The Fraser Legacy

The Jeff Radio-TV Center officially becomes The William S. Fraser Radio-TV Center on September 10, 2002
Bill Fraser—of Wit and Radio by Angie Klink (Jefferson H.S. 1977)
He made me laugh, taught me about the “good old days” of radio and provided hands-on training at WJEF. He was a salty radio warrior from the Golden Age, who spun “A String of Pearls” on 1940s turntables and announced late-breaking news on boxy, Philco microphones. “It’s Fraser as in eraser” was Mr. Fraser’s famous line. Calling him .;Fra-zsher was a major no-no. As a green sophomore in 1974, I walked through the swinging door of WJEF and asked to be on staff. Mr. Fraser invited me into his radio-memorabilia-filled office, lit a Camel and asked me several personal questions. To audition, I read aloud a news story ripped from the teletype machine, and that was it. I was welcomed into the Broncho Broadcaster fold where I found radio people to be intoxicating—witty, irreverent, high-strung, sailor-mouthed and fun. The atmosphere shimmered around microphones, turntables and modulation. “Big Band—it’s coming back!” At the height of disco, Mr. Fraser swore the Glenn Miller sound would push the Bee Gees aside and reemerge for another go-around. He only allowed “Middle of the road”—MOR—tunes (think “Elevator Muzak” or “Muskrat Love”) on WJEF. Mr. Fraser said my maiden name, Lipp, was a great radio moniker, and suggested a show called “A Tip from the Lipp.” It never happened, but I did host “Listen Ladies.” I read fluff—household and beauty hints—that came click-clicking over the Associated Press wire. The instrumental music that played from a “cart” during the show was “Lay, Lady Lay. Lay across my big brass bed.” By “running a control board,” producing sports, news, promos and television shows, many Fraser students later became professional broadcasters. After I graduated in communications from Purdue, my first job was at WASK-Radio as an advertising copywriter. Brian Lamb, C-SPAN founder, is one of Mr. Fraser’s proudest accomplishments. “That’s my boy,” he would puff over his former student. I asked a friend if she remembered any Fraser wisecracks. She couldn’t. Instead, she analyzed: “You remember what he said because you are more into words.” I am not a Fraser “success story”—not a newscaster, sportscaster or disc jockey. I did not found C-SPAN. It seemed I only experienced WJEF for the hoots and the hollers. But, now I see those droll times as fine starter solution for a writer. Words are what I gleaned from Bill’s company.William Fraser spiced my adolescence with spunk and absurdity. (“You can lead a hor-ti-culture, but you can’t make her think.”) He inspired me to kindle a bolt-from-the-blue thought or snicker.So, signing off, Mr. Fraser, here’s your “Tip from the Lipp”: You stirred many with the love of the airwaves, and the world will forever feel your infinite reverberations.
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