tuning in, 1936

Guy Marshal Purcell, my grandfather, was born in Equality, Illinois, in 1886. He finished sixth grade and farmed before founding a seed and feed company. Following is part of a poem my mother wrote about "Farmer Purcell" for her forthcoming chapbook.

Saturday noon from his desk
Daddy broadcast a radio show on WGBF
serving southern Indiana,
Illinois and Kentucky.

Started with a cowbell
clanging several times,
I rang it when I was there.

Then Daddy spoke like a friendly
neighbor over the back fence,
“This is Farmer Purcell
with the oldest radio show
east of the Mississippi.”