Chatting with PRT's Steve Clem

Public Radio Tulsa: Steve, you're retiring from Public Radio Tulsa after more than 10 years as our Operations Director. But you've worked in radio your whole life. Steve Clem: 11 years at Public Radio Tulsa...longer than any other job in my 40-year broadcasting career. I have a colorful license plate collection....living for a time in Sacramento, Seattle, Albuquerque, and Salt Lake City. But this area is home!

PRT: In fact, you used to work with our former News Director, John Durkee, and former reporter, Marshall Stewart, right? SC: John, Marshall & I started out together at OSU studying Radio/TV/Film...maybe “studying” is too strong of a word...but we were all together at the beginning of our careers and also the last decade of them, which is kind of cool.

PRT: You've written the book, Tulsa's KAKC Radio: The Big 97, and have produced an audio special about that late, great station. Got any more books you want to write? SC: I am starting two book projects: The first is Tulsa Movie Theaters. We got short-changed! All of Tulsa’s beautiful downtown and neighborhood movie theaters are gone! It’s a subject I’ve always been interested in. If you’d like to share your Tulsa movie memories with me, I’ll have my TU email for a while longer: steve-clem@utulsa.edu. I'm also working on Tulsa Route 66 Motels.This is a harder subject because there were upwards of 50 motels along 11thStreet and Southwest Blvd during Tulsa’s Route 66 heyday. If you have a personal link to any of that history, email me: steve-clem@utulsa.edu.

PRT: Any parting thoughts as you walk out the door? SC: I have always been proud to tell people that I work at Public Radio Tulsa...where the level of dedication, professionalism, and frankly integrity is so high. I will miss being part of that effort and this team.