Bob Collins talks about his introduction to radio broadcasting in the armed forces during World War II, attending radio broadcasting school back home in Ohio, and coming to Grand Junction, Colorado to manage the new KEXO station in 1948. He talks about his life in broadcasting at KEXO, KREX and KSTAR. He speaks about his work with the Grand Junction Centennial committee to plan events around the celebration of the town’s centennial anniversary in 1981, including the centennial play at Lincoln Park. He describes broadcasting Western Slope rodeo and racing events, including the VFW Rodeo and the Land’s End Hill Climb. He talks about the planning and dedication of Intermountain Veterans’ Memorial Park and what was then known as Jack Waddrell Memorial Stadium at the Mesa County Fairgrounds in 1944. He describes the early days of the Grand Junction Lions Club and a practical joke that “Firecracker” Frank Garrison played on Dr. “E.H.” Munro during a club meeting. He tells stories about his friends Hank Post Jr., Paul Strout, and Rex Howell. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
