Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln Counties
Good News
Area News of Churches and Related Christian Events
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 1992
REPUBLIC NEWSPAPERS
VOL. 1 NO. 20
JERRY BEDSOLE
Bedsole plays Southern Gospel
By RENEE WALSER
Jerry Bedsole said he
didn't think he had a par-
ticularly fine broadcasting
voice, but that hasn't kept
him from introducing
gospel and country tunes
from Kings Mountain's
WEKMT radio for the last 15
years.
Besides, we're our own
worst critics, he said, with
a shrug.
"I've always wanted to
be in radio, even in high
school,” he said. Bedsole
said he used to practice and
make-believe that he was a
Range ready
for drivers
For years, Pat Cowell
would ride by the unused
driving range and putt-putt
course on Hwy. 74 in west
Gastonia and wonder why
no one took care of it.
"Everybody knows this
place is here," he said. But
no one ever used it.
He decided to give it a
go and March 7 opened up
Practice Point, a practice
driving range with grass
areas to hit from and also
matted areas.
Cowell said he was
raised in a golfing family.
"Golf is the fastest
growing game in the world
and we're just doing our
part to promote it," he said.
The average golfer
whose having a difficult
time with his swing can
pick up some tips from Pat
or father Darcy for free.
Or there are private
lessons available with in-
structors Rob Lane, head
professional at Crowder's
Mountain Golf and Country
Club, and Jimmy England,
1987 U.S. Pub Links run-
ner-up and assistant pro at
Crowder's Mountain.
Pat said he plans to of
fer beginners’ clinics in the
future.
Practice Point offers
new range balls and small
buckets for $3.50 and large
buckets for $4.50.
They're open Monday
through Friday 12 noon un-
til 9 p.m., and Saturday
and Sunday 10 a.m. to 9
p.m. You can find them on
See Cowell Page 3
DJ when he was young.
Jonas Bridges, owner
of the station, gave him his
first start and he's stayed
there since. Bedsole was go-
ing to school at Carolina
School of Broadcasting in
Charlotte and working at
WEKMT at the same time.
G.I. benefits after serving
two years in the Army --
one year on tour in Vietnam
-- helped pay for his broad-
casting training.
"When I first came to
work here, there was a
short gospel program on,"
said Bedsole. Through the
years he has worked it up
to Monday through
Saturday morning shows.
"I think we have an
outstanding gospel music li-
brary here at the station,"
said the award-winning DJ.
"We want to play what lis-
teners want to hear."
Listeners call in from
all around the area, he
said.
What he plays for his
listeners is what is known
as Southern gospel.
"It's the best -- good ole
downhome type singing,"
said Bedsole. "Toetapping
music with a message."
"It's a lot of fun,” he
said, saying that it's em-
barassing yet funny when
he gets tongue-tied from
time to time.
Bedsole is also a gospel
singer and has sun since he
was a child in church. His
mother has always played
for him when he sings and
still does.
He is music director at
Piedmont Baptist Church
in Kings Mountain, also.
His awards include be-
ing named the Favorite
Southern Gospel DJ in a
Small Market from Singing
See Bedsole Page 3