Jud Ashmore

Jud Ashmore began his love affair with radio in 1929 on his family farm in Illinois … when he was 5 years old and could just see the dial of their Super Hetrodyne 50-tube radio at eyeball height. During World War II Jud joined the U.S. Navy and served in the Pacific, where he says radio was the only form of recreation. Though the signal faded in and out, Jud felt in touch with home through those live broadcasts.

In 1946 Jud went to college and graduated just in time to get into the Korean War in 1950. He joined the U.S. Air Force as a meteorologist and retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1968. Two days later, he joined the KSAT-TV news team. A few weeks later, Jud started doing weather reports on KITE Radio working with radio legends Ricci Ware and Paul Allen English. Jud says it was a dream come true to be on the radio. TV was nice, but it didn’t compare.

In 1970 Jud moved away to work in radio and TV in Indianapolis and then in San Francisco. They were great markets, but they weren’t for Jud. So, at the first opportunity, in 1972, he returned to San Antonio and became the chief meteorologist at KENS-TV. In 1974, he was teamed again with Ricci Ware for a morning show on KBUC Radio. Jud says the two had the market cornered on B.S. and romance with that show.

By 1980 working late nights at KENS and early mornings on KBUC began to take its toll and Jud knew he had to make a move … one way or the other. He says the choice between radio and TV was no contest. Radio was more fun and more profitable, so Jud left KENS and remained at KBUC until it sold in 1986.

That year, Jud moved to powerhouse News Radio 1200 WOAI broadcasting weather reports until 2002. After two years in fake retirement, Jud went back to work, this time at KRNH in Kerrville. In 2012 he ended his career but not his love affair with radio.

About his long career in radio, Jud had this to say: “They say you have not been in radio until you have been fired and divorced. I have been in radio.”