Carl Akers
One of the best known names in Denver Television Journalsm was Carl Akers. Carl headed up the KLZ Radio and Television newsrooms alongside numerous BPC Hall of Fame inductees.
Carl Akers originally was a resident of Denison, Texas. He graduated from the University of Missouri in 1948. He moved to Denver and went to work for KLZ Radio In 1953, KLZ-TV, Channel 7 in Denver went on the air. Carl became the 10 PM News Anchor, worked for a week and decided to go back to radio. Carl was a man of conviction and didn’t feel he should have to wear a necktie on the air after years in the radio business. He relented, and the rest is history. He went on to make Channel 7 the long running Number one News station in Denver.
In 1966 he retired to travel in Europe. By 1967, he began a second Television News career, going to work for KBTV Channel 9 in Denver. His news and management acumen helped Channel 9 move into the #1 rated newscast in 1975. His leadership kept the station on top of the ratings long after he retired.
Carl was a true journalism professional who made a profound impression on the Broacast Journalsim community.
Carl Akers legacy includes his tremendous news accomplishments as well as personally being one of the most popular Anchors in Denver TV history.
KUSA Channel 9 program recounting the career of Carl Akers
Carl Akers Obituary from KMGH Channel 7, including Hall of Fame inductees Bertha Lynn, Gene Amole, Starr Yelland,
Bob Martin
Bob Martin came to Denver in January of 1954 after starting his broadcasting career in Oak Park, Illinois. His first Denver job was Program Director for KMYR. In 1960, he became co-owner and General Manager of KMOR in Littleton. Then, in 1965, he started Denver’s first Sports Talk Show.
It was at KTLN that his long relationship with the Denver Broncos began. Bob was later named Sports Director of the KOA stations, hosting a week night Sportstalk show on Radio, 14 years of regular evening Sportscasts on KOA-TV, and of course the Broncos . He was the Sports Director of KOA Radio until his death in February 1990.
Bob was honored as Colorado Sportscaster of the year 22 times. He was the sports voice on broadcasts of the Broncos for 25 years, University of Colorado, Colorado State and Air Force Football. Basketball play-by-play for the Denver Rockets, Denver-Chicago Truckers, the AAU Tournament, NCAA finals and University of Colorado. He also called games of the Denver Bears. Bob’s national credits include the US and British Opens, and PGA Golf. People who know him know his favorite was one of his first sports broadcast jobs, University of Denver Hockey.
Beyond sports, Bob anchored On-Air Election Night Coverage at KOA. At KMYR he hosted an afternoon music show, and at KMOR a classical music program.
He was both Executive Director and President of the Colorado Broadcaster’s Association. He received the CBA’s Broadcaster of the Year Award and their Broadcast Achievement Award. He was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of fame in 1991, and into the University of Denver Hall of Fame in 1997.
Bob Martin was a superb communicator with the ability to use the English language. He painted pictures with words so well that many of his listeners saw more from his radio broadcasts than those who were watching on television.
KCNC Channel 4’s obituary for Bob Martin in 1990.
Bob Martin calling the Denver Broncos’ first playoff win in 1977.
Ed Scott
Ed was born in Denver, but by the 6th grade, was living with him grandparents in Englewood, a relocation in the “Country” to recover from childhood tuberculosis. He graduated from Englewood High School at age 16. When he was 17, he attended a DU summer session , enrolled at the University of Washington to study broadcasting. Soon he dropped out of school to work to keep his teenage record show which he shared advertising revenues with the station. It eventually led to a full time job with KING in Seattle.
In 1947, Ed returned to Denver, first to KOA-AM, then to KLZ-AM. His network announcing debut came at age 19 after he moved to WBBM, CBS in Chicago. His network radio credits include “People Are Funny,” “Sky King,” “The Gene Autry Show” and “The Quiz Kids.” Network TV commercials involve the “Wednesday Night Fights,” “Ben Casey, “”My Three Sons” and “Lucy.”
In 1953, Ed moved back to Denver. When KLZ-TV Channel 7 went on the air, he became Sheriff Scotty, a top rated show that Ed produced and performed in for nine years.
In 1961. shortly before his 33rd birthday, he pooled all his resources on a radio station located in an old ranch house in Lakewood. Five years later, KLAK was a state-of-the-art facility and the station was positioned to become a ratings leader. KLAK-FM came in 1966, then a background music/sound system named Accent Sound in 1970. In 1971, KFEZ-AM went on the air in Kansas City. Ed sold his businesses in 1976.
Ed Scott then began a career in politics, first in the Englewood City Council, followed two years later as Colorado’s youngest Mayor. In 1984, Ed turned his talent to print. His current events column was featured in the Denver Post and in 63 other newpapers in 30 states.
He also hosted and narrated a TV program about Denver in the 1940’s called “There Was A Time.” The program won a national “Telly” Award.
Ed Scott biography narrated by his son Jon Scott of Fox News
Excerpt of Ed Scott from “There Was A Time” for KRMA-TV Channel 6. Produced by BPC Hall of Fame inductee Trux Simmons
William G. “Bill” Stewart was born in Winfield, Kansas, but attended school in Colby, Kansas. After High School, he attended Kansas State University, working on an Electrical Engineering degree. His education was interrupted to serve three years in the Army Air Corps. He left the service with the rank of Sergeant, after 2 years in the Asian Theater.
In 1947 he attended Columbia University in New York as a Radio-TV Major, and also was an announcer in Colby. In 1948, on to the University of Denver where he got his degree in Radio-TV. At the same time, he was working at KMYR as the night news editor, and for 6 months at KOA as a news writer for Starr Yelland.
In 1950, Bill began several years in Greeley at KFKA. He started in sales and moved up to General Manager. In 1951, he married Lila Jean Bohlender. Next stops were General Manager of KGHF in Pueblo, and in 1958 G.M. of KWRL in Riverton, Wyoming.
In 1959 Bill and Lila Jean found their home. He became President and G.M. of KLMO in Longmont. It was 250 watts. In 1964, Bill got FCC approval to go to 10,000 watts, at that time second in power only to KOA in Colorado. In 1969. KLMO-FM went on the air.
Bill built a small, low powered radio station into a solid broadcast facility serving the Longmont area. Bill and Lila Jean live in Longmont, and are active in the community.
Bill is a lifetime member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He is a past president of the Colorado Broadcasters Association and has received the National Public Relations Award from the American Legion. The list of service clubs and his dedication to the community includes The Longmont Symphony, the Longmont United Hospital, the University of Colorado and University of Northern Colorado to name a few. Bill and wife Lila Jean have thrived in Longmont, and given so much in return to their home town.
