[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 192 (Thursday, December 17, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E3039]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          RECOGNIZING THE MANY YEARS OF SERVICE OF JIM PITCOCK

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                           HON. JOHN BOOZMAN

                              of arkansas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 16, 2009

  Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a fine 
Arkansan who, on December 11, 2009, ended a 51-year career in 
television, radio and politics.
  Jim Pitcock's career in Arkansas radio, television and politics began 
in his hometown of Fort Smith in 1958 as a part-time camera operator at 
KFSA television. He would attend junior college during the day, then 
work at the television station during the evening newscasts.
  A short time later he was offered a job at KCCL Radio in Paris, 
Arkansas where he received his first chance to do ``on-air'' work as a 
disc jockey. He traded in school for the job and spent the next two 
years driving back and forth to Paris while continuing his work at the 
television station in the evening.
  In 1960, Jim began work as a full-time disc jockey at KFSA Radio in 
Fort Smith.
  In 1963, KAAY, the ``Mighty 1090'' in Little Rock offered Pitcock a 
job in the Capitol City where he assumed the identity of ``Ron Owens--
The Midnight Satellite.''
  Almost a year to the day later, Jim Pitcock was hired by KATV 
Television where he began a 32-year career as the station's News 
Director. At one point, Pitcock served as the longest-tenured news 
director in the country. He traveled from Moscow to Vietnam bringing 
Arkansans news in international significance with a local perspective. 
Pitcock also oversaw the station's coverage of then-Governor Bill 
Clinton's rise to the White House in 1991 earning the station a 
Regional Emmy Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and 
Sciences.
  During his tenure Pitcock won numerous Associated Press Broadcaster's 
Association awards and led the station's news department atop the 
ratings for more than a decade.
  Jim Pitcock has been honored with a number of other awards for his 
work as an Arkansas broadcast journalism pioneer including; The 
Arkansas Society of Professional Journalist's ``Silver Microphone'' 
Award for lifetime achievement and the University of Arkansas 
Department of Journalism's ``Ernie Deane Award'' for his contribution 
to broadcast journalism in the state.
  Pitcock also served for a time as Congressman Bill Alexander's Field 
Director in Arkansas, worked with former Arkansas Attorney General Mark 
Pryor and finished his career as an aide to United States Senator Mark 
Pryor.
  One of seven siblings, Jim Pitcock and all three of his brothers 
worked in the broadcast journalism field during their careers. Oldest 
brother Bill Pitcock (deceased) served as evening news anchor for KOTV 
News in Oklahoma City, Bob Gregory Pitcock worked as a correspondent 
for CBS News Washington and youngest brother Jerry Pitcock worked at 
KATV in Little Rock and the Arkansas Educational Television Network in 
Conway, Arkansas.
  Jim has four grown children and six grandchildren.

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