"Down with the Old and
Up with the New"

Radio Road Changed to Bill Bradford Road

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

City employees were busy, early Thursday morning, changing street signs on the street that everyone has always known as Radio Road, that extends from Gilmer Street and under Interstate-30. Earlier in the summer, Sulphur Springs City Council honored longtime local radio station owner, Bill Bradford, by re-naming the street in his honor. By proclamation of the city, the road will now be known as Bill Bradford Road.

At a brief ceremony, at the corner of Bill Bradford Road and Carter Street, on Thursday morning, Bradford watched the changing of the sign, at the intersection and reflected on some of the things he could remember. "Of course, Interstate-30 wasn't here, when I moved to Sulphur Springs," denoted Bradford. "And, the original radio station was located on property north of what is I-30. When I moved to Sulphur Springs in 1948, the roadway was just a gravel road, and first got its name because of the original station being located at the end of the street."

Many "oldtimers" can remember Henry Cowser owning a service station at the corner of the road and Gilmer Street, and a tourist court, being located behind it. Others remember the Grocery owned by Hub and Era Attaway, located at the corner.

 

A "much younger" Bill Bradford as he investigated a 1950's fire!

Others will recall the Jackson Nursery and orchards, located on the road, at the corner with what is now Carter Street.. The nursery was owned and operated by Claude Jackson, until the 1950's.

 

KSST Radio "on the spot" at the old Hopkins County Memorial Hospital.

The "new" KSST Radio Station was built on the south side of I-30, in 1965.

"My family moved to Radio Road in May of 1961," recalled Jay McClendon, co-owner of the newest business on the street, Village Gun & Pawn Shop. "We moved to 218 Radio Road, when I was five years old, and the road was already paved and houses were being built along the road or street!"

Bradford presenting an award to County Agricultural Agent, Paul Herschler, "way back when!"



And, receiving a "lift" from a couple of Dallas Cowboys in the early 1970's.

"I'm humbled by the re-naming of the street with my name on it," expressed Bradford. "I've seen many, many changes in Sulphur Springs, in the almost 60 years that I've lived here!"

"And, one can only imagine just how many changes will be made in the next 60 years, if this old world keeps on turning!" concluded Bradford, as he admired the signs installed bearing his name.

 

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