"When Opportunity Knocks"
12/14/2025
Twenty years ago, the family was on vacation. There was a host of others with us in Gulf Shores, Alabama, USA. Troy Aikman, Joe Buck, Cindy Crawford, Kathy Ireland, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon round out the list. It's crazy the kids are today's stars. My sons were the problems you love to laugh about 20 years later. Luke Combs and Kane Brown were on an overnight outing. It was a night of anxiety for me. The ocean and children at night; no way to have eyes on all night. It was a camping sleepover. I didn't know there was an annual event like this in the area. I had other kids with me some are the news anchors all across America. Those two wanted to Elvis Beach Blanket Bingo or something. Luke was an avid Elvis fan; he just gotten this old six string. We made song up with Luke, Kane, and Mitchell Tenpenny and as we traveled and the News Reporters honed their craft. It was in Gulf Shores, Alabama that we had the opportunity to look at an old Television Station that was no longer pushing out a signal. The Television Stations was in the same building as a Police Sub-Station. We were being given a tour of the area and the television station was mentioned while we were in the building. The kids had already opened the station in Nashville, Tennessee and wanted to push out a signal for fun. I asked how much it would cost to do it. The Police-Officer said I need to call the building manager. We were told you just need to turn all the equipment on it worked when it was last used just fine. I don't know kids it sounds like a lot of work. You know how much work it was in Nashville. I had to ask do you have any information on the channel and the call signs. It was not a problem Clint Eastwood, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and I invested money in the area of Gulf Shores, Alabama in the late 1980's and early 1990's.
In 2005 or 2006 is when the first signal re-entered the airwaves. Tere was something we did that wasn't really well liked and that was buying the old equipment and leaving the equipment in place. Then a new station was added to the building. Something had happened and we wanted an answer to it the question. Once before a storm damaged the control center of the station. So, we installed newer updated equipment in the interior part of the building with no glass windows in case there was a tornado or hurricane. A larger antenna was added for a stronger inbound signal and added better broadcast dishes. The investment was growing by the day. I had to find a constant stream of employees. The answer came in the form of internships at Coastal Alabama Community College. The invest was going to be between two million to five million dollars. It was ok to use used equipment in case of a flood. hightides during a storm. After establishing that the channel would go live again the original owner or two wanted to have some involvement. I needed a signed contract and proof of ownership for the kids to be able to enjoy ownership. One million dollars for the original owners to get their initial investment back from the project. Joe Buck and Troy Aikman were there for our opening broadcast. I believe, one guy called in and asked who Joe Buck was that he was so important. "Look Boy, I'm an Alabamian; I don't know Joe Buck." We were announcing Joe Buck and Troy Aikman all week before first broadcast. The learning curve was huge. Race was still a topic of discussion but a "Barrier to Entry." We talked to a local radio station all week. I wanted the radio station with the lowest ratings or listening audience in the area. I would show call sign and station numbers for free when live if the announced our broadcast. It was being put together by the kids produced, scheduled, and promoted by Clint Eastwood, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt and me. My children thought opening Family Stations was fun. The first day was hectic and the kids were excited. Ok, I will call the radio station on the way to the Billboard and a place to see if the signal is out. When the phone rang at the radio station saying there was no signal being broadcast. We forgot to flip two or three switches. We had to go back and make sure the kids got it right. The previous owners forgot about the new dishes controlled in the internal control room. No one was mad when the signal reached further than anticipated. Highland Productions LLC and Highland Productions News & Media are on their own making their own legacy known to the world. Leaving the fruits of my labor to my children will be one of the many joys of my life. Having launched venture projects in the past I look forward to the future. Linking with ongoing projects and learning is always the opportunity I enjoy answering the door for in my life. Red Sovereign had a radio station near Northern Missouri and Southern Iowa that I listen to as a truck driver. There is always an argument as to whether it's Red Sovereign or Red Sovine. The songwriter and singer is Red Sovine. Are they the same man I am not sure. The radio station owner drove a Peterbilt as a Youngerman. We had the truck restored during the discussion. I saw it a few years back. yung yung yung yung. He showed me the old radio station still pushing out a signal. "it's just a signal on auto cast." "Is it for sell?"
At the time in Kirksville, Missouri, USA there was only one or two television channels available. One was not a very strong signal it may have been based in Ottumwa, Iowa, USA. I asked if we could upgrade the old system and get an old television signal reopened. The building was enlarged, and an old signal may have been made stronger. Cable television was the mainstay of the college campuses. We spoke to a few people, and I think there is two channels and the radio station in one spot. Matt Damon and Brad Pitt were an important part of the process. Lending their names and faces made the whole thing creditable. Brad Pitt had made it funny at Road America Road Course. We were not able to be inside the fence around the racecourse without media vest during our attempts to get photographs and footage. Pitt went and obtained a media vest. I had to pay a fee and sign a document. "Now were in Vested" "Invested?" "Yes. In Vested." "Alright alright Alright!" "We-In-Vested!" So, one of the kids said in Kirksville, Missouri "we en creditable." "You mean uncreditable?" "No, Daddy. Incredible." "You know IN-Credit-able." "You remember what happened in Gulf Shores, Alabama, USA." "Yep, I got the switch this time." I think that signal cost a hundred thousand dollars and the owners got to work under the stronger signal for a while. The couple was about 70 years old. It's crazy I had a friend back then whose father worked for KMOX and built a radio station from the ground up in Versailles, Missouri, USA... Mr. Ott (I was his son Greg's friend) is how I met Joe Buck at a pre-set up for a Blues Hockey game at the Old Checker Dome. But that is another story for later. I had to ask William "Bill" Ott Jr. if he could help with the setup of the station. There was an old family level in the Missouri radio network, and he had hands on in the 1980's. Greg was not as active in the process. Bill was gone all the time helping Mr. Ott.
Being in broadcast announcing was never anything I had ever thought about when I saw Jack Buck and Joe Buck at a Rams Football game. I was sitting with George Hansford of the Trainwreck Saloon in seats he had on the fifty-yard line. We were asked to set out on to the hallway and "Holly Sh__ it's Jack Buck!" "Hey Darren, hello. Darren I'm Joe." "Ok." I know Mr. Buck from when I was twenty, I would see him in England. Mr. Buck was always very nice to me. Long story short he asked if I wanted to go to the Broadcast Booth. I should have went. But I declined that day. Mr. Buck never asked for to join him again in the Broadcast booth. I was a Football player for the Dallas Cowboys and doing interviews was part of job. I was on ESPN because I was a walk on and played in the pre-season. I knew a few people, so my presence was elevated. I was getting a beer at Blues Hockey game and go asked me to come into the Broadcast booth I was reluctant, but I did it because I begged for interviews for the kids for them to get their start. It was a very scary moment for me that lasted 15 minutes. The interview and talk last about forty minutes of play. I forgot the thing that made me nervous and then the game was ending. When Opportunity Knocks answer the door and see if it's a friend. Opportunity is not always friendly; a business opportunity is a business opportunity. Make the most of that opportunity.
By Darren Dwayne Frazier
Photograph by Highland Productions LLC