By SALINA POST
In the middle of Kansas winter, January 1976, Randy Picking, former KSAL news director and current co-host of "Coffee Talk" on 910KINA, began his radio career by providing colorful commentary and complimenting sports play-by-play coverage at KSAL Radio.
The following year, Picking started a part-time job at KYEZ Radio, changing automation tapes for continuous coverage and providing weather updates.
Picking said he looked for opportunities to learn from his peers at each studio.
"I was there any chance I could get to watch the announcers do their thing," Picking said. "One of the announcers that let me sit in a lot was Steve Smethers."
Smethers provided coverage for KSAL from six to midnight in the mid-1970s until Picking took over the time slot in 1980.
The Kansas Association of Broadcasters inducted Smethers into the Hall of Fame in 2021 after his long career in Kansas broadcasting and at Kansas State University.
Picking followed his footsteps, and after almost 50 years in radio, KAB selected Picking to their 2023 Hall of Fame.
KAB selected Picking alongside three other impactful Kansas journalists, including Mike Manns from Topeka, Dale Morrell from Wichita and Ian Punnett, MDiv, Ph.D., from Manhattan.
Picking's 50 years in radio and broadcast
When Picking compared modern radio to when he began, he said through all the technological advances, radio is just different from what it used to be.
He often did humorous commercials for the station, including donning a mascot costume for promotion events.
"One year, I was something called the 'Ice Thing,'" Picking said. "I dressed in this abominable snowman costume and went around to different businesses that sponsored it, and people had to figure out how long it would take 10 tons of ice to melt at the KSAL studio parking lot."
He recalled wearing a duck costume as the Z-94 Duck for KYEZ Radio's mascot.
Picking’s first full-time job was in 1980 after taking over for Smethers as the six to midnight announcer at KSAL and in 1981, he became the operations manager at KYEZ.
Picking continued in the radio industry, acting in almost every facet of broadcasting, including news reporter, news director, public service director, sales representative, talk show co-host, storm chaser and announcer.
He has worked in one of these roles at seven Kansas broadcast stations, including KSAL, KYEZ, KABI, KSAJ, KFRM, KSKG, and KINA.
One of his favorite roles during his career was working at the turntables and choosing music to play on-air.
"I love playing music — I think that's one of the reasons that I was in radio is my love of music," Picking said.
Picking said he transitioned from music to reporting and followed his mentors like Bryan Thompson, Kansas Public Radio health reporter, and Jerry Hinrikus, KINA "Coffee Talk" co-host.
Today, Picking enjoys co-hosting "Coffee Talk" alongside his former mentor and 2014 KAB Hall of Famer Hinrikus.
"I'm just very humbled (and) filled with gratitude," Picking said. "Even though they're not here with me anymore, I'm grateful for my supportive parents and, of course, my supportive family."