Bill Shomette

Bill Shomette was a boy from Lockhart, Texas, who would come to San Antonio broadcasting in the 1930s and leave a lasting imprint on the industry with a career that spanned more than 40 years.

Bill started his career at legendary KMAC radio in 1935, where he was an announcer for three years. From 1938 to 1940 he worked at KTSA where he was known as the Old Trader on the popular Kallison’s Trading Post program.

In 1941, Bill moved to WOAI Radio where he was named Farm and Ranch Director. He originated the concept of agricultural reporting and his iconic one-hour Farm and Ranch Report aired each weekday and Saturday morning for the next 15 years. When Bill was promoted to Program Director, he chose his successor for the farm report, a young Bill McReynolds, who continued the program for the next 50 years!

In 1944, Bill spent a year and half serving his country in the U.S. Army which included time on the staff of Principal Service Radio in the Phillipines. He returned to WOAI in 1946, where, in addition to his farm report, he hosted Radio Rodeo, a live country music show that featured Curley Williams, Spud Goodall, and Leon Payne, among others. When WOAI-TV went on the air in 1949, Bill hosted the program as TV Dude Ranch.

In 1953, Bill moved to KABC 680, later KENS Radio, as Program Director and lead personality where he hosted two programs each weekday morning, Round Up, and the Texas Farm and Ranch Hour. In 1955, he began broadcasting the 2-hour farm report from his own farm, Crossroads.

His duties eventually spread to KENS-TV where he hosted a half hour Saturday morning show, telling stories, singing and playing guitar. When KENS radio sold, Bill stayed on at KENS-TV, where he retired as Program Director in 1979. Bill Shomette passed away in 1981.