Greg Holman and Country 96-KWWR goes together like Tacos and Tuesdays, Ben and Jerry, Bacon and anything.

After starting in radio on June 1, 1980, the man they call the professor on-the-air will be calling it a career on Friday, March 31, 2023.

Holman started his career out in Jefferson City at KLIK, KJFF the station that would eventually become Y107. Greg says he thought he knew more than he did, because he was fresh out of college with a degree in radio, tv and film. “My bosses in Jefferson City had a different idea of how things should be done. I worked four hour split shifts. I would work a shift, go play golf and work another shift.”

Holman started out at minimum wage which was $3.10 in 1980. He worked in Jefferson City until February, 28, 1986, that’s when he found the perfect match at a radio station in Mexico, MO. Holman said he called KWWR and negotiated a wage.

“I also had an interview with the Missouri Department of Conservation. I turned down the offer at the station. The conservation job fell through and I ended up coming to work in Mexico.”

Holman said he learned from one of the best in the business on how to write news in Mark Morgan. His on air shift was from 8pm until 1am. His first week at the station did not go as well as he expected.

“My ink pen exploded on the control board. That control board was brand new and had just been installed. Management was not happy about that.”

Things improved over the years for Holman. He has done every shift over the past 44 years. Holman says he found out just how much community support the radio station had the day their tower fell on August 28, 2000. “We didn’t lose any revenue though the station was off air for 18 hours and a competing radio station, KJMO loaned us equipment so we could get back on the air.”

One of the most popular programs in Missouri is the Saturday Morning Oldies Show which started in 2000. Holman says it is a walk back in time to the real heroes of Country music. “We go back to the 50’s and 60’s. That is something you can not find on any FM station. It has been consistently number one in the market for ages 12+.”

History lessons have also been a part of Holman’s on-air show. Mix County 96-KWWR General Manager Michael Daugherty gave Holman the name the professor.

Holman still to this day uses a type writer to prepare for his shows.

Holman says the thing he will miss most in retirement is the people who work at the station. Holman says during retirement he plans on playing a lot of golf and moving closer to home in Rolla, where his parents live. Eventually a substitute teaching job may be in Holman’s retirement plans.

How do you end an article on a person who has had such a wonderful career in radio? Probably the same way Holman ends his on-air shift. “I’m the professor Greg Holman and I’m history.”