Tuesday, March 7, 2000

Tejano Music Awards plans to honor Luna

Luna

Longtime Corpus Christi radio broadcaster Leopoldo Luna hasn't been on the air since 1997, but his achievements in 45 years in the radio industry haven't been forgotten.
   On Thursday, Luna takes center stage at the 20th annual Tejano Music Awards in San Antonio as sole recipient of the Special Achievement Award. He is among six winners of four TMA categories to be inducted into the TMA's Hall of Fame during banquet ceremonies.
   "I'm just tickled to death by it all," said Luna, 76, who began his career in Spanish-language radio as a disc jockey in 1952 at KEYS. "When I was informed that I was a nominee, I didn't think I'd be the winner because there are so many great radio announcers throughout the state, especially in San Antonio and the Valley."
   That may be, said A. Sam Zuniga, TMA Hall of Fame founder and researcher, but this award for Luna is long overdue.
   "We're not giving him anything. This is something he's earned," Zuniga said. "When you last this long in this business, you've done something right. Luna was a broadcaster that, when called upon, was an all-around person. He could do it all. He's one heck of a pillar in the industry and many in the industry model themselves after him."
   Military experience
   Luna's initiation into the world of broadcasting began during World War II at Peleilu Island. Luna, a Navy corpsman then serving with the Marines at Iwo Jima, volunteered to spin records at a start-up radio station aimed at boosting servicemen's morale. After the war, Luna worked briefly as an insurance agent until he broke into the business that he'd grown to love.
   Throughout his career, Luna has been affiliated with various radio stations, including KEYS, KINE in Kingsville, KUNO and KCCT.
   But it was at KCCT that Luna spent the majority of his career - 26 years - serving as DJ, news director and program director. Along the way, he's received many awards, certificates and plaques, which Luna proudly displays on two walls at his home. While he looks forward to accepting his latest honor, Luna says that his greatest achievements came instead from what he did after signing off the air.
   Misses radio work
   Luna, a longtime volunteer for youth, church and veterans' organizations, said his achievement highlights include having served as project director of the Corpus Christi Cathedral Breakfast Project, a church fund-raiser.
   Luna said the rewards of community involvement helped him have a successful career in a difficult business. Luna's career at KCCT ended three years ago when new management made format changes.
   Today, Luna works full-time for a security guard company, but dreams of returning to broadcasting "to bring back the old Tejano accordion music we grew up with," he said. "And we're not getting out the information we need to, and I'd like to be able to do that, especially about what's out there for veterans.
   "Instead of getting this award, I wish someone would say, 'Here's a radio job for you, Leo.' I think I still have a mission in radio to fulfill."
  
  
 

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