Joe Gwathmey

Joe Gwathmey began his radio career in 1958 in Brownwood, Texas, when he was still in high school. After earning his B.A. degree and completing graduate studies, he was hired by the University of Texas at Austin to manage the campus station, KUT-FM, putting him in charge of one of the nation’s largest educational radio production operations.

In 1969, Joe was elected to an advisory group of educational station managers that later became the founding board of National Public Radio. He joined the staff of NPR in 1971 to help create its programming service. At various times, he was responsible for managing program production, news gathering, engineering, promotional activities, and marketing NPR programs abroad.

In 1983, following a period of financial crisis for NPR, Joe was named vice president in charge of programming and played an instrumental role in rebuilding NPR's program services.

In 1988 Joe came to San Antonio to bring NPR programming to the last large market in the country not served by an NPR station. He became general manager of classical music station KPAC-FM and helped in the final push to put NPR member station KSTX-FM on the air.

Joe guided a restructuring of the parent organizations licensed to operate the two stations that resulted in the creation of Texas Public Radio. In response to requests to improve service to residents in the Texas Hill Country, TPR launched a third station, KTXI-FM, in 1998.

Joe Gwathmey is a recipient of the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award, public radio's highest honor. Joe retired in 2006, but thanks to his leadership, San Antonio is now regarded as one of the best areas in the country to listen to programs that represent the best that public radio has to offer.