The death of Houston radio legend Bill Zak brought several of his former colleagues together in a tribute program on KTRH, the station where Zak was a fixture for 45 years. 

Host Randy Lemmon, who took over the “Gardenline” program from Zak, mixed audience memories with voices from Zak’s career.

Dan Rather, whom Zak trained as a young newscaster, recalled Bill’s releasing a live armadillo in the KTRH studio at the Rice Hotel.  As they tried to corral the animal, it ran into a wall space, never to be seen again.  Rather wonders if there are armadillos still in the walls at the building.

In the early 1980s Ed was Program Manager for KTRH and surprised Zak with a 30th anniversary celebration on the air.  He told the tribute audience about how Zak, a large, imposing man, tried to intimidate him as a young program director.  “Boy,” he said, “I’ve been here a long time, and I’ll be here long after you’re gone.” 

“I told him he was right,” Shane said, “because I had a three year contract.  I suggested a three year truce, which we enjoyed.”  

Also on the tribute program were Tom Franklin, voice of the Houston Cougars, a former KTRH sports personality, and Bill Van Rysdam, now Operations Manager at CBS AM stations in Houston, who started his career as a KTRH board operator.            

Zak, who retired from KTRH in 1995, died October 25 at age 86.