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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Radio station KPAN in Hereford is celebrating its |
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75th anniversary in 2023; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1948, KPAN was established by John Blake and |
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former state senator Marshall Formby; Mr. Formby's nephew, Clint |
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Formby, helped with the construction of the station, and when it |
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debuted on August 4, he was the first announcer to speak over its AM |
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frequency; two years later, Marshall Formby bought out his partner; |
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his nephew came on board as a partner in 1956 and eventually |
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purchased the station; and |
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WHEREAS, Clint Formby became a Texas radio legend and |
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Panhandle icon; a leader in the industry at the state and national |
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level, he also hosted what is considered the longest-running radio |
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broadcast by an individual; for over 55 years, he discussed a |
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"predictably unpredictable" variety of topics on the Day By Day |
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Philosopher program, and he offered listeners an array of |
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admonitions, including advice to tip their servers generously and |
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kiss their loved ones good night; and |
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WHEREAS, Since its inception, KPAN has played country music |
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and reported the local news; in the 1960s, it added an FM signal and |
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launched a Spanish-language music and news segment; it has been a |
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boon to sports fans, covering Hereford High School athletics with |
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live play-by-play and relaying broadcasts of Texas Tech University |
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football and basketball and Dallas Cowboys games; over the years, |
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the station has received numerous awards from the Texas Association |
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of Broadcasters, and it was twice named Outstanding Radio Station; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Clint Formby's son Chip joined the station as news |
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director and engineer in 1978 and eventually became general manager |
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and owner; Chip Formby's sons, Jonathan and Lane, worked at the |
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station during their high school and college years; following Chip |
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Formby's untimely death, Lane Formby moved back home to carry on the |
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family legacy, and he has served as general manager since February |
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2021, working with his mother, Lisa Formby, who is now the majority |
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partner along with her two sons; and |
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WHEREAS, While consolidation and automation have left few |
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stations still serving their communities with live, local |
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broadcasting, KPAN continues to embody the spirit of founder |
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Marshall Formby's humorous slogan, "The only radio station in the |
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world that gives a hoot about Hereford, Texas," and area residents |
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are fortunate to have access to this venerable source of |
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entertainment, information, and enlightenment; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate KPAN on its 75th anniversary and |
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extend to all those associated with the station sincere best wishes |
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for continued success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the station as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |