4-H Club Members In Spokane, Washington Become Radio Pioneers

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Club members from the Sunset community, Spokane County, Washington, organized the first radio club in the state with Claude Senge local leader. The Sunset Radio Club was composed of 12 members including Jack Adams, Gordon Brown, Helen Brown, Edward Gassman, Maude Hamilton, Halbert Hewett, Elsie Johnson, Jack Stainer, Harold Stoll, Martin Tuttle, and Mark Wells.

In writing about the club in the September 1922 issue of Farm Boys and Girls Leader, Mr. Senge states: "Some people think we can't make a success of the club, but I believe that it can be put over all right. Altho the club may not be a money making proposition at present, we will be able to get farm reports, weather reports and news out to our community."

1922 seemed to be a key year for getting radio on its feet. A station in Atlanta in March of that year became the first radio station in the entire South. Operated by the Atlanta Journal, it was the first station in America to adopt a slogan - "The Voice of the South." Station WEAF in New York City broadcasted the first radio commercial in 1922... starting the birth of commercial radio.

A complete section on the National 4-H History Preservation website is devoted to 4-H and Radio... Early Days, Growing Up Together. It is located at http://4-HHistoryPreservation.com/History/Radio/