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Gene Ashcraft 1938-2001

Gene Ashcraft (Craft) former news director and manager of the Texas State Network passed away 
Gene's wife, Ann, said how disappointed he would be to be missing the reunion.  Our deepest sympathies are with Ann and Gene's family.  The following is from the Star-Telegram. 

(Audio: Gene (Ash)Craft reporting on JFK's Berlin visit - Click to hear Gene's report via  Real Audio Player)
(Audio courtesy of David Day)

Gene Ashcraft

FORT WORTH -- Gene Ashcraft, 62, a retired broadcasting executive, died Sunday evening, Jan. 7, 2001, at a local hospital.

Prior to becoming general manager of the Texas State Networks, Gene held a four-year job at KXOL and had jobs at small radio stations in Cleburne and Eastland. While news director at KFJZ Radio, he helped to revive the historical Texas State Networks, which offered news and sports programming to Texas radio stations. He also served as war correspondent to KFJZ during the Vietnam War. 

Funeral: 11 a.m. Thursday in the Chapel at Robertson Mueller Harper. Burial: Following committal services, Gene will be laid to rest in Greenwood Memorial Park. Visitation: He will lie in state at Robertson Mueller Harper, where his family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday.

Bearers of his casket will be Don Carroll, Bennie Hamilton, Clyde Lear, Mike Moore, Jay Tadlock and Jim Ware.
Memorials: Those desiring may make contributions to a charity of choice.

Survivors: Wife of 29 years, Ann Brown Ashcraft of Fort Worth; daughters, Kim Ashcraft Zeiler and her husband, Frank, of Austin and Christi Ashcraft Snell and her husband, David, of Fort Worth; grandchildren, Steven Gene and Laura Zeiler; brother, Don Ashcraft and his wife, Katie, missionaries in Honduras; sister, Lynda Ashcraft Connor and her husband, Jack, of Tulsa, Okla.; nieces and nephews; brother-in-law, Adrian Brown of Fort Worth; and Bubbles.

Robertson Mueller Harper
1500 Eighth Ave., (817) 924-4233

   Larry Gene Ashcraft was born Jan. 21, 1938, the son of Lamond and Kenneth Flowers Ashcraft. He attended Ranger Junior College and was a physical education major at Texas Christian University.
   Prior to becoming general manager of the Texas State Networks, Gene held a four-year job at KXOL and had jobs at small radio stations in Cleburne and Eastland. While news director at KFJZ Radio, he helped to revive the historical Texas State Networks, which offered news and sports programming to Texas radio stations. He also served as war correspondent to KFJZ during the Vietnam War. Gene and partners purchased and operated WNAD 640 AM (now WWLS) in Oklahoma City in 1972, becoming CEO of the station. Before retiring as president of Ashcraft Communications Inc., a station brokerage, appraising and consulting firm, he held the position of vice president and general manager of Texas State Networks, Dallas. He organized Dallas Cowboys Radio Network, which grew to a network of over 200 radio stations.
   Gene's memberships and presidencies included Texas AP Broacasters Association, UPI Broadcasters Association of Texas, National Association of State Radio Networks and the Fort Worth Chapter of Sigma Delta Chi Professional Journalism Society and Texas Gridiron Club.
   In June 2000, Gene received the prestigious Arthur C. Clark Award given by State Nets Radio presented for excellence in broadcasting.