For those who forgot or weren’t born yet, we were in a major recession in 1980. Gas prices spiked again for the second time since the original Arab oil embargo in 1973 and inflation was rampant. Mortgage rates soared into the teen percentages. Consumer confidence was extremely low. Advertisers for radio, especially in a small town, were a tough sell. We didn't realize how dire the situation was at WBTY when Mike, Gary and I came on board.

As hard as we tried to create a viable station that sounded good and brought in ad dollars, we were fighting in vain. Word got back to us that some of the guys over at the bigger Valdosta town were saying “those boys in Homerville have made a darn good sounding station.” I would like to take some of the credit, but everything I knew, I had learned from nearly 3 years of working for Butch Peiker.

The day came when the owners told us we can’t afford to pay you anymore. We replied “how are we going to eat?” They said “we’ll bring groceries to you.” The next day, in the break room, there were brown paper grocery bags filled with food.

I got real lucky and landed a spot at 101Q in Coastal Georgia doing the Evening Show. Our Engineering Consultants worked for several stations in the region, including 101Q. I had appealed to them to put the word out that I was available.

I was sad to leave the guys and head for the coast. Now, it was just me on my own again.  I had rode for hours with Roger around our listening area in his big brown Mercury Marquis and learned all the meat and three side cafes. There was the great time when I accompanied Berrien, his wife Lisa and their young son to go see “Any Which Way You Can” with Clint Eastwood on Christmas Day in Valdosta.

The job of polishing WBTY wasn’t done. The potential was there, but the money wasn’t.

Homerville was the smallest town I have ever lived in. I came away with a new appreciation for life in a small, tightly knit community. I met many wonderful and kind people in my stay there. There was a sense of freedom and fresh air in the wide open expanses of the land. What you wish for and what you receive may be what you least expect.