e-mail
home

Feature Articles
"Towers of Power"
"Radio Smarts"
"Radio Man"
"Legends"

Biography

A product of the Mississippi Delta who migrated to California after a brief tenure as a part time college student (unbeknownst to his parents), who in real life was already off on a broadcast career as the 18 year old program director (1959-1960) of the local (Hattiesburg, MS) rock station.  So much for higher education.

After a year with WABB in Mobile, Dowe eloped with the daughter (Dottie) of the WABB building's owner, and cleverly moved her quickly with him to San Diego and KDEO. There, he was handed the reins to the station's morning show.  Listening to superstar performers like Al Lohman, Jr., Bob Crane, and others left this young broadcaster filled with enthusiasm for a lifetime career in the magic world of  Radio.  In San Diego, ratings soared and Ken caught the attention of the highly respected Chuck Dunaway, recently of WABC, New York and then program director of KBOX, Dallas. KBOX was the first station in a decade to take a bite out of the phenomenal success of Gordon McLendon's vaunted KLIF.  Ken and Chuck stayed together at KBOX for a year, the time it took Dowe to overtake KLIF in afternoon ratings.

On his way to Atlanta, Rod Roddy (The Price Is Right: "Come on down!") was leaving his home town of Fort Worth and dropped in to meet the fellow he was enjoying on the air at KBOX.  On his way to Atlanta to join celebrated programmer Kent Burkhart at WQXI, Rod insisted he was going to have Kent bring Dowe to Atlanta.  He did, and Kent did.

In the early '60s, KB polished Ken's morning show skills at WQXI.  But, Gordon McLendon had other ideas.  At the suggestion of "Charlie and Harrigan" (Jack Woods and Ron Chapman), McLendon brought Ken back to Dallas.  This time to KLIF.  ("If he can beat us, then hire him to join us.")  Dallas was home for two years, as Ken hosted afternoon drive at the 50,000 AM giant, KLIF, one of the nation's most respected and greatest ever stations.  Thought by McLendon to be too young to be a manager, or even a PD, the ambitious (but, rebellious) Dowe accepted a role with Pat O'Day and his company, owned by movie star Danny Kaye. Barely 25, Dowe joined O'Day to create for the airwaves, a great radio station in Cincinnati.  (WUBE)

A year away, and KLIF's ratings were in a decline. Worse, "Charlie & Harrigan" resigned.  The late Bill Stewart, who along with Gordon McLendon and Todd Storz created formatic radio with their early Top 40 stations, brought Ken back to Dallas.  This time as the early morning star of KLIF.  With his alter ego ("Granny Emma"), the tutoring of Bill Stewart, and the strong support of Gordon McLendon,  Ken Dowe established himself as a legendary radio personality and innovative Operations Director of KLIF.  It was during this period that KLIF soared as in their days of old.  Charlie Van Dyke.  Jimmy Rabbitt.  Michael O'Shea.  Jim Taber.  Michael Spears.  Brad Messer.  All names who created the fabulously famous "Big Klif" hung their headsets at, "The Mighty 1190."

Despite his insatiable desire to learn, Gordon did not want Ken off the air, nor entering the management arena. ("He's too good and too important on the air to be wasted on other assignments.") So, he defied Gordon, and returned to Atlanta and his friend Burkhart, who name him Assistant General Manager, and cared not about the youth of the zealous on air broadcaster with visionary programming skills and innovative management ideas.  

McLendon, again was faced with the loss of his friend and programming ally.  Good contracts make better friends, so Ken came home.  This time as McLendon's programming heir, and first and only Executive Vice President of the McLendon Corporation.  Then, the largest independent group owner in America.  Dowe became wholly responsible for McLendon stations in Dallas, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Buffalo, Detroit, and Chicago.  At last he was in his element, and responded in kind. The McLendon stations prospered as never before under his leadership.

In 1972, Gordon McLenon was winding down his towering broadcast empire.  At at famous meeting at the Statler Hilton Hotel in downtown Dallas, McLendon oiffered his KNUS-FM at a bargain price of $150,000 to go with KLIF, sold for a then staggering 10 million cash.  KNUS was refused.  FM radio was still a cipher in 1972.  As McLendon and Dowe exited the Statler and discussed what to do with this stepchild, Gordon asked Ken to think of, "somthing," and get back to him.  The next day, in a 1.5 page memo, Dowe offered a new creation that took KNUS to first position in the market some 15 months later.  KLIF never rebounded, and FM was never the same again in Dallas. AM radio became an anachronism.

By 1975, McLenon was closing up shop.  Ironically, due to the (then) interference by the FCC and the Federal government which (in GBM's view) was destroying his ability to be a creative entrepeneur.  So, he began divesting himself of all stations.  (KNUS later became KLUV, the highly successful oldies outlet in DFW)  Ken opted to join Bernie Waterman who was fighting for his economic life in San Antonio.  Taking the helm of KTSA & KTFM om 1975. Ken recreated San Antonio radio in much the same way as he had done in Dallas with KLIF and then KNUS.  KTSA vaulted to first, and a short time later FM radio emerged with KTFM the up from the bottom... #2 station.  Waterman's two stations reigned supreme during Ken's five year tenure in San Antonio.

After a visit with another KD mentor (Clint Murchison, founder of the DALLAS COWBOYS) at the private island estate of the Murchison family, Clint suggested he invest with Ken in his own station.  They purchased a classical station in Oklahoma City, and Ken (with help from his own protege, Dan Mason) named it, "KLTE."  K-LITE.  And, he invented....lite rock.  

From this success came a small group of stations that criss crossed the country from Louisiana and Texas to California.  In 1990, Ken sold them and retired to a quasi-sabatical at his home in Dallas.  Boredom, and a strong commitment to a long time personal friend were the causes of a life changing experience in  1991.  Ken joined Hymen Childs who was desparate to resurrect his KKDA-FM.  (K104)  The original plan was to cause K104's competitor to leave the Urban format.  Ken accepted the challenge despite much advice from resarchers who strongly advised that the station should be, "destroyed."  "Change the call letters, the formate, terminate the staff.  We've seen situation before like K104, but never this bad."  

Iconocast that he is, Ken laughed at the advice, and rejected it out of hand.  Two years later, the once highly rated competitor JAMZ shut down.  And, Ken Dowe had brought his third DFW station to life, elevating it to the lofty status it has held year after year for the past decade.  Number one, or near the top, in all demos. In a market with a black population of only 13%.  

Ken Dowe is:  the winner of too many awards and honors (National Programmer of the Year, NAB "Legend,"  Station of the Year operator many times, Arbitron Advisory Council, etc) to list.  An accomplished speaker on communication, business, and political issues. A founding member of the Texas Radio Hall of Fame. A professional writer.  An instrument rated pilot who flies his own high performance aircraft. And, a "fast pitch" baseball enthusiast who plays with youngsters half his age!     

A better measurement of his virtue and character: Ken and Dottie will have been married for 41 years in August of 2002.  He still rides his motorcycles, reports to his office daily, travels the world, and spends time at one of his two other Texas homes (Austin & Tyler) when he's not busy at home in Dallas.  And, after 44 years in radio...he is still...busy!

Bio by Penn Willard