If you walk back in time with Karen Mossman, you'll find a trove of stories. Her father owned KXEO and KWWR, so she grew up with radio.
Mossman joined the broadcast staff at the Mexico station …
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If you walk back in time with Karen Mossman, you'll find a trove of stories. Her father owned KXEO and KWWR, so she grew up with radio.
Mossman joined the broadcast staff at the Mexico station after graduating from the University of Missouri's journalism school. She became the first female reporter to enter the Mizzou football locker room for postgame interviews. But she also earned a degree in education, as well, and taught communications, broadcasting and even history to Mexico students (including KXEO's Matt Pilger). Currently Mossman sits on the board of the Mexico Audrain County Library.
1. What drew you to radio? Growing up with it?
I don't think there was anything other than growing up in it. I always knew that's where I wanted to be.
2. How did you become the first woman to go into the Mizzou locker room?
I was working for dad. I had a weekly sports show. This gentleman in Columbia who knew my dad had the idea that I needed to be first. He set it up. I interviewed the quarterback and that went on my sports show. My claim to fame. [Laughs]
3. Do you remember a favorite interview?
That would be difficult. But definitely Lou Brock is up there. That will always stand out. It was the night he broke the stolen base record. But there were so many others. I was so fortunate.
4. What was Matt Pilger like as a student? Spill it.
He was a good student. He was very interested. I'm so glad he went into radio.
5. Was it hard for you to leave?
Yes. I kind of regret it. But my dad retired and I had a job offer to do PR and promotions for Missouri athletics. I spent four years there. That was wonderful.
6. That sounds like an even harder job to leave.
I started working on an education degree while I was there. I did my student teaching at Hickman in Columbia and went into education.
7. You still stay involved in the community.
Very much so. My library card is like 1 or 2. [Laughs]. I was in grade school when I got my first library card. I've always been involved with the library.
8. What does a library board do?
Well, Christal [Bruner, library director] does all the work. We assist her in day to day operations, with the budget, funding. We have to approve budgets and we have committees within the board. Our job got interesting the last two years.
9. What was the pandemic like?
The library let people check as many books out as they wanted and keep them for the duration. Because I'm addicted I took as many as I could. When we got to open back up, that was wonderful. The books came back, but they had to go in quarantine for two weeks.
10. You love history and sports. Which Walk Back In Time appeals to you most, the reenactments or historic baseball?
I love all of it. But I'm a Civil War buff. If people haven't been there, they'll be amazed.