[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 130 (Thursday, November 16, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S11041]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO SELDON SHORT

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise today to honor a good friend and 
fellow Kentuckian, Seldon Short, who with his wife Janet has worked for 
the Kentucky Mountain Holiness Association for the past 49 years and in 
radio for the past 55.
  Mr. Short began his career in broadcasting in 1951 at WMTC-AM, a 
small radio station in Vancleve, KY. Throughout his time in radio Mr. 
Short ran the gauntlet of progress, keeping up with the technological 
changes of the last half century from 78-rpm vinyl records to cassette 
tapes to satellite delivery, while also expanding his own radio 
station. After Mr. Short became general manager in 1978, his small AM 
station grew from 1000 watts to 5000 watts, and in 1991 switched over 
to the FM dial.
  Upon his retirement from WMTC-FM this October, Mr. Short was awarded 
the J.T. Whitlock Life Member Award from the Kentucky Broadcasters 
Association for his commitment and dedication to the field of 
broadcasting.
  On October 12, 2006, The Breathitt County Voice published an article 
highlighting Mr. Short's contributions to his community. I ask 
unanimous consent that the full article be printed in the Record and 
that the entire Senate join me in paying respect to this beloved 
Kentuckian.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

            [From The Breathitt County Voice, Oct. 12, 2006]

    ``A Blessing to Breathitt County''--Seldon & Janet Short Retire

                            (By Jeff Noble)

       All around the room Seldon Short could see friends. Dozens 
     of them came out on a Friday night to say ``thank you'' to 
     him and his wife Janet. Even after he suffered crippling 
     injuries in a horrible car crash a few years back, he smiles. 
     Even after Janet suffered debilitating illness from an 
     operation some time ago, she remains upbeat.
       And they're not bitter. Because of their resiliency, Seldon 
     and Janet Short's faith and love of people keeps them above 
     the rollercoaster that is life. ``It does our hearts good to 
     see all these people we've served,'' Seldon said during a 
     retirement party for him and his wife inside the dining hall 
     of Mt. Carmel High School. ``You look around and it's amazing 
     how wonderful life really is. Janet and I will be married 50 
     years next June. We've been blessed with four children and 
     six grandchildren. And we have a lifetime of memories. God's 
     been good to us, and because of that, we keep going.''
       Janet gently squeezed her husband's hand as she spoke of 
     the outpouring of love their friends provided at the party. 
     ``It's so nice to see all these people. People I've worked 
     with, people who helped babysit for my children when I was on 
     the radio, people who we love and cherish. I'm just thankful 
     the Lord has seen us through during this time, and sometimes, 
     it was rough.'' Then she looked admiringly at Seldon and 
     spoke softly with a smile. ``Seldon, he's a great guy. I 
     don't know what I'd do without him. He's wonderful. I can't 
     brag on him enough.''
       Neither could some in the room, like his old friend Robert 
     Cundiff. ``Seldon loves people. But he is also a shy 
     person,'' getting a laugh out of the crowd as he spoke. He 
     then told a story about his old buddy, who, like Cundiff, 
     graduated from Mt. Carmel and the former Kentucky Mountain 
     Bible Institute (now Kentucky Mountain Bible College). ``For 
     instance, in the cafeteria, Seldon was so shy, he wouldn't 
     even say `Pass the biscuits.' Can you imagine Seldon doing 
     that?'' It was a remark that brought the house down. Cundiff 
     then thanked Seldon for being the ``founding father of the 
     Mt. Carmel Former Students Association--our alumni 
     association. Thank you, my old friend.''
       Not to be outdone, several of Janet's friends and co-
     workers came to bring yellow roses to her, and to spin some 
     stories about Mrs. Short and her work she and her husband did 
     at WMTC Radio. ``While I played piano, I remember Janet 
     reading poems over the radio station,'' said Donna Woodring. 
     ``Sometimes they would be quite inspiring, sometimes they 
     would be whimsical. She was always delightful.'' Carlene 
     Light recalled another moment. ``Janet loved to cook, and she 
     loved to watch you eat. That's why I'm overweight.'' After 
     getting laughs from the audience, Carlene went on to say, 
     ``What's so great about this couple is that Seldon and Janet 
     are focused on people.'' It was a statement echoed by Faith 
     Amspaugh. ``In fact, my children, who are all grown, still 
     call them Uncle Seldon and Aunt Janet.''
       For many years, Seldon and Janet wore many hats working for 
     the Kentucky Mountain Holiness Association. He was with KMHA 
     for 49 years, while Janet worked for 40 years. Of that time, 
     Seldon served as Vice-President of KMHA, as well as positions 
     on the Jackson Kiwanis Club, the Jackson Independent School 
     board, the pastor of two churches (Wolverine for 23 years and 
     Bach Memorial for 18 years), and as a board member of the 
     Kentucky Broadcasters Association (KBA). From his humble 
     beginnings as a part-time announcer in 1951, Seldon returned 
     to WMTC full-time in 1954-55. After going to Asbury College, 
     he came back for good to the radio station in 1958.
       He and Janet had a heart for radio, and remained with the 
     station for many years. Seldon became General Manager of WMTC 
     in 1978, saw the station's signal on 730 AM go from 1,000 
     watts to 5,000 watts, and was at the creation of WMTC-FM, as 
     it went on the air at 99.9 in 1991. ``I did a lot of live 
     programs back then. There was no tape as we know it today. 
     Recorded shows were on big, heavy 78 RPM vinyl discs. Then we 
     got old-fashioned recorders that weren't plastic, but 
     paperback. Then we went to reel-to-reel tape recorders, 
     cassette recorders, CD's and satellite delivery. Today is all 
     computerized.'' Then Short pointed his finger up at the sky 
     and said, ``What hasn't changed is the commitment to serving 
     people. I still think trying to be of service to the area you 
     cover is still the most important thing you can do as a 
     broadcaster. You still need to respond to their wants, their 
     needs, their requests and their hunger for information.''
       That same hunger for service came to his successor, 
     Jennifer Cox. ``The Shorts welcomed me to WMTC. I had never 
     worked at a family environment. And I learned from a reliable 
     source.'' Cox, who succeeded Seldon as General Manager in 
     June of this year, got misty-eyed when she spoke of him. ``He 
     did live radio and has gone through the computer age. 
     Everything I know he taught me. Because of Seldon and his 
     vision, we at WMTC are where we are today. I thank him for 
     his leadership and kindness.'' At that point, Cox presented 
     Seldon with the J. T. Whitlock Life Member Award from the 
     Kentucky Broadcasters Association. ``J. T. was a great friend 
     of mine,'' Seldon said of the late, long-time Executive 
     Secretary-Treasurer of the KBA. ``He was a great friend of 
     the small broadcaster, like us, and he had a great heart for 
     people, and serving those people who listened to him.''
       As some 50 of their friends munched on cake and 
     refreshments in the dining hall, the Shorts listened as the 
     current President of KMHA reminded the crowd that despite 
     their adversities, Seldon and Janet were not bitter about 
     their experiences. ``Both of them are not quitters,'' said 
     Dr. Philip Speas. ``The Shorts are made out of good stuff. 
     They're made of good metal. They've been a real illustration 
     of patience. They are a blessing to Breathitt County.''
       Toward the end of the reception, Seldon got up out of his 
     wheelchair and looked at the room again. His friends, like 
     Rev. and Mrs. Wilfred Fisher, and his children and 
     grandchildren, were all standing and applauding. The cheering 
     died down. His wife was in tears. He was too, as he softly 
     told them, all his friends for life, ``Thank you. God has 
     really blessed us through these long, wonderful years, and 
     all of you have graced us with your friendship. Despite our 
     difficulties, we'd do it all over again. God's grace has been 
     sufficient. It's been a good life.''

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