Groundbreaker - An Interview With KSTL's Deborah Holmes

By Linda R. Galloway, Inspire Contributor

Deborah E. Holmes, who has served as the Station Manager of KSTL, 690 AM, for the past 11 years, now co-manages KSTL 690 AM and KJSL 630 AM in St. Louis, MO; but at the age of 25, as a young divorced mother of two, she could not imagine where God would lead her. Knowing that her two young daughters were totally dependent upon her, determination, persistence and faith kicked in. This is an inspiring story of never giving up.

Inspire: Deborah, tell us a little about your childhood.

Deborah Homes: I grew up in the south end of East St. Louis, Illinois, where I received my education in the public school system. My parents divorced early in my childhood and my Dad had sole custody of my brother and me. Because he was such a strict disciplinarian, I had little choice but to submerge myself in my schoolwork. He insisted that education was the key to success, so his favorite line was, "Get your books." In other words, we were to do our homework and stay focused on education because school was the most important thing in our lives at that time.

Inspire: I understand that your educational journey is interesting.

DH: Well, because I excelled in school, I graduated from Lincoln Senior High School at age 16, in June 1967. I was at the top of my class and received a four-year teacher's scholarship to Southern Illinois University. However, that was in 1967, when integration was just becoming a way of life and I felt the pains of discrimination, which affected my desire to continue my education at SIU-E, so I decided to give up the scholarship and drop out of college after a year and a half. But at age 38, I returned to school and attended Lindenwood College's fast-track degree program called LCIE, and completed the four-year degree requirements in just three years of night school. Ultimately, I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a 3.97 GPA.

Inspire: How did you start your career in radio?

DH: I strongly believe that my radio career began as an answer to my prayers, whereby I asked God to use me in the ministry. After an award-winning performance by my choir in 1993, the road to my radio career began to unfold. Taft Harris, who served as a judge for my choir's performance, in Chicago in 1993, contacted me on the recommendation of Victor Anderson of KNLC-TV, in February 1994. Taft was sent on a mission to survey the African-American church community in the St. Louis market to determine the feasibility of starting a gospel station in this area. In short, that phone call led to a later offer of employment from the owner of Crawford Broadcasting Company, in spite of the fact that I had no previous radio experience. Taft assured me he could teach me all the technical aspects of working for a radio station, but he sold Mr. Donald Crawford on the fact that I possessed professional and interpersonal skills that were hard to find, but could be of great benefit to their new radio station in this market.

Inspire: How did you become the first Black female station manager with the Crawford Broadcasting Company?

DH: I started my career with Crawford Broadcasting as an Account Executive, selling block programming and commercial spots to churches, independent ministries, and businesses in the Greater St. Louis area. After six months, I had approximately 50 accounts on air, which was an unusual accomplishment in such a short time. Because Taft Harris, my General Manager, was stationed in Chicago, the local office was void of management presence. Mr. Crawford promoted me to a management assistant position so that there would be someone at the local level, in St. Louis, with some management authority to enforce policies and procedures. One day after my first anniversary, April 26, 1995, I was named Station Manager of KSTL AM 690, becoming the first African-American female to hold this position and only the second African- American Manager; Taft Harris, my Mentor, being the first.

Inspire: You consider your career a ministry - why?

DH: I recognize this position as my ministry because there is no way I could have broken into this industry at 43 years old, unless the hand of God was guiding my path. All the sales success I've achieved has been because God led me to the right clients to partner with this station. Remember, earlier I said that I prayed and asked God to use me in the ministry. What better way to win souls for the Kingdom but by coaching people who have never considered themselves worthy of hosting a ministry program, which in turn leads people to Christ. This assignment (my Spiritual purpose) is something that I know brings pleasure to God and as long as I honor Him and recognize that I am nothing without Him, He will continually equip and enable me to do His will.

Inspire: One of your passions is Diabetes Prevention Education and Awareness; what is your inspiration?

DH: I am inspired to help people live a longer, healthier life because I believe my mother, Barbara G. Moore, died prematurely because she lacked proper knowledge of how to live with diabetes. She was diagnosed with Type II diabetes about four years before her death due to congestive heart failure, at age 69 - another complication that is brought on by diabetes. I feel that I can honor her death by helping to educate the public about the risk factors and warning signs, and to help raise funds for research.

My husband and several family members have Type II diabetes as well and I was able to help them understand the importance of managing the disease. I must do all that I can to heighten the awareness of this disease because it affects all people, all ages, and all colors. More importantly, African-Americans account for the highest percentage of the population affected by diabetes and that needs to be addressed because it can be controlled through proper nutrition and exercise.

Inspire: Your family is an integral part of you life, tell us about them.

DH: On August 2, 2006, Douglas E. Holmes and I will celebrate our 20th anniversary. We have two daughters, Dwynise McCottrell and Delisia Dickerson. We are proud grandparents of 15-year-old Rahjae Cooper and 6-year-old Bria Dickerson, who affectionately call me "Granny." Although Bria lives in Wilmington, Delaware, frequent annual visits and daily phone calls keep us connected. I am Power of Attorney for both my step-father, Frank Moore, Jr. and my mother's only sister, Helen Myles. Frank is confined to a nursing home after suffering two strokes just three weeks after my mother's death. He, too, was a Type II diabetic. My Aunt Helen, also a Type II diabetic, is now an amputee resulting from her lack of knowledge of how to manage the diabetes.

Inspire: How do you balance your ministry, family, career and community service?

DH: Time management is a challenge for me, as I try to balance all of my duties and be there for everybody, but God is my strength; therefore, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." I don't get a lot of sleep because I usually spend 10 to 12 hours a day at work and my evenings are divided between choir rehearsals, visits to the nursing home and my aunt, ADA meetings, some gardening, and just the day-to-day chores that accompany being a wife, mother, and grandmother. In the early years of my radio career, my family suffered because I spent more time at the radio station than I did at home. But, after an illness that caused me to stay in bed for five weeks, I returned to work with a different agenda. God helped me to see that I have to make time for my family, especially my husband who deserves a full-time wife. I thank God for Doug's patience with me as he often takes a back seat to all of the outside commitments and engagements to sing, speak, emcee services, or attend meetings. I rely on the Holy Spirit to lead me and guide me, so when I manage my time God's way, He helps me to complete those things that are absolutely necessary.

On August 6, 2006, 5:00 p.m., Deborah's many contributions to this community will be acknowledged and celebrated. The celebration is sponsored by Anointed Music Ministry, Inc./Elder Gregg "Happy Guitar" and Shirley Haynes. It will be held at her home church, The Rhema Church, A Baptist Assembly for Jesus Christ under the leadership of Elder Norman E. Owens, Jr., Senior Pastor. The church is located 2233 Cass Avenue in St. Louis, MO. For more information contact, AMM, Inc. at 314-869-6594.