eFortSmith.com | Talking Up A Storm: Fred Baker

Fred was 23 when KISR went on the air in 1971. Now he’s 60 and the station has been going strong for almost 37 years. Neither show any signs of slowing down. In fact, the station will soon move from studio on Greenwood Avenue (once Fred’s home) to Central Mall. Construction will be finished “in two weeks ... it’s always two weeks,” Fred laughed. But sometime this spring, he promises KISR will have “a very visible presence” at the mall, above The Woodsman.

“We’ve simply outgrown our studios,” he explained. “Now that we use computers, we have servers that take up more space than our original radio equipment.”

KISR won’t change – just its location. The station will still boast “the most music.” Fred will continue his tradition of reading to and discussing the news with his blind friend, Miss Shirley, shortly after 6 a.m. each morning. When news breaks, he’ll bring it to his listeners – live.

The station will still mount meaningful public service campaigns. Fred is very proud of the airtime he has been able to use to serve charities, to help individuals in need of medical care, to promote youth organizations and to support military men and women, both active duty and veterans.

And, of course, when severe weather develops, Fred will be on the air describing and tracking it.

Few people know the reason Fred developed a passion for weather. He began learning from former Fort Smith National Weather Service meteorologists Warren Hadley and Forrest Johns in order to see where the creeks were running - he’s a skilled whitewater canoeing enthusiast, with “first descent” records on many local waterways. To catch the best whitewater, you have to know when it’s going to rain, he explained. And you thought he just liked the ominous weather alert music.

Fred doesn’t always take vacations, but he loves to travel. He’s allowed us to share one unforgettable experience he and his wife had "canyoneering” in the remote West. They’re vowing to do more travel, less work, he says. But he loves his job. “Better than working for a living,” he quips.

–By Lynn Wasson

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March 2008 Fred Baker: Talking up a Storm Fred’s famous KISR hunts began inauspiciously. In 1974, he hid a “KISR Rabbit” and tried giving clues to readers. The rabbit, an ordinary stuffed animal, was tucked in a hollow log. Fred left town for a broadcaster’s convention. Things went poorly. Fred was 23 when KISR went on the air in 1971. Now he’s 60 and the station has been going strong for almost 37 years. Neither show any signs of slowing down. In fact, the station will soon move from studio on Greenwood Avenue (once Fred’s home) to Central Mall. Construction will be finished “in two weeks ... it’s always two weeks,” Fred laughed. But sometime this spring, he promises KISR will have “a very visible presence” at the mall, above The Woodsman. “We’ve simply outgrown our studios,” he explained. “Now that we use computers, we have servers that take up more space than our original radio equipment.” KISR won’t change – just its location. The station will still boast “the most music.” Fred will continue his tradition of reading to and discussing the news with his blind friend, Miss Shirley, shortly after 6 a.m. each morning. When news breaks, he’ll bring it to his listeners – live. The station will still mount meaningful public service campaigns. Fred is very proud of the airtime he has been able to use to serve charities, to help individuals in need of medical care, to promote youth organizations and to support military men and women, both active duty and veterans. And, of course, when severe weather develops, Fred will be on the air describing and tracking it. Few people know the reason Fred developed a passion for weather. He began learning from former Fort Smith National Weather Service meteorologists Warren Hadley and Forrest Johns in order to see where the creeks were running - he’s a skilled whitewater canoeing enthusiast, with “first descent” records on many local waterways. To catch the best whitewater, you have to know when it’s going to rain, he explained. And you thought he just liked the ominous weather alert music. Fred doesn’t always take vacations, but he loves to travel. He’s allowed us to share one unforgettable experience he and his wife had "canyoneering” in the remote West. They’re vowing to do more travel, less work, he says. But he loves his job. “Better than working for a living,” he quips. –By Lynn Wasson *Page 1 2 3 4* Copyright © 2008 eFortSmith Media.com, Incorporated, P.O. Box 1341, Fort Smith, AR 72902 efortsmith.com and Entertainment Fort Smith are registered trademarks. All rights reserved. HOME	This article appears in the March 2008 issue of Entertainment Fort Smith Magazine

Fred’s famous KISR hunts began inauspiciously. In 1974, he hid a “KISR Rabbit” and tried giving clues to readers. The rabbit, an ordinary stuffed animal, was tucked in a hollow log. Fred left town for a broadcaster’s convention. Things went poorly.

Fred’s famous KISR hunts began inauspiciously. In 1974, he hid a “KISR Rabbit” and tried giving clues to readers.
The rabbit, an ordinary stuffed animal, was tucked in a hollow log. Fred left town for a broadcaster’s convention. Things went poorly.