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KOZE/Lewiston, 1978 aircheck: Sam Lawson, Larry Lomax, Jim Orr – the FCC missed this one!

This recording opens with a promo featuring Terry Breen (PD/mornings), then Wes McShay (middays), Sam Lawson (afternoons), Gary Hart (news), Larry Clark (on the street), and Jim Orr (evenings), who, incidentally, provided this 1978 aircheck.

Larry Clark later became Larry Lomax at Seattle area stations KKMI, KLSY, KNBQ, Spirit 105.3, and others. Here he’s cruising around in the KOZE “Probe” awarding cash & prizes to drivers with KOZE window stickers.

I’m not sure if it’s Cheech or Chong that gets pulled over, but fortunately the FCC didn’t hear it! Hopefully the statute of limitations has run out.

Runtime: 5:30

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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View Comments

Terry Breen says:

September 6, 2024 at

Wow. What a great air check! We had a pretty hot station then! I love radio from the 70's... the excitement, the energy, the on-air processing. You don't hear that today. Pulling over KOZE listeners with stickers and handing out cash... pretty good! Thank you Gene Hamblin and Mike Ripley Thanks for submitting this, Jim and Sam!!!
- Jeff Turnbow says:
  
  October 23, 2025 at
  
  I love this air check Sam! I worked with Larry, the emperor of the great nw at KBBK in Boise. He was great fun and a classic jock of the 70’s, I also worked for 4k in the Tri Cities from 1987 until they sold in 1995, mornings co-host, news and nearly every air shift. You guys at KOZE in the 70’s were the reason I wanted to be on the air, I could listen while living the Silver Valley at sunset when I was a teenager.
Jason Remington says:

July 25, 2024 at

That is what good radio sounded like in 1978. Nothing like today. What happened to radio? All the fun has been lost.
- Jim orr says:
  
  August 3, 2024 at
  
  You got that right!
kelly arterberry says:

July 24, 2024 at

Jim Orr from KGAL? Used to work with his brother at KLOG 77-79.
- Jim orr says:
  
  August 3, 2024 at
  
  You're thinking of Jim Iverson, also from KGAL, his brother - Tom - worked there in sales when I was there for a very brief stint. Unfortunately, Jim Iverson passed a few yrs ago.