Note from Tom: Thank you....thank you....thank you.  My retirement party at Hill's Cafe on Monday was definitely a highlight of my career.  So many of you came out to say "hello" and "so long" at the same time.  I met people I have heard from for many years, but, never had the chance to meet you in person.  And thank you for your thoughtful parting gifts, as well.  Special thanks to Bob Cole and Hill's Cafe for their hospitality.  See you on Saturday.

Dear K-VET Listener:

Remember that old story about the definition of “mixed emotions?” Mixed emotions being defined as watching your mother-in-law drive over a cliff in your new Cadillac. You’re not quite sure how to feel.

Well, it’s with a lot of “mixed emotions” that I tell you that I have decided to retire from my Monday through Friday program on K-VET, effective Monday, June 30th. This was not a decision that came easily. I anguished over the decision for several months before I announced it to management almost a month ago. Oh, and before you jump to any conclusions, this was, in fact, MY decision. The folks here at Clear Channel had no idea I was contemplating retirement, and it came as quite a shock. I have nothing but the highest regard for all the terrific people I have had the pleasure of working with here at K-VET. And before you jump to another conclusion that I may have health problems, again, such is NOT the case. Except for being overweight and an occasional irregular heartbeat, I feel GREAT.

No, this was a decision that “it was simply time to go”, and leave the daily routine to the younger guys. I wanted to spend more time with my family, including that brand-new grandbaby you may have heard me mention on the radio.



Little Logan Thomas Jolly is a joy to behold, and I look forward with great anticipation to spending more time watching him grow. Most of you also know I love to RV, and I wanted to spend a little more time enjoying “the fruits of my labors.”

The good news is this: While I wanted to give up the Monday through Friday show, I still wanted to keep doing, at least for a while, my Saturday morning Country Gold Show. I took over that show in November of 1998; I’m about to celebrate my tenth anniversary. As most of you know, I love the rich heritage that surrounds country music, and Saturday mornings provide an opportunity for both of us to re-live “the music of our lives.” Clear Channel and I have agreed for me to stay on and continue Saturday mornings. And, speaking of that, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of my sponsors who have demonstrated great faith in me to convey their message down through the years. It has been, and continues to be, an honor and a pleasure to be your spokesperson.

Most-of-all, I want to thank you, the K-VET listener. Your loyalty to both K-VET and me has been nothing short of stupendous. You demonstrate that time and time again whenever we do a radiothon for Dell Children’s Medical Center, or show up in mass for Wednesday night’s Free Texas Music Series at Hill’s Café. Frankly, if it weren’t for your continued loyalty to K-VET, I may have decided to retire a long time ago. All of us have long felt that you, the K-VET listener, are a very special radio listener, and that belief still prevails.

And so, it is with a great deal of “mixed emotions” that I begin a new paragraph in my life. But, in a sense, I really have the best of both worlds. I’m going to get to spend more time with my family, but, I still get to spend time with you each and every Saturday morning. I think I’m a pretty lucky guy, don’t you?

Sincerely Yours,

Tom