Oh, Paul, Jim McLaughlin DID reach his potential. Yes, he died relatively young. But he had already left his mark on Buffalo radio, especially at WKBW and WBEN. His adventures with Dan Neaverth were the most creative pieces ever aired by commercial radio in Buffalo. Who will ever forget Ward LaFrance of WQPK, Sweetwater, NY? And he was perhaps the best news director among many greats in the history of WBEN. Jim had retired from commercial broadcasting. At the time of his death, he was mentoring up and coming radio news broadcasters. I never worked for Jim. While at KB, he graciously took an hour of his time to talk with me and a colleague from my college station. And I once attended a seminar Jim led at Buffalo State where I learned more in one day than I did in two semesters from my radio news prof in college. I heard some great stories about Jim. One of his rules was his staff was never, ever able to use the same copy in a later newscast. Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite! And even the 3am newscaster couldn't consider himself safe from being monitored by Jim. The overnight person would get a call if he heard something he didn't like. IMO, Jim McLaughlin ranks at the top of any list of radio news professionals in Buffalo. Thanks, Paul, for starting a thread in which we're able to recognize this one-of-a-kind radio newsman.
