Today Steve shares a story about Lea Firestone, former Account Exec at KVOE, Sports Director, former FM Sales Director at KFFX, and finally President of ERS, Inc – Emporia’s Radio Stations who announced his impending retirement after over some 52 years in the workforce.
As Steve remembers it – it’s 1986 and Firestone had just been promoted to his FM position about a month into the Sauder Family’s purchase of KVOE AM & FM.
Unfortunately, things weren’t running smoothly for Steve as the owner of KVOE, but he was hoping to reach a new working agreement with his General Manager – However, to Steve’s shock, he met his GM heading north and out of Emporia. Jerry Gutenson’s resignation was at KVOE when Steve arrived.
Steve says he was in shock. He and his father had just paid over a million dollars for the two radio stations and now they were without a GM and Steve thought – “I don’t even know where the keys are!
After a period of time Steve remembered Lea Firestone had mentioned he had twice been the interim general manager of radio stations in western Kansas.
Needing, at minimum, someone to talk to Steve summoned Firestone and asked him – “if you were GM at KVOE today, what would you do first?
Lea didn’t hesitate to ask if he could have an hour before replying.
In a little less than an hour Firestone returned with a neatly written list of a dozen things he’d do immediately if he was in the general manager position.
This was the first of a long line of morning lists Lea produced – he became infamous for his lists.
Lea Firestone led ERS, Inc until 2004 when he moved to Wichita to become President of our hotel company which he’d helped create.
Lea’s Wichita move was bittersweet but well-timed. Steve’s employment with Birch Telecom was ending and with it his salary so Lea leaving opened a slot for him. Let’s discuss how that worked out for another day and talk about things Lea Firestone accomplished at KVOE.
Our stated goal with purchasing the stations was to “be a servant to the community.” Lea not only believed that, but he lived it and made every decision considering our community.
Virtually every move Steve’s companies made for 18 years had Firestone’s input.
Moving our studios to 1420 C of E drive, buying a big western Kansas FM station and then trading it for KEGS, our KFC involvement, building 7 hotels, real estate developments, and lots of fun stuff too like – the BBC golf event, and Valu-Line Developmental Baseball – Hustle and Do Your Best!
Lea, a role model family man became a totally involved citizen both in Emporia and statewide where he served as president of the Kansas Association of Broadcasters
He also mentored many fine broadcasters including our icons: Ron Thomas and Greg Rahe.
Steve credits Lea with being a constant positive influence in everything he accomplished during their years together.
Thank you, Lea and congratulations on a job well done my friend.
I’m Bobbi Sauder with Steve’s Something to Think About
