Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ben Downs of Bryan, Texas, as a 2019 inductee into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame. Ben's radio career began as a childhood fascination. Growing up in Hope, Arkansas, Ben dreamed of hearing his own voice over the radio. As a child, he recalls sitting up in the Hope Field House, pretending to give play-by-plays into an empty soda can. His dream came true on November 4, 1968, when, at the age of 14, Ben went on the air for the first time. Looking back, Ben says he ``wouldn't let a 14-year-old run my station, but fortunately for me, the manager at that radio station did.'' By the time he went away to college at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, Ben was a seasoned pro. After 4 years at the station in Hope, Ben decided to focus on his studies and enjoy the radio solely as a listener. This didn't last long, as he quickly found himself accepting a job offer from the local station in Bryan-College Station. That was in 1972, and he has been broadcasting ever since. It was at Texas A&M University that Ben and I first met during the fall of 1972 as students in our management 105 class. We are both proud members of the centennial class of 1976, and he and I remain close friends today. Since 1989, Ben has led Bryan Broadcasting. Under his leadership, the group has expanded significantly into a variety of genres and formats.…”