J. Scott Howard

Gosh, didn't I just go through all this at the 20th reunion in '98? OK, one more time -- for those whose minds are "slipping."

I had been living the WKRP life (up and down the dial)since graduating with a Broadcasting degree from WSU in 1982. Married Kathi Brown and we lived in Anadarko, OK for a brief time and I was News Director at KRPT. Tornado Alley is not the place to live in a double-wide mobile home in springtime. We moved back to "Warshington" (as the Okies liked to say) and I got a job at KMOK-FM in Lewiston, ID where my son, Justin, was born. Lived there a few years, moved to Spokane and was Asst. News Director at KXLY Newsradio 920. That was the fun life, from '86 to around '94. Thence began my journey to the Dark Side. I got kidnapped, tied up, taken away, and held in TV News for 10 years. It just wasn't as fun as Radio. I divorced in '96, my mom died in '97, and TV news was making my life hell.

One day in 2004, on the way to a 12:30 tee time at Indian Canyon (one of the most beautiful golf courses in Spokane, but THE SLOWEST!), I realized I had to go to work the next day and damn near had an anxiety attack. I didn't want to go back. My golf buddy asked me, "So what if you didn't go back?" The epiphany that eluded Seth Hodges all these years (read Seth's wonderful life story). I began to look at my life and came to the realization I was miserable, and life is too short to be miserable all the time. So I quit KXLY two weeks later, went to Vegas for a long weekend and won $17,874,556 and change on a "Wheel of Fortune" dollar slot! Not really. But it sounds good.

Anyway, I did go to Vegas for a brief vacation, and I visited my aunt in Phoenix. We went to the Arizona-New England football game at Sun Devil Stadium; that was cool. When I got home, I went back to school and got my Master in Teaching in 2006. I've been subbing ever since.

The money ain't great but I have a lot of flexibility with my time! Sometimes that's more important! I'm still trying to get on full-time somewhere, but I'm just taking it year by year. This will be my third year subbing if nothing comes through full time. But you know what? That's OK! I'm not in danger of losing my home, my bills are paid on time, and there's still a little left to buy a few beers! Life is good again!

At the same time I was quitting KXLY, I fell in love with Lynn, a great lady with a lovely family. They love me, I love them, they love my son Justin -- he's like their big brother. It just doesn't get much better! Married? Not yet. I can see it happening, but right now we're both kind of enjoying where we're at. Someday.....

I used to like Mr. Hamblin, the photography teacher. One day, I wrote "OUT" on the board next to my name and left to take pictures for whatever assignment. When I returned to class, Hamblin jumped so far down my throat I thought he would be the deuce I dropped after lunch. Apparently, someone had written "HOUSE" after my "OUT" and Mr. Hamblin didn't appreciate that kind of humor. What an ass.

Years later, after reconnecting at the 20th reunion, Tom Carr and I were skiing at Schweitzer Mountain. We were in the bar drinking Bloody Marys (it was crappy weather, ok?). We were talking about "the good old days" and I related that story about Hamblin. Tom said he was the guy who wrote HOUSE! He laughed and laughed and apologized for getting me in trouble -- and he laughed some more.

God I miss Tom.