Although
Billy Cole was born in a place called Short
Track, NY, his career in country radio covered a
long track in that it encompassed 40 years when he
retired in April, 2000. Launching his
impressive run in the medium at Greenland Air Force
Base in Sondestrom, Greenland, Cole went on to serve
as air personality and music director at WMMB,
Melbourn, FL (1961); WBTA, Batavia, NY (1962); WHDL,
Olean, NY (1962); WHHG, Hornell, NY (1963); KSOP,
Salt Lake City, UT (1963-1964); KAOH, Duluth, MN
(1964-1965); KTCR Minneapolis, MN (1965-1967); KANO
Anoka, MN (1967-1968); KFRM Wichita, KS (1968-1969);
WENO Madison, TN (1969); WSM Nashville, TN
(1969-1971); WHO Des Moines, IA (1972-1977); KDLS
Perry, IA (1978); KYNN Omaha, NE (1979-1980); KSO
Des Moines, IA (1981-1986); WHO Des Moines, IA
(1987-1989); KXLQ Indianola, IA (1990-1994); KMGO
Centerville, IA (1995-2000).
Through the years, Cole served as
the national voice for major clients such as
Roto-Rooter, Massey-Ferguson, Pioneer Seed, John
Deere and International Harvester. As a
country singer, he’s recorded for Chart, Mega,
Volunteer and Twin Town Records where he was
produced by Pete Drake and Waylon Jennings. As
a songwriter, his songs have been recorded by
Stonewall Jackson, Webb Pierce and W. B.
Stokely. During the mid-70’s, Cole hosted the
“Country Call-In” show from WHO in Des Moines which
played host to numerous country greats.
His charitable undertakings have
been concentrated toward the “Kids With a Wish”
Foundation, which he helped fund for years with his
Labor Day Weekend Softball Charity Tournament and
his bluegrass concerts at the fairgrounds in
Winterset, IA.
Inducted into the Country Music
Disc Jockey Hall of Fame in 2002, Billy Cole is a
classical example of the phrase he used to end his
show each day, “The best way to have friends is to
be one yourself.”
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