The People of KSAC
Kansas State University and KSAC radio was full of trailblazers in the broadcasting industry. Learn more about a few of these visionaries below.
Eric Atkinson
Agriculture Director
| | 1983-2022
Atkinson provided insight to Kansas farmers on the popular program "Agriculture Today" for over 9,000 shows spanning nearly 40 years. As host, Atkinson interviewed hundreds of agriculture experts from across the state and university, becoming a revered voice in the industry.
Richard Baker
News Director
| | 1977-2018
Baker produced the weekly interview program, "Perspective," for more than 40 years.
Jack Burke
Manager
| | 1958-1986
Burke served as the manager of KSAC before becoming the head of the new Department of Extension Communications at K-State in 1986. In 1966, Burke was elected as the chairman of the board of the National Educational Radio Network, and was a key figure in establishing a national public radio system. This became possible because Burke fought to get radio included in the Corporation for Public Broadcasting bill in 1967.
Engineer | | Carlson's technical savvy was instrumental in the 1930 installation of KSAC's transmitter located on the third floor of Nichols Gymnasium. He served as a radioman in the U.S. Navy, and in World War II served in defense work in Wichita as a functional test engineer.
Clyde Carlson
Director of Agricultural Programming and the K-State Radio Network | | 1948-1983 DeWeese served many roles at KSAC and the university, providing his voice in both the agriculture and sports world. He was the long-time host of "Agriculture Today," providing Kansas farmers with up-to-date information. For a period of time, he was also the Director of Sports Information for K-State and always worked closely with Dev Nelson on K-State football and basketball. DeWeese was the color commentator for Big 8 basketball on TV.
Paul DeWeese
Chief Engineer | | 1942-1971 During Holbert's time he kept KSAC on the air through fires, floods, and tornadoes. He increased the stations power to five-thousand-watts, giving the station the largest coverage area of any Kansas radio station. 
Bernard Holbert
Engineer/Producer | | Jones served dual roles at KSAC— producing network programming in the morning and then taking command of the control room dials in the afternoon to keep KSAC on the air. 
Ron Jones
Host: Kansas Profile | | Milbourn was the assistant to K-State president James A. McCain, and was heard on KSAC weekly on "Kansas Profile." He spoke for the President and the administration. 
Max Milbourn
Dev Nelson
Sports Director
| | 1954-1979
Nelson served as the "Voice of the Wildcats" for 25 years (1954-79), and was named the Kansas Sportscaster of the Year eight times, appearing on that award’s final ballot of three for 18-consecutive years. He was inducted in the K-State Sports Hall of Fame in 1991, and in 1993 the Dev Nelson press box was erected in his honor. The press level in the now West Stadium Center remains named in his honor.
Ralph Titus
Station Manager
| | 1962-1994
Titus was widely known as ‘The Voice of Kansas State University,’ and earned acclaim for interviews with three U.S. presidents, numerous heads of state and countless politicians and military leaders. Named to the 2020 Kansas Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame, Titus was crucial in developing the format for National Public Radio, including a news and information program known as All Things Considered.
Ken Thomas
Director
| | 1954-1962
Thomas served as the director of KSAC and head of the newly formed Department of Extension Radio-Television. He expanded the department into TV and motion picture work.
DeAnne Wright
Program director
| | 1979-1995
Wright oversaw a variety of programs at KSAC including, "Ideas Unlimited," which focused primarily on the research and educational programs at the university. She was a major proponent of K-State's impact in the state, and often highlighted successful community members across Kansas in her programs.