From backstage at a Dolly Parton/Porter Wagner concert to a bus full of FFA students, Jim Snavely’s lifelong radio career has taken him many places. His love for people and his bubbling energy have connected him to many communities in many states.
Jim’s fascination for radio began at a young age. Growing up on a farm in Manheim, Pennsylvania, his farm chores had him up before dawn. The radio show he enjoyed most was an early morning show on radio station WBYO called The Milk Bucket Serenade. This program combined Southern Gospel and clean country music, and helped Jim’s day start on a positive note.
One day in 1966, Jim drove the 80 miles from his home to WBYO radio to visit the studios. When he arrived at the radio station, he met a young man named Dave Eshleman – a man who would play a large part in his life for years to come. That meeting made such an impact on Jim that over 50 years later he still remembers the artist that was playing at the time he walked into the studio – Jim Reeves.
Jim was hired to work at WBYO shortly after that meeting. Since this job was part-time, Jim also worked part time as a custodian at Christopher Dock high school from 3:00 – 11:00. He moved to Lansdale Pennsylvania to be near the school. That shortened his commute to the radio station to 30 minutes.
In 1967, Jim landed his dream job. He inherited the Milk Bucked Serenade show.
In 1970, he married his lovely bride, Marty. That year he was also offered a full-time job at WBYO working 4:00 – midnight.
Jim says, “My WBYO full time shift was 5 am to 1 pm beginning in 1970 when I married Marty. On air, copy writing, ag news. We would broadcast from a booth on the main exhibition floor of the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg from the late 70s to 1988. I think you asked me the most famous person I talked with…the former President Jimmy Carter. (He spoke at Messiah College). But everybody was famous in my opinion. Besides Dolly Parton & Porter Wagoner, country artists I interviewed were Buck Owens, Skeeter Davis, Connie Smith, Grandpa Jones. Many bluegrass artists.”
In 1989, WBYO was sold, and the new owner changed the format and hired new staff. Between the WBYO sale and WBTX — September 1989 to February 1990, Jim worked at WEEU in Reading, PA playing pop music. But, he says. “I was allowed to do interviews with dairy folks, like the PA Dairy Princess.”
In October of that year of 1989, Jim came to Virginia to visit the man he’d met on his first visit to WBYO radio in 1966. Dave Eshleman was now the General Manager of a radio station in Broadway, Virginia – WBTX. Four months later, Dave hired Jim to work for WBTX.
The rest, as they say, is history – a 33 year long history for Jim.
The past thirty-three – plus have been busy ones for Jim. They’ve also been long days filled with spinning records, interviewing bluegrass groups, traveling with local FFA students, recording concerts, producing programs, choosing music rotations, and much more. But most of all, Jim made connections with people – with listeners, students, musicians, and many other radio friends.
Now, at age 76, he has finally retired from radio broadcasting. He’ll be able to spend more time with his wife, Marty, and with his children and grandchildren. Jim has left a legacy that won’t be forgotten. In fact, this story came about because of a request from a Chronicle reader and faithful WBTX listener, Phyllis Delawder. I was fortunate enough to work with Jim at WBTX for quite a few years, and I experienced first hand his kindness and professionalism. Jim spread joy and energy wherever he went ( I also stopped counting the cups of coffee he consumed!) and I know the current employees at WBTX will miss his unique presence.
Best of luck in your new adventure, Jim! I know you’ll continue to connect with people in a positive way wherever you go.
