KJR: 1970 Seafair hydroplane race featuring color commentary by Tom Murphy

   July 23, 2025
Left to right: Norm Gregory, John Maynard, Gary Shannon, Tom Murphy, Bobby Simon

From the archives, hear the roar of thunderboats on Lake Washington with Pat O’Day and his crew consisting of Gary Shannon in the north turn, John Maynard in the south turn, Norm Gregory and Tim Burgess in the pits, Bobby Simon back at the station, and World Famous Tom Murphy providing color commentary.

One example of Tom’s real-time analysis occurs at about 40:45 into the tape, where you can hear him query Pat O’Day about what the winning drivers receive, and where it comes from.

Runtime 44:41

 

Sam Lawson

Student engineer at pioneer Nathan Hale radio station KNH 1210 in 1970 (prior to KNHC). Also attended North Seattle Community College and L.H. Bates in Tacoma (KTOY-FM). Sam’s career began as a KJR request line operator in 1970, with his first on-air job at KRKO in 1972. In 1976 he segued to overnights at KTAC as Cory Landon, then weekends at KING. In 1978 he moved to Lewiston, Idaho for afternoons on KOZE and KRLC. Throughout the ‘80s he was an announcer and/or engineer at "the best mix and biggest variety" of Spokane radio stations; including 97KREM, KZUN, KGA, KKER (The Sam & Pam Show), KZZU, PD of KJRB, 98 KISS-FM, and the voice of KAYU-TV. In 1989 he moved to Los Angeles as Assistant Chief Engineer and weekends at KZLA/KLAC. Also engineered for KBIG, KFI, Premiere Radio Networks, CBS Radio, and others. "After avoiding any actual work for nearly 45 years, now happily retired and very appreciatively back in the great Pacific Northwest!" ---Click here for other Sam Lawson articles ---and here for Sam Lawson airchecks

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