Ranger Ed, Fun Club, Children's Hour, Joplin's Black-owned newspapers inducted into Regional Media Hall of Fame

(From KGCS)

Missouri Southern State University Department of Communication honors the history of regional media, this year highlighting Children’s Programming including: The Fun Club on KOAM-TV, Bar 12 Ranger on KODE-TV and The Children’s Hour on KY3, along with Black-owned Newspapers, and an influential figure in Joplin-area television, KSNF Vice President and General Manager John Hoffmann.

The annual Regional Media Hall of Fame banquet and induction ceremony was held on November 14th. For the event, KGCS-TV put together a series of short documentaries on each inductee, discussing their history and contributions to the local community. Missouri Southern has been honoring pioneers in the realm of broadcast and print media since 1997, beginning with the studio’s namesake, Ruth I. Kolpin.

KGCS General Manager, Lisa Olliges, acted as emcee for the event. “You know, the area of media and broadcasting and journalism has never been one that has been reaping the big rewards money-wise,” Olliges said. “These people are called with a mission to serve the public, to deliver information, entertainment, so it’s really important to honor the past as we morph into the future.”

Among those honored this year were Norma Champion, long-time host of the beloved Children’s Hour program on KY3, Terriann Wilson Williams, daughter of ‘Ranger’ Ed Wilson, the host of KODE’s Bar 12 Ranger program, and KSNF’s Hoffmann.

The Hall of Fame also paid tribute to three of Joplin’s historically Black-owned newspapers, The Joplin Uplift, The Joplin Advance, and The Afro-American Leader. Nanda Nunnelly, President of the Minnie Hackney Community Service Center, was present to accept award on the behalf of the Black History of the Ozarks Preservation Society for which she is also president.

Champion, Williams, Nunnelly, and Hoffmann each took turns at the podium to express their gratitude.

“We did more than have a show on, the children who came to the station were given an opportunity to get behind the camera, they helped run the camera to see how it worked, and they were learning television really at the same time I was,” Champion said about her time on The Children’s Hour (1953-1986). For twenty-nine years she acted as the show’s host, writer, and producer, discovering the magic of broadcasting as she went. Hardly a day goes by that ‘Aunt Norma’ isn’t recognized by someone for her role on this iconic program.

Williams credited the event as having brought back touching memories of her late father, “He’d be so proud of you guys for doing this for him, I thank you so much.” Other Joplin residents can still recall Ranger Ed’s comforting and fatherly presence each afternoon, citing him as “one of the good guys.” Sadly, there is no surviving video of Ranger Ed or his show, only Williams’ family photos remain to give us a glimpse of the charming cowboy host.

Nunnelly shared her appreciation for the efforts of the university to keep the memory of Joplin’s Black History alive, “I just want to also, again say, that the (Augustus) Tutt family continues to serve their communities and our country and they also would like to thank you all for this.” Augustus Tutt, the owner and editor of Joplin’s most successful Black-owned newspaper, The Joplin Uplift (1926-1931), is survived by his grandchildren, including Congresswoman Barbara Lee of California. Today, laminated copies of The Joplin Uplift are kept in the possession of Joplin resident and long-time curator of Black History, Betty Smith.

For media veteran John Hoffmann, the honor was one he felt should be shared. “They’re giving me this award, but it should really go to all the people I’ve worked with over 40 years,” Hoffmann said. In his time at the station, Hoffmann helped lead his team through the aftermath of the Joplin Tornado, the construction of their new facility, and the retransmission fight with Nexstar Media Group. He also spearheaded the creation of the Missouri Southern Gold Lion Scholarship recognizing community service by high school students.

KOAM General Manager Brooke Arnold accepted the Fun Club award on behalf of her station. Former Regional Media Hall of Famer Dale Switzer was unable to attend but did make an appearance in The Fun Club documentary. After being hired on at KOAM in 1975, Switzer spent his early years helping to direct the show, working alongside its most popular host, former Hollywood western star, Lloyd “Arkansas Slim” Andrews. About the show, Switzer stated, “A lot of people still in the four states will recall being on Fun Club. It was—it was a ritual you went through. At some point, it appeared just about everybody of that generation was on Fun Club or watched their friends on Fun Club.”

Mayor Pro-Tem Keenan Cortez was on hand to issue mayoral proclamations for each inductee.

The Hall of Fame event is being broadcast on KGCS-TV Wednesday, November 29 at 7:00 p.m.

Longer versions of the documentaries will also be featured in upcoming Newsmakers programs and as a special Hall of Fame program on Channel 21, KGCS-TV. They are also available for viewing on the station’s YouTube channel: KGCS – Missouri Southern State University.

KGCS programming can be seen on channel 21 and is also available on regional cable television systems such as Sparklight, Mediacom and Suddenlink Communications. The station operates as a service of the Department of Communications at Missouri Southern State University.