Richard P. 'Dick' Bott Sr., Founder of Bott Radio Network, selected for National Religious Broadcasters Hall of Fame
by Staff
March 11, 2008
OVERLAND PARK, Kansas, (christiansunite.com) -- On Tuesday, March 11th, 2008, Richard P. "Dick" Bott, Sr. will be inducted into the National Religious Broadcasters Hall of Fame at the organization's annual convention in Nashville, Tennessee. The NRB is the world's largest association of Christian communicators, with over 1,400 member organizations, and the Hall of Fame Award is the highest honor the organization confers. Past recipients have included Dr. Billy Graham, Dr. James Dobson, Dr. Theodore Epp, Dr. Charles Swindoll, Dr. D. James Kennedy, and Dr. Charles Stanley.According to the NRB, the Hall of Fame Award "is presented to an individual who has made invaluable contributions to the field of Christian communications, all the while exhibiting the highest standards of conduct and evidence of faithfulness in Christ."
During a broadcasting career now spanning 55 years, Dick Bott has made a lasting mark in the development of Christian "talk radio" by pioneering a format of carefully selected quality Bible teaching programs, together with Christian news, information and public policy features. From the beginning, he was motivated with the idea of "talk" programming to help people grow in the Lord and apply their faith to their daily lives.
Dick Bott began his broadcasting career in 1952 at KSAN Radio in San Francisco, California. He was soon named the station's General Manager, thus becoming the youngest GM of any major-market radio station in America. Dick and his wife, Sherley, then purchased their first radio station, KDON, in Salinas/Monterey, California in 1957, quickly achieving a high level of commercial success.
However, Mr. Bott wanted to achieve something more. His vision was to own and operate a radio station fully devoted to quality Bible teaching, as well as Christian news and information, a concept that was virtually unknown at the time. He and his wife sold KDON and moved their family to Kansas City, where they launched KCCV, "Kansas City's Christian Voice," in 1962. That single radio station became the flagship of Bott Radio Network, now comprising 80 stations in 10 states, with a total combined coverage of nearly 40 million people. Bott Radio Network also broadcasts nationwide over the Sky Angel Direct Broadcasting Satellite Service, and worldwide at www.bottradionetwork.com.
Mr. Bott has served as a member of the NRB Board of Directors for over 45 years, including service as a member of the NRB Executive Committee, Chairman of the Ethics Committee, and as NRB Vice President.
Mr. Bott will be inducted into the National Religious Broadcasters Hall of Fame on Tuesday, March 11th, at 7:00 p.m. at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
