In the early 70's I had just come from a four-month stint on KQOT, a daytime top-40 radio station in Yakima, my first real job in the field. An alcoholic owner, the duty of feeding the horse out back, and enough RF to force you to do your production after hours (dark) brought me quickly back home to Bainbridge Island.

I picked up some yard work for a friend of the family and one day he asked if I was serious about this radio thing. I wasn't sure until he mentioned he knew Larry Nelson and could line up an interview if I wanted. Are you kidding me?! LARRY NELSON!!!? Uh, just one problem...I didn't have an aircheck. The RF was so bad at K-QWAT there was no point in even trying to record something.

I pleaded with KUOW to allow me to create a tape in their studios. This was not something they did. "But, it's an interview with Larry Nelson, I have to have something for him to critique," I pleaded and begged. They gave into my sorrowful tones and allowed me to use their production room for about an hour. In the process, flipping buttons -- the wrong buttons -- I took them off the air twice. BUT I HAD MY AIRCHECK!!!

Larry was so nice, he said nothing of my puke of a delivery, the style I had developed in Yakima. He listened through it and was as sincere as he could be saying many positive things.

On cloud nine, I left. Bouncing my way back to the ferry, I passed a broadcast school I'd ignored many times before...until now. I went in and handed my tape to the owner of this school called Radio Show Broadcast Training. He confirmed everything Larry had just told me. The owner was John Maynard. He and Charlie Brown owned the school and were training other hopefuls at that time who would also have wonderful radio careers. Tom Hutyler, Bob Case, Casey Summers, John Posey and many more.

Following my many years at KJR I had a chance to work at KOMO with my mentor Larry Nelson. What a talent to watch in person, what a joy to be around. A few weeks into the job I shared with him my/our story. He had no recollection but was happy to hear that he had played such a pivotal role in my decision to stay and continue to work in this business.

Thank you Larry. You have meant so much to so many for so long.

Klem Daniels