Paul Harvey

Paul Harvey

I’d imagine that 30% of you have no idea of how big this guy was. When I ran KTAR in Phoenix we became suicidal when the book came in with less than a 10.0 share. AM Drive regularly came in at 15.0, 12+. (A different time.)

Harvey was one of the big reasons. His newscasts (commentaries) were so good, that Jon Coleman showed us Appointment Listening – individual quarter-hours that jumped higher than others – book after book, caused by Harvey’s 5-minute show. Not a day went by when we didn’t get a call, “Where can I get a copy of The Rest of the Story.”

Harvey had a several homes (mansions) one of which was on the grounds of the Arizona Biltmore. Every winter he’d broadcast from KTAR for four or five weeks, getting in the station at 3:00AM to do a live broadcast for the Eastern time zone. He came with a producer and we were required to have a certain kind of yellow paper, grease pencils and a Smith-Corona typewriter. He also liked to have a small audience actually watch him do his newscast. He’d do his newscast like a television commentator, looking up from his copy, looking at our people and actually talking to us. So when you heard him on the radio, he sounded like he was talking to you. So most mornings we’d have a small group of station people and advertisers come in, watch the news and have their picture taken with Harvey.

When the four weeks ended, everyone in the station that had helped him in any way received a gift and a personal note. All the ladies received flowers. He always told me that he was sorry for the intrusion and I constantly assured him that it was our pleasure. One day he did a short bit about the station and told how I was this good broadcaster and all – and did so on entire network noon news. How do you think I felt about My Best Buddy Paul after that?

Why Paul Harvey’s Net Worth was Over $100 Million.
One day we had a client reception to meet Paul Harvey. One of our clients was a very nasty buyer who (how do I put this politely) wouldn’t rank in the top five finalists of the Miss Universe Contest. Posing for the photographer, she told Harvey that she wanted to move to his left, “to get her Best Side.” Harvey said, very formally, “Madam, you don’t have a Bad Side.” Our sales manager whispered, “That’s why that guy’s worth $100 million.”

So he taught us all kinds of lessons. Talk directly to the other person, always send a personal note of thanks – and nobody has a Bad Side. Nice guy.

By Jim Taszarek of Taz Media

Website for Radio Sales Professionals

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