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Hall of Fame 2009Lee ThomasVideo |
Lee Thomas spent hisyouth in Denver, Colorado, where he worked in radio during his teenage years. When Lee arrived in Lincoln to attend Nebraska Wesleyan University he obtained a job as the evening disc jockey at KLMS-AM in early 1959.
After a brief return to Denver, Lee came back to KLMS in the early 1960's and stayed with the station until 1986. During that time he served as music director, program director, operations manager, and general manager, and assumed operation responsibilities for KFMQ-FM when the station was acquired by the owners of KLMS in 1979.
Always a stickler for details, Lee made yearly trips to Beltsville, MD to examine the diaries that had resulted in Arbitron's measurement of radio listening in the Lincoln market. Lee was among the first programmers in the country to use call outs to gather listener impressions of the stations' programming and for music research. He conducted regular air check sessions with his air staff, giving Lee and the air personality a chance to make an A-B comparison of what washappening on each station at the same time. No one escaped his air check sessions, not even the lowliest part timer.
Lee's on-air movie reviews became a very popular feature on KLMS. Local theatre operators would frequently quote Lee in their ads, at least for movies he liked.
In spite of high-powered out-of-town competition and going up against other local stations, KLMS consistently dominated the young adult radio ratings in Lincoln.
Lee also knew the value of news and information. The KLMS 6-person news department was repeatedly designated Nebraska Associated Press Station of the Year for innovative reporting and technology, and the station's commitment to weather included the installation of color radar and regular drive time reports from a certified meteorologist.
Upon his departure from KLMS/KFMQ, Lee and 3 partners purchased a failing 3,000 watt Lincoln FM station, changing the call letters to KLDZ, and moved the frequency and increased the power to 50,000 watts. After they sold the station it was time for the next phase of Lee's career; education.
Lee, who already had a Masters degree, returned to graduate school and earned his PhD from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. For the past 14 years, 7 as an associate professor, Dr. Thomas has taught communications at Doane College in Crete. The student radio station KDNE has received much recognition under Lee's guidance and his students not only consider him the toughest teacher on campus but credit him for his insistence that they think and make their own decisions, whether it's concerning the station or about their educationalgoals and future career plans.
Some of his other passions include astronomy, audio and video technology, photography, and motion pictures, including non-mainstream films which he exhibits at "The Thomas Grande", his home theatre room.
For Lee 2009 marks 50 years of involvement in Nebraska, having also served on the NBA Board of Directors, NBA committees and as the Nebraska representative for the National Radio Broadcasters Association.