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| Play Misty for me!!! Jim at work in the WEKG Jackson Radio Station circa 1969. |
| A tribute to his late boss, and friend, Jim Hay |
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Jim Hay, who served as Chief Engineer at WKIC & WSGS in Hazard from 1965 until 1969, has died. Hay died on June 8th, 2002, at the Hazard Appalachian Regional Hospital; he was 70. Hay, who remained in business with Ernest Sparkman in other radio stations after he left Hazard to start WJSN and WEKG in Jackson, Ky, also served as a broadcast consultant. Sparkman and Hay owned WFLE in Flemingsburg, KY. Hay first worked for Mountain Broadcasting in 1963 when he helped rebuild the studios of WKIC and WSGS after a devastating flood that year. Hay left WJHL-TV in Johnson City, Tennessee and was then named Chief Engineer at the Hazard stations. He was instrumental in helping build Hazard's first television facilities, WKIC-TV, in 1965. Hay worked behind the scenes during many of the station's memorable broadcasts of the 1960s including the dedication of the Perry County Court House, groundbreaking ceremonies of Carr Creek Lake, the Man on the Street Program, and countless basketball and football games. He is also credited for getting Paul Harvey on WSGS and WKIC. Back in the mid 1960's, Jim first suggested to Ernest Sparkman that he consider broadcasting Harvey's daily newscast in Hazard. Sparkman, who's first response was, "Who's Paul Harvey?" took Jim up on his suggestion. Harvey has been a staple of Hazard radio for 35 years.
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