imported>Red Director: Changing short description from "American television and communication pioneer" to "American television and communication pioneer (1930–2021)"

2022-08-06T14:40:01Z

Changing short description from "American television and communication pioneer" to "American television and communication pioneer (1930–2021)"

New page

{{Short description|American television and communication pioneer (1930–2021)}}
{{for|persons of a similar name|Stephen Stevens (disambiguation)}}
{{refimprove|date=January 2021}}
'''Stephen Owen Stephens''' (April 22, 1930 – January 29, 2021)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://talkbusiness.net/2021/01/early-tv-pioneer-pr-legend-steve-stephens-dies-at-90/|title=Early TV pioneer, PR legend Steve Stephens dies at 90|work=talkbusiness.net|date=30 January 2021|access-date=30 January 2021}}</ref> was a broadcasting pioneer in Arkansas, who originally became well known as the host of ''Steve's Show'', a hugely popular television program in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He remained a communication specialist well into the 21st century.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=59|title=Steve Stephens (1930– )|publisher=The Encyclopedia of Arkansas|accessdate=8 March 2013}}</ref>

==Early years==
Born in 1930, to Allie and Owen Stephens in [[Newport, Arkansas]], Stephens later attended [[Castle Heights Military Academy]], and graduated from [[Newport High School (Arkansas)|Newport High School]]. Following graduation, he attended the [[University of Arkansas]] until the [[Korean War]] erupted in 1950, when in his quest for adventure, he enlisted in the [[United States Marine Corps]]. Attaining the rank of sergeant, he received three battle stars in Korea. After the Korean armistice was signed in 1953, he was honorably discharged and returned to Newport.

==Career==
While in the Marines, he was occasionally asked if he had ever been a broadcaster, as he seemed to have a natural "radio voice." After returning to Newport, he began as a part-time announcer at radio station [[KNBY]], and soon became known as the "Voice of the White River Valley."

His entry into radio coincided with the beginnings of rock and roll, and he soon became a popular proponent of this new type of music. His style began to capture the attention of Little Rock television station [[KTHV]], the Arkansas affiliate of the [[CBS]] television network, who offered him an entry position as a station announcer.

Shortly after joining the station, he began hosting a television dance party in March 1957, which became an instant success. As bus loads of teenagers began arriving from all over the state, the show was expanded to six days a week.

Stephens helped launch the careers of [[Johnny Cash]], [[Conway Twitty]], [[Charlie Rich]], [[Brenda Lee]], [[Sonny Burgess]], [[Fabian Forte]] and many others who appeared on ''Steve's Show'' during its 8-year run. As a result of his continuing popularity during that time, he was awarded a recording contract, recording "Pizza Pete," "Honey Bee," "How It Used To Be," and "Weird Session", and was voted "Arkansas Top Television Personality."

From 1957 until 1965, he served as senior weatherman for KTHV television at both 6:00 pm and 10:00 pm, and was also the first to use radar in his weathercast. He new broke ground in another way when he became one of the first TV weathermen in the nation to use radar to detect Santa Claus flying into the state.

Stephens went on to produce other TV programs for KTHV, including ''Eye on Arkansas'', which showcased such celebrities as [[Liberace]], then-actor [[Ronald Reagan]], [[Roy Rogers]], [[Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.]], the casts of the popular TV programs ''[[The Beverly Hillbillies]]'' and ''[[Bonanza]]'', and many other notables.

==Retirement from television==
In 1965, Stephens left television after being invited by U.S. Senator [[John Little McClellan]] to join him on his staff in Washington, D.C. as a special assistant in charge of [[media relations]]. In 1968, he returned to Arkansas to form his own advertising, public relations, and travel agency.

In 1986, he was approached by financier [[Jackson T. Stephens]], chairman of the investment banking firm of Stephens Inc., to join him as his assistant and director of corporate communications. He remained with Stephens Inc. until his retirement in 1998. Following retirement, he continued to be active as a "voice talent" for numerous local and national radio and television commercials, as well as documentaries. In 2005, he created and began narrating a radio program for public radio station [[KUAR]]/[[Arkansas PBS|AETN]], ''Biography Arkansas''.

==Recognition==
Stephens also served as a National Trustee for the [[March of Dimes Foundation]] for over a decade, and was named an Honorary Life Trustee of the organization in 1998. During that time, he was awarded the "Jonas Salk Lifetime Achievement" award by the [[Salk Institute for Biological Studies|Salk Institute]] for his fund raising efforts on behalf of the March of Dimes.

In recognition of his pioneering achievements in broadcasting, he was inducted into the [[Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame]], and later his name was added to the Arkansas Walk of Fame in [[Hot Springs, Arkansas|Hot Springs]]. On April 22, 2010 (the anniversary of his birthday), he was recognized by the Eighth General Assembly of the [[Arkansas House of Representatives]] with a Lifetime Achievement Citation, "for maintaining a high degree of professionalism and integrity during his 50 years in the business and broadcasting community of Arkansas." In 2011, he was inducted into his hometown (Newport, Arkansas) High School Hall of Fame.

In 2018, Stephens was honored by the [[National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences]] MidAmerica Chapter with a Lifetime Achievement Award honoring individuals who have represented the very best of television, while making a significant contribution to broadcasting.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stephens, Steve}}
[[Category:1930 births]]
[[Category:2021 deaths]]
[[Category:American television personalities]]
[[Category:People from Newport, Arkansas]]
[[Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of the Korean War]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Arkansas]]
[[Category:United States Marines]]

Steve Stephens - Revision history

imported>Red Director: Changing short description from "American television and communication pioneer" to "American television and communication pioneer (1930–2021)"