Mark Rypien Out Of The Shadows: Uninterrupted Half Hour Special

Spokane station KHQ, did this outstanding piece on Super Bowl quarterback, Mark Rypien.   Rypien was one of Spokane's best known athletes. His landing at WSU was considered a recruiting break through for the school.  He did not disappoint.  He continued on to a success NFL career, mostly with the Washington Redskins.

Rypien seemed to lead the perfect life, but in this report, Rypien himself reveals the pain and sorrow  that has encompassed his pro football career. 

I applaud Rypien for having the courage to face his problems. 

Everytime a new mental illness is diagnosed, it probably is a victory for the patient.  They realize they are not alone.  They can also figure what help to seek. 

For football fans, it can cause a dilemma, we may not look at football in the same way.   Hats off for Spokane's venerable KHQ -6. 

Did She Grow Up Like Nancy?

 

 

 

 

 

One of KHQ's most memorable news promo's was shot in either 1970 or 1980 and featured a little girl longing to grow up to be like the Spokane station's evening news anchor, Nancy Goodspeed. So far, I have been unable to find a video, but found a print ad here. Now that the little girl has grown up, did she turn out just like Nancy Goodspeed? 

WSU's Glenn Johnson To Begin Retirement

Spokane TV station KHQ reports that after 30 plus years, veteran Communications Professor Glenn Johnson will begin retirement. The reports says that Johnson will remain on campus to teach a Broadcast Management class and to advise students.
There is little doubt that Johnson, who arrived on campus in the fall of 1979, revolutionized the already heralded department.  Bringing real life experience from working as an anchor in Sacramento, Johnson turned classrooms into working news shops.  With tough love and integrity, he earned the respect and lifelong friendship of nearly the entire department.
With a rich "made for broadcasting voice",Johnson became the stadium announcer for the WSU Cougar Football  and Men's Basketball teams.   Some of Johnson's catchphrases like "and another Cougar first down" and "NO GAIN" (in an even deeper voice) are unforgettable. 
He is currently mayor of Pullman as well as doing having a hand in everything in the region.  Some of the more well known Cougar graduates who were in Glenn's class include WLS anchor Kathy Brock and ESPN's Cindy Brunson.

Starlit Stairway And The Boyle Fuel Company

"When you need coal or oil, call Boyle..Fairfax 8 1521...Fairfax 8 1521-"
How easy is it to remember a telephone number these day. It's tough for us to remember our own numbers, let alone a company that you may never do business with. Ask anyone who lived anywhere in Eastern Washington, Oregon, or Idaho during the 1960s what the telephone number was to the Boyle Fuel Co in Spokane and they might say, Fairfax8-1521.
Many decades ago, it was not uncommon for TV stations to have local origination programming. Spokane's KHQ or Q-6 had a talent show on Saturday night, sort of a local version of the "Ed Sullivan Show". Since only larger towns had TV stations, the three Spokane stations had signals that covered the entire "Inland Empire" (there were also three TV stations in the Tri Cities). The Saturday talent show was known as Starlit Stairway and featured local amateur talent from throughout the area. The most memorable part of the show were the twins who sang the sponsor's jingle in perfect harmony.
"For every heating problem for a furnace old or new--just call the Boyle Fuel Company and they'll solve them all for you"
" When you need coal or oil--Call Boyle" Then each girl would recite the phone number
"Fairfax 8- 1521 Fairfax 8-1521." I recently contacted KHQ to see if there was any remaining film of the storied commercial. The answer , according to current KHQ producer Lee Hite, was that the show was done live--there never was a recording except from what we remember almost 40 years ago.