Paul Harvey Georgia story

[Ben Sandifer]

Like all other former broadcasters, I was saddened to learn of the passing of Paul Harvey. He was one-of-a-kind and will be greatly missed.
To be still working in the industry at age 90, with failing health, speaks volumes for his dedication to radio and to his huge audience. I'd be curious to know if here may be other Georgia-related stories about Paul Harvey. When I was doing mornings at WNEX in Macon in the mid 1970's, we sent Paul Harvey a story which he used as his "kicker" story one day. Putting this story in print won't begin to tell the story as Paul Harvey's did, but here goes: Joe Allen, a Macon fireman, responded to an early morning fire and ended up entering the burning structure to rescue the family's dog. Joe successfully revived the dog, using mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. After the situation was secure, Joe was saying goodbye to the family. He reached down to pet the dog, and the dog bit him.

 

[kturnerga]

Paul Harvey was one I hated to see go. He kept going and going and going until he couldn't go anymore. If you look on the WSGA Goodtimers website you'll see an audio link to Paul Harvey's 1963 appearance in Savannah.

I hope someone will release some audio clips or CD's of his best broadcasts. He deserves no less.
KT

 

[artsutton]

Like all other former broadcasters, I was saddened to learn of the passing of Paul Harvey. He was one-of-a-kind and will be greatly missed.
To be still working in the industry at age 90, with failing health, speaks volumes for his dedication to radio and to his huge audience. I'd be curious to know if here may be other Georgia-related stories about Paul Harvey. When I was doing mornings at WNEX in Macon in the mid 1970's, we sent Paul Harvey a story which he used as his "kicker" story one day. Putting this story in print won't begin to tell the story as Paul Harvey's did, but here goes: Joe Allen, a Macon fireman, responded to an early morning fire and ended up entering the burning structure to rescue the family's dog. Joe successfully revived the dog, using mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. After the situation was secure, Joe was saying goodbye to the family. He reached down to pet the dog, and the dog bit him.

Someone else may well remember the exact details but some 20 years ago, or more, Paul Harvey apparently liked the sound of "Jesup, Georgia." So, for many days, he would simply say over the air..something along the lines of "nothing happened today in Jesup, Georgia"

I believe that WLOP in Jesup was an ABC affiliate at the time as was just about any small town radio station which could clear Paul Harvey. Not all of them could. Stations protected their coverage area carefully as did ABC because listeners would seek at a Paul Harvey affiliate to hear his programs.

I can't remember what started this Jesup quote on Paul Harvey News but I do recall it was a big deal to Jesup.

 

[fussbudget]

I remember the Jesup and Joe Allen stories. Another Macon story Paul Harvey had was about a would be robber of a bank on Riverside Drive. The robber walked in and handed the teller a note demanding cash. Instead of complying, the teller told him "You get out of here!" The robber turned and left. Paul Harvey.............................
Good Day!

Paul was such a powerful voice that even when the music stopped and his mid-day program hit the air, people didn't dare turn the dial on WNEX. You would see listeners of all ages sitting around the local pool in the summer months, listening intently to Harvey's every word.

 

[Ben Sandifer]

You're absolutely right, fussbudget. WNEX was a top 40 station in those days, but having Paul Harvey didn't matter even with their target demo. When I was in high school, my best friend and I would eat lunch together every day. We'd hurry through our lunch just so we could go sit in his car and listen to Paul Harvey at 12:30.

 

[Gerry Marshall]

Please allow me to share my Paul Harvey story with you folks. The first time I ever heard of Paul Harvey or found out who he even was, I was a student at Virginia Tech in 1970. I was having a bad time with some grades and had an appointment with a guidence counselor to help me work through the problems, get my schedule readjusted, and hopefully keep from flunking out! I waited in the counselor's waiting room for about 35 minutes. Finally, he called me in, told me to have a seat, and tell him what was on my mind. I reached down deep in my gut and spilled out everything a 19-year old in panic of his college career could muster out. The counselor just leaned back in his chair and appeared to half-listen. When I finished, I took a deep breath and was waiting for him to come to my rescue. Instead, without saying a word, he stood up, walked over to a bookshelf on the other side of the room, and turned on a radio. I noticed the clock read 12:30pm. I looked at him totally puzzled as he came back around to his desk and plopped down in his chair. He pointed to the radio he had just turned on and said, "Shhhhh! Paul Harvey is on. We'll get back to you in a few minutes!" Oh yeah...I flunked out and got drafted!!

 

[production]

As a longtime WIFO/WLOP staff member, we (Boss one and Boss two, and I) were talking about this on Monday 3/2. The story as it is told is that in the mid/late 70's Ray Bilbrey had a network feed problem, and called the number he had listed for ABC. Again, as it is told, he didn't have the network engineering number, he had Paul Harvey's office number. (Don't get ahead of the rest of the story!) Ray explained who he was, where he was, problem, etc. PH took it all down, etc. So in true urban legend fashion, Paul Harvey said he would take care of the problem, and asked Ray what was going on in Jesup. Then, as Now... Nothing is going on in Jesup, GA. Since I know Ray, and know that this would be a Ray answer, I go with this. I remember this as a "yute" in the late 70's. WIFO still carries PH, even with the Gil Gross and Doug Limerick insertion:

"Beginning Monday, March 9, ABC Radio Networks will feed the following programming from ABC News Radio talents Gil Gross and Doug Limerick via XDS to all current Paul Harvey affiliates at the existing feed times. This programming will match the current Harvey feeds exactly."



Gil Gross

An award-winning journalist with more than 30 years experience reporting on global events, Gross has covered major stories including the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II, the terrorist attacks of September 11, Timothy McVeigh and the Iraq War. He previously hosted The Gil Gross Show for CBS and was the trusted, primary substitute through the years for both Paul Harvey and Charles Osgood. He brings an array of news experience and perspective to the day’s top stories.



* Morning Report (4 minutes of content plus minute of embedded network inventory)
o Weekdays at 8:30 a.m. ET (refeed at 9:30 a.m. ET)



* Midday (11 minutes of content plus 3 minutes of embedded network inventory, plus a 1 minute local avail for a total of 15 minutes)
o Weekdays
+ 11:35 a.m. ET

§ 12:06 p.m. ET (refeed at 1:06 p.m. ET)

o Weekends
+ Saturday (4:30 minutes of embedded network inventory)
# 11:10 a.m. ET (reefed at 12:10 p.m. ET)
# Also fed at 10:45 a.m. ET (prefeed) and 1:10 p.m. ET
# We also send a prefeed of the Saturday report at 7:25 p.m. ET on Fridays






Doug Limerick

ABC Morning News anchor Doug Limerick is a master at highlighting the unusual and quirky from the current news and pop culture and showcasing the information in an entertaining fashion for radio audiences. He has won two prestigious Edward R. Murrow Awards for Best Newscast. Limerick’s features for ABC Radio Networks will focus on the day’s news mixed with folksy, positive stories.



* Afternoons (4 minutes of content plus :30 embedded network inventory)
o Weekdays at 2:06 p.m. ET (prefeed) 3:06 p.m. ET

* Weekends
o Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. ET (refeeds at 9:30 a.m. ET and 10:30 a.m. ET)