Gary Smith worked for KIDK’s for 47 years.  He started working as an Engineer and later promoted to the Chief Engineer position. He has guided the station through many challenges, some small and some that have rewritten how the television industry operates. 

 

 

Some major highlights include the first computer-generated weather system, film transition to tape, then to purely digital editing. Of course, the major conversion from Analog to Digital, which required the installation of several new translators and a new transmitter. Adding a second channel to “over the air” signal came several years later. Computer integrating themselves into every aspect of television, kept Gary very busy. 

 

In 2011 KIDK merged with its competitor, Local News 8 which brought 4 more stations for him to look after. Now with the OTT providers like HULU and U-Tube [sic] taking our local signals added even more to his plate to make sure they are getting our programming.  All of this can cause his phone to go off all hours including in the middle of the night or over the weekend. Gary was a rock through it all. 

Without his dedication to quality, his strong work ethic, ingenuity, and good sense of humor, KIDK would never have made it through these changes and had the success we have had.