Former Channel 19 Owner, CHESTER SMITH dies on AUGUST 8, 2008

COUNTRY MUSIC ENTERTAINER and SUCCESSFUL MEDIA BUSINESSMAN, CHESTER SMITH passed away last FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 2008, at the age of 78. Though he was a Country Music Singer and had several radio shows on Modesto's KTRB-860 as well as his own radio station, KLOC-920, he will be known locally as bringing the area's first INDEPENDENT TV STATION on the UHF dial that didn't go dark. Ironically, he passed away exactly one week from the 42nd ANNIVERSARY of CHANNEL 19, that signed on the air on AUGUST 15, 1966, about a month before BOB WILKINS debuted on KCRA. I plan to print a special KLOC-TV CHANNEL 19 ANNIVERSARY today. For more information on the legacy of CHESTER SMITH, check out http://www.modestoradiomuseum.org/chester%20smith.html