I found the text of the letter I wrote about Lewis Compton returning to the airwaves of WHEE-AM 1370 in Martinsville. I sent this to Bill Wyatt and remember he read it as a Commentary. This was in early 2000, maybe around February. Here is the text of the letter...maybe posting it here will bring back some memories of Lewis Compton... There are a few things around Martinsville and Henry County that are true icons. One of them is Lewis Compton. I know of no one that can personalize a radio show or radio spot the way Lewis can do it. He speaks not to an audience but to each individual listener. There are very few announcers that can create the visual image that enables the radio listener to see what is being communicated, or announced and Lewis Compton can consider himself in that chosen few. In creating these visual images, there is absolutely nothing that Barney Hall, Mike Joy, Ned Jarrett or for that matter any other racing announcer has on Lewis when it comes to creating a visual image with words, which is the essence of radio announcing. That essence could be experienced by listening to Lewis for a period of between 20 and 22 seconds as he would describe the action as a stock car driver as he worked a qualifying lap at the Martinsville Speedway. The late H. Clay Earles recognized that talent many years ago. Driver introductions at the Speedway were a race day happening of which I like to think that Lewis invented. In the mid-1960s, long before NASCAR had the nationwide following that it enjoys today, Lewis made a special effort with the driver introductions during the pre-race activities. When Lewis would introduce the drivers in starting order, the driver who was starting 40th was no less a celebrity than Richard Petty, Junior Johnson, or Fred Lorenzen and Lewis introduced them to the crowd that way. Those introductions were personal, individual, and had a special air of Virginia hospitality that only Lewis Compton can convey. Moving back to Franklin Street, one could listen for hours to Lewis on the radio, spinning tales, telling stories, reading poems, and playing bluegrass music, especially the old-time country music we dont hear so much anymore. During the mid-seventies, the old C and R Special or the Best of Bluegrass show was heard, if I remember correctly, on Tuesday and Saturday mornings. Regarding Cooper and Ratcliff, I would guess that Lewis Compton probably is responsible for selling more city ham in Martinsville and Henry County than anyone else around! Anybody care to guess what what city ham is??? I know. A few listeners may remember that Lewis used to do an impression of the National Weather Service weather forecaster (I cannot remember his name) who used to give the weather forecast on the NOAA weather radio recording. If you turned on the radio to WHEE midway through the forecast, you could not tell if it was NOAA or Lewis fooling around. On Monday mornings during the racing season, you could rely on Lewis to tell you how the Grand National boys (now Winston Cup) did on the previous Sunday afternoon. I guess you could say Lewis had one of the first racing shows in broadcasting. One must remember, this was a time when newspaper and radio coverage of NASCAR consisted of a statement such as Cale Yarborough won a 500 mile race in South Carolina on Sunday. There are a lot of things changing real fast in Martinsville and Henry County and they are not all for the best. But one change has happened that is definitely a bright spot. Lewis Compton has taken his microphone back and is in his old seat at WHEE radio. Lewis Compton, the Mouth of the South, as Elmo Langley put it, is radio at its finest. So when we hear something that goes like Here comes Pa in the buckboard wagon, one wheel off and the axle draggin...promenade your lady! or a bit of advice like, Dont go off in a huff with two bald tires and 6 payments left on her, well all know it is time to Let her go, boys! Lewis, welcome home! PS...Lewis, two hours is awfully short, can you go for three?
Posted on: Tue, 05 Aug 2014 15:57:43 +0000
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