neill Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, the NBA, Eagles and a member of the O'Neill Hall of Fame.
His family is the joy of his life. He and his wife have a blended family of eight children,twenty-one grandchildren and two great grandchildren, and they treasure their family times.