“You start thinking about retiring when you get to be 82 years old,” said Charlie McGregor, longtime Rockdale radio host and owner on KRXT. He said he knew he couldn’t retire until he sold the radio station, and new owners Steve Laukhuf and Jim Schwertner reached out to him about buying it “just at the right time.”
McGregor has been in the radio business since 1961 and started KRXT in May of 1989. The sale date was effective September 1.
“I don’t think much will change at first, but the new owners may make changes over time,” McGregor added.
One thing that Rockdale sports fans will be happy about is that Jay Davis and A.J. Whiteside will still broadcast Tiger and Lady Tiger sports. Not only is Davis staying with the radio station, but he has been promoted from news and sports director to operations manager. McGregor’s daughter, Lori Kolar, will stay on as office manager.
“There are so many Czechoslovakian people in Milam County, and we are the only Central Texas radio station that plays polka music and that will continue,” he added. McGregor said that he thinks there will be Tejano music on Saturday nights.
Another change is that long-time Central Texas weatherman Troy Kimmel will be doing the weather. Kimmel is no stranger to Rockdale because he comes here once a month from Austin to get a haircut from Gene Stork at Talk of the Town Salon.
The new owners, Steve Laukhuf and Jim Schwertner, started broadcasting The Cowboy Broadcasting Network on KRXT on September 1. Laukhuf has been in the radio business over 40 years working in sales, on-air talent, station manager and owner. He raises Longhorn cattle on his Double S Ranch with his wife, Suzanne, and sons Hart and Breck.
Schwertner, a native Austinite whose passion is Central Texas, its people and preserving the land and traditions. He is President/CEO of Schwertner Farms, Capitol Land & Livestock Trucks, Schwertner State Bank, Cattlemen’s State Bank, Lockhart Livestock Auction, Taylor Livestock Auction and Past Chair TxDOT Aviation Advisory Board. He and his wife, Patti, have three children and four grandchildren.
Their hope is to provide news and entertainment to Milam, Lee and Williamson Counties.
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