Rowdy Yates Leaving KILT

I knew about this over a week ago but decided to wait until Rowdy made the official announcement in the trades to put it here.

Rowdy Yates departs the ranch at CBS Radio’s country KILT, Houston (100.3) after 16 years in PM drive, to relocate to Tulsa for family reasons. Part-timer Steve Rixx will take over afternoons, while Mr. Yates will continue hosting “Country Gold” for Westwood One. The syndicator notes that “he’s the son of legendary Texas radio newsman Joe Holstead.” Joe’s son Josh (“Rowdy Yates”) has worked in Bryan-College Station, New Orleans and Oklahoma City, as well as Houston.

I've known Rowdy since they hired him to do afternoons at KIKK. While he did get the afternoon slot at KILT-FM I wanted 16 years ago...it's never been a problem between us and I've learned a lot about being a radio "personality" from Rowdy over the years.

Things change all the time in radio. KILT has made a ton of changes over the last few years. After Hudson and Harrigan were cut loose and now with Tom Fontaine no longer doing nights for the station, the last of the bigger than life personalities from the heyday of the legendary heritage station are gone.
(Yes, I still do a weekend shift now and then. And at 21 years here I have become the senior staff member.)

But there is a new guard now. With the new morning show still getting its footing, Erin Austin turning into a terrific midday host, former middayer Steve Rixx returning for afternoons and Brook just starting last week at nights there is a new KILT out there and I hope you'll give it a listen.






I'll miss you here in the building, Rowdy. I can't tell you how much here because I don't want anyone to know how big a talent I believe you are. But I will miss you every day...not just between 2 and 7.