One of KMOX’ newest and most versatile personalities is Rex Davis, news reporter and analyst on the regular evening edition of “KMOX World News,” Monday through Saturday, 5:00 – 5:15 p.m., and the late evening commentary, “Rex Davis Views the News,” 10:05 – 10:20 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday versions of the former are sponsored by Studebaker Corp. while the nighttime commentary is presented in behalf of Standard Oil Dealers.
A veteran of fifteen years in radio, 35-year-old Rex Davis began his career as a singer and eventually his vocal talents were heard on the Columbia Network. Prior to his entry into radio in 1931, he had studied at both the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and the Cincinnati College of Music, occasionally appearing on musical programs over Cincinnati stations.
During one of these engagements a friend suggested that he take up announcing, which he did, starting on Station WCPO where his duties included everything from spinning records, to news shows.
It was during the great flood of 1937 that Rex Davis’ career as a newsman really began. During this emergency, WCPO, because of its good fortune in being on an emergency power loop, was for quite a time the only station in Cincinnati on the air. For two weeks he lived in the editorial rooms of the Cincinnati Post, broadcasting flood bulletins of every nature. This work won for him a position on the news staff of WCKY, where he remained from January, 1937, until joining KMOX in February, 1946. During his stay at WCKY, he was Chief Announcer and Program Director for two years – and News Editor for the remaining six. For eight straight years, in addition to other news shows, Rex Davis broadcast a daily quarter-hour news program at 8 a.m.
(Originally published in KMOX Mike 3/1946).
You must be logged in to post a comment.