JACK LEE AULDRIDGE

Jack Auldridge, 76, of San Angelo passed away Thursday, December 18, 2008 at his residence. Funeral services will be held 2:00 pm Monday, December 22, 2008 at The Heights in San Angelo, Texas. Jack landed his first job in radio the summer of 1956 at KVFC AM in Cortez, Colorado. Bitten with the radio bug, Jack and Beth moved to Fort Worth, so Jack could attend the Elkins Institute of Broadcasting, graduating with a license as a first class radio engineer. In 1958, Jack was hired as an all-night transmitter engineer at KXOL, Fort Worth. He took the job with a promise that he might also be hired to do part-time on-air work. In 1959, Radio buddies, Davy O'Donnell and Bob Schieffer, host of Face the Nation on CBS, helped Jack create an audition tape that got him an on-air position at KOSA in Odessa. Jack continued to follow his career path, taking himself, Beth and their four children to bigger and better Radio opportunities for more than 40 years. In 1966 Jack and his on-air partner, Brice Armstrong hosted the #1 Radio Morning Show in Dallas, the Charlie & Harrigan Show. With a 57% share of audience, the Charlie & Harrigan Show would eventually lead Jack, through his achievements as a Radio Broadcaster, to be inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame in October of 2004. In 1971, Jack bought 20% ownership in his first Radio Station, KCLE in Cleburne. In 1976, Jack & Beth continued to buy more stations in Amarillo & Canyon, Texas. Finally, in 1992, Jack & Beth moved to San Angelo as Owners of Regency Broadcasting, operating Radio Stations KDCD "CD Country" and KMDX "MIX 106" where he was best known in San Angelo as "Jack the Burrito Guy". In January 2007, Regency sold the two San Angelo stations to Four R Broadcasting and Jack & Beth retired in San Angelo. Jack is preceded in death by his mother, Thelma Elaine McFarland, his father John Auldridge, step father, Alfred McFarland and his sister, Theo Clark. Jack Auldridge is survived by his wife of 57 years, Beth Auldridge; Son, Jack L. Auldridge Jr. and wife Debbie of Fort Worth. Daughters, JoAnna Alexander of San Angelo, Jill Martinez and Len Martinez of San Angelo, Julie Seay and husband Jeff of San Angelo, One surviving sister, Thelma Jane Comer and husband Floyd of Cedar Hill; ten grand children and nine great grandchildren.