Ralph Foster was one of the true pioneers of radio -- one of the first to realize its vast potential, both educationally and as a new and exciting field of mass entertainment.

In 1924, Ralph Foster and his partner, Jerry Hall, set up a 50-watt station, KGBX, in a corner of their Firestone tire store in St. Joseph, Missouri.

It began simply as a hobby, but as businesses increasingly sought to advertise over the air, the station blossomed into a full-time vocation. It wasn't long before a brand new one-stop super service station and glassed in studios for the radio station were built a few blocks north of the old tire store located on Frederick Avenue. The age of radio had begun!

In 1932, Ralph Foster moved the station to Springfield, Missouri. Later, unable to get a power increase for KGBX, he purchased the license of a radio station in Grant City, Missouri, and move it to Springfield.

Ralph Foster asked for and received the call letter K-W-T-O and soon the slogan "KEEP WATCHING THE OZARKS" was on everybody's lips. Ralph Foster, as president and general manager of KWTO, devoted all his time and energy toward making KWTO the dominant station of the Ozarks area. KGBX was sold in the early 1940's.

Live talent broadcasts dominated programming. Many famous country music stars either got their start or appeared on KWTO, such as Slim Wilson, Porter Wagoner, Chet Atkins, the Carter family, and Homer and Jethro.

The long popular weekly television show, OZARK JUBILEE, was a Ralph Foster achievement through Crossroads TV Production, a KWTO subsidiary. It starred the late Red Foley and guest starred many well known country music personalities.

For many years, Ralph Foster had been collecting Indian artifacts. His interest in The School of the Ozarks prompted him to turn this vast collection over to the School's museum.

Because of his abiding interests and generosity, The School of the Ozarks Board of Trustees voted to rename the museum the "Ralph Foster Museum" in the mid-1960's.

Ralph Foster passed away on August 11, 1984. His wife Harriett passed away on December 5, 1986.

Who was Ralph Foster? He was an avid hunter and fisherman, a strong conservationist; a man who was close to nature; one who loved his fellow man. He was compassionate, understanding, generous, and had a rich sense of humor.