[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 106 (Tuesday, June 25, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H4124]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      RECOGNIZING KERMIT WOMACK, A LEGEND IN ARKANSAS BROADCASTING

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Arkansas (Mr. Womack) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. WOMACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a legend in 
Arkansas broadcasting who has decided to retire after more than 70 
years of outstanding service to the industry, and the last nearly 45 
years as the owner and operator of KURM Radio in Rogers, Arkansas.
  Mr. Speaker, he is not just a career broadcaster, he is my father, 
Kermit Womack, or ``The Colonel,'' as we all know him.
  Kermit grew up in rural Arkansas just outside the small town of 
Danville. It should be noted that on that little farm in the Ranger 
community, he didn't enjoy the modern conveniences of life: no 
electricity, no indoor plumbing, no car.
  He picked cotton for mere dollars a day to earn money to buy school 
clothes. My dad knew what it was like to be poor.
  Dad was a great speaker. Through the FFA organization, he competed in 
public speaking. It was that gift that gave him an opportunity to go to 
college, and it was in college that he joined the Army ROTC program.
  Commissioned in 1957, the year I was born, my dad began a 36-year 
career in the National Guard. He also worked at the local radio station 
in Russellville to help support his family.
  His broadcast career took him to Lexington, Missouri, for 5 years, 
then to Moberly, Missouri, for 11 years. It was there at KWIX/KRES in 
Moberly that he became the broadcast voice of the local junior college 
basketball team.
  The Moberly Greyhounds, under Cotton Fitzsimmons, won two national 
titles during that time, both in 1966 and `67, with Kermit providing 
the description for the fans unable to make the trip. As sales manager, 
he practiced and he perfected the kind of radio that reflected the 
interests of his area.
  In 1973, Kermit returned to Arkansas and became the general manager 
of the station where it all began: KXRJ, now KARV. There he brought 
true community involvement radio to that region. He was even the play-
by-play voice for my high school football games. I cherish those 
recordings.
  Soon Kermit began to yearn for his own station and in 1979, we 
founded KURM Radio in Rogers, Arkansas. On November 9, 1979, at noon, 
KURM took the air for the first time.

  Mr. Speaker, in the last nearly 45 years, KURM has been the regional 
voice of northwest Arkansas, southwest Missouri, and northeast Oklahoma 
with its booming AM signal. In the early years, he added FM service as 
well.
  Local talk shows like a free want-ad program ``Dial-A-Trade,'' his 
personal talk show ``Party Line,'' and his unique style of broadcasting 
covering local events, daily news, weather, and sports, with a special 
emphasis on production agriculture, has been so vital to our local 
economy. You would hear him, live weekly, broadcasting from the local 
cattle auction.
  KURM was unique. No other station did what KURM did, but it was hard 
work and required dedicated people to perform such a unique service.
  Mr. Speaker, times have changed. The habits of consumers have 
changed. As time has marched on, the responsibilities fell more and 
more on The Colonel and very recently at 89 years of age, health issues 
have begun to catch up with him.
  So, come Monday, this Monday, July 1, The Colonel will sign off for 
the final time, and KURM, the last of a vanishing breed of stations, 
will retire with him. It will mark the end of an era, and it will most 
certainly leave a void for his listeners.
  Today, Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart but a grateful heart 
that I recognize and congratulate my dad, Kermit Womack, for his 
contributions to the broadcast industry and the communities he has 
called home. It will be sad not to hear his signature signoff: Agree or 
disagree, we are still going to be friends. You take care. Have 
yourselves a great day. We love you.
  The Bible says in the Book of Matthew: ``Well done, good and faithful 
servant.'' That is a fitting Scripture for a man who has given more 
than 70 years of his life to his community and Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I will say to my dad: Colonel, we are proud of you. We 
are going to miss your service to your country and your fellow man. May 
God richly bless you in retirement.

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