[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 76 (Thursday, June 5, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S5375]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       THE ``BILL AND SHEL SHOW'' CELEBRATES 40 YEARS ON THE AIR

 Mr. BREAUX. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to two men 
who have become an institution in my hometown of Crowley, LA.
  For 40 years now, Bill Williams and Shel Kanter have hosted the very 
popular ``Bill and Shel Show'' on radio station KSIG-AM. Each weekday 
morning, Bill and Shel have entertained and informed thousands of 
listeners throughout Acadia Parish and the surrounding area. For most 
listeners of the ``Bill and Shel Show,'' it's hard to imagine starting 
the day without them and their reports of the latest local news, 
community events, and the all-important school updates, including the 
school lunch menus.
  As anyone who has tried to raise funds for a charitable cause in 
Crowley knows, a kind or encouraging word from Bill and Shel can 
sometimes make the difference between success or failure. Bill and 
Shel, of course, have always been most generous with kind words for the 
various worthy causes in and around Crowley.
  It wasn't too long ago that the ``Bill and Shel Show'' was threatened 
with extinction. When KSIG Radio changed ownership, the new owners 
briefly considered canceling the show. Of course, as one might imagine, 
the enormous outcry of protest from the community quickly persuaded the 
station's new management that its initial decision had been perhaps 
hasty and unwise. Today, I am happy to report that Bill and Shel 
continue to entertain and inform their many listeners and, presumably, 
will continue to dominate the local airwaves for many years to come.
  In this day and time when all of us decry the decline in the spirit 
of community and cohesiveness that once was the hallmark of small towns 
all across our land, the ``Bill and Shel Show'' serves as a reminder of 
a time when small towns like Crowley--where neighborliness, community 
spirit, and civic pride still thrive--were the norm, not the exception. 
It is people like Bill Williams and Shel Kanter who help make Crowley a 
place where people are truly connected by a common purpose and a 
sincere concern for the well-being of the entire community.
  I congratulate the owners and management of KSIG Radio for their 
decision to keep Bill and Shel on the air. And I congratulate Bill and 
Shel for 40 years of broadcasting excellence.

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