Indeed, Sioux, Ralph Fondell is an understated, true gentleman whose importance to Alaska and the Bering Sea region is often overlooked. KICY, before he retired, had a broader format and appeal than the syndicated religious format it favors today. And he recognized that they needed to compete for listeners with KNOM, but never let it turn into the deatchmatch that characterizes most of commercial radio competition. Guess it really was a Protestant-vs-Catholic thing all the way around.
Ralph brought me up to Nome in 1982 to do a graduate school research study to help determine what really was going on with listeners in Nome, and a representative cross section of the Eskimo villages they served. It's one of the highlights of my radio career to have knocked on doors "igloo to igloo" in the middle of winter to try to determine who listened to the radio, when, what else they might want to hear, and try to gather a few stats for the sales department to help sell ads. Had to carry a dog biscuit in my parka pocket, just in case, but "never had to use it!" Worst thing was getting a broken wrist falling on an icy step at a house in Nome, and having the 80-something year old doc in Nome examine me with a five-inch ash hanging off his cigarette while he tried to figure out which was my left wrist.
Anyhow, I recall Ralph was invited on a Russian trawler once, back when the "iron curtain" was stricly enforced, and brought back some Russian chocolate bars to the staff. The sailors knew of KICY because of a nightly fifteen minute show they aired each night in Russian aimed at converting Russian alcoholics to Protestant Christianity.
Last I knew Ralph and his wife Gert were retired happily in Eagle River. I've lost their address or would otherwise still send them a Christmas card.
-- "Goldilocks," in Seattle
