| Notes |
- Star-Herald (Scottsbluff, NE)
August 6, 2005
George H. Haskell, 88, of Scottsbluff, died Thursday, Aug. 4, 2005, at his home.
George Harold Haskell was born in Lincoln July 23, 1917, to George W. and Emily H. (Huddleston) Haskell. During school from 1929 until 1937, George was a piano player in local and traveling dance orchestras, earning $1 per day. In 1937, at 16, he took a part time job as a mail boy at KFOR radio in Lincoln. Later he followed Central States Broadcasting Corporation to Omaha where he was given the traffic/manager/programmer opportunity for KFAB and KOIL (Council Bluffs) radio. George gave Johnny Carson his first job at KFAB. They traveled the area entertaining organizations with George playing the organ while Johnny did his ventriloquist act. Years later Johnny wrote to George about a new job he got from Jack Parr with NBC ... and you know the rest of the story. Virginia May Zimmerman, his first and practically his only girlfriend captured his heart and became his wife in 1943. From 1942 until his discharge in 1946, he served with the U.S. Army and Army Air Corps, serving his country during WWII. In 1946, following his discharge from the military, he returned to Omaha and served as KFAB's Assistant Program Director and from 1956 until 1957, served as Assistant General Manager under Lyell Bremser. In 1957, George was named General Manager of Platte Valley Broadcasting Corporation, owned by Russ Stewart which consisted of radio stations KNEB-AM and KNEB-FM in Scottsbluff and KOLR-AM in Sterling, Colorado. In 1970 he became President and General Manager and Partner of KNEB-AM/FM and served in that position until his retirement in 1980. George spent his entire career in Nebraska broadcasting, serving on the Nebraska Broadcasters Association Board of Directors. He was inducted into the Nebraska Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame in 1997.
George was very involved in the Scottsbluff community, serving on many civic Boards and committees. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church and was a proud and active member of the Scottsbluff-Gering Rotary Club. He was a Paul Harris Fellow and served as the editor of the Rotary newsletter for many years.
George enjoyed music, especially playing the piano and organ. He also enjoyed his yard and gardening, but most of all he enjoyed living, including entertaining his family members and many friends in his home. More importantly, George was a wonderful father and mentor and was a tremendous man. The family would like to extend its deepest gratitude to Prairie Haven Hospice, Randy Guzman and Dolly Butler.
Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law Stu and Cindy Haskell of Ft. Collins, Colo., daughter and son-in-law Julie and Jeff Gade of Lincoln, grandchildren Matt and Skylar Haskell of Ft. Collins and Cole Gade of Lincoln.
His parents; his wife Virginia; sister Eva Miller and brother Clarence Haskell preceded him in death.
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U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010
Name: George Haskell
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 23 Jul 1917
Death Date: 4 Aug 2005
Cause of Death: Natural
Branch 1: ARMY
Enlistment Date 1: 12 Nov 1942
Release Date 1: 10 Feb 1946
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1917 - 2005 (88 years)
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