By: Ratliff S.C.R. No. 111 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of Texas takes pride in 1-2 recognizing William Bradford for his pioneering efforts in using 1-3 weather radar in radio broadcasting and for organizing the 1-4 Emergency Broadcasting System in Texas; and 1-5 WHEREAS, The longtime manager of KSST radio in Sulphur 1-6 Springs, Bill Bradford began his successful career in radio as an 1-7 engineer for KAND in Corsicana in 1939; during World War II he 1-8 served as a pilot and communications officer in the United States 1-9 Army Air Corps and earned a commendation for building a radio 1-10 broadcast station out of spare parts for Borinquen Field in Puerto 1-11 Rico; and 1-12 WHEREAS, He returned to civilian life as an engineer for KSST 1-13 in Sulphur Springs in 1948 and one year later became the station's 1-14 manager, a position he still holds today; he is also chairman of 1-15 the board of Hopkins County Broadcasting Company and is recognized 1-16 as one of Texas' outstanding small market radio operators; and 1-17 WHEREAS, Remarkably innovative and resourceful, Mr. Bradford 1-18 utilized two-way and other technological advances at his station 1-19 long before they became common; he took radar from a B-29 bomber 1-20 and used it for weather forecasting and as a warning device for 1-21 KSST; and 1-22 WHEREAS, A member of the Texas CONELRAD Committee, he played 1-23 a major role in converting the Emergency Broadcasting System into a 2-1 disaster warning device to provide weather and other disaster 2-2 alerts in addition to nuclear attack warnings; to achieve his goal, 2-3 he traveled the state at his own expense with federal officials; 2-4 and 2-5 WHEREAS, Praise for Mr. Bradford's exceptional work includes 2-6 commendations from the Defense Civil Preparedness Agency, the 2-7 Federal Communications Commission, and the National Weather 2-8 Service; the Texas State Networks awarded Mr. Bradford with a 2-9 special merit award in 1983 for his years of service as the 2-10 Emergency Broadcasting System chairman; and 2-11 WHEREAS, Bill Bradford is a man of many talents who has given 2-12 generously of his time and energy on behalf of the citizens of 2-13 Texas and for the betterment of his state; he was awarded the Texas 2-14 Association of Broadcaster's Pioneer of the Year Award in 1992 in 2-15 recognition of his outstanding service to the Texas Broadcasting 2-16 Industry and the Elliott Roosevelt Award from the Texas State 2-17 Network in recognition of KSST's outstanding cooperation between 2-18 the affiliate and its network; now, therefore, be it 2-19 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-20 hereby commend William Bradford for his many contributions to his 2-21 state and to the Texas broadcasting industry and extend to him best 2-22 wishes for the years ahead; and, be it further 2-23 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared for him 2-24 as an expression of esteem from the Texas Legislature.