World War II Honoree

Jean Ruth Hay

Hometown

Fortuna, California

Honored By

Ralph Bozorth

SHE WOKE MILLIONS OF AMERICAN TROOPS EACH MORNING DURING WWII WITH HER UPBEAT RADIO PROGRAM 'REVEILLE WITH BEVERLY,' WHICH WAS BROADCAST INTO FOXHOLES, COCKPITS AND MILITARY OUTPOSTS FROM ALASKA TO NEW ZEALAND. BETWEEN 1941 AND 1944, HER DAWN BROADCAST AS THE EFFERVESCENT BEVERLY REACHED AN ESTIMATED 11 MILLION PEOPLE. HER JUMPIN', JIVIN SELECTIONS OF BENNY GOODMAN, ARTIE SHAW, DUKE ELLINGTON AND NAT KING COLE WERE A WELCOME ALTERNATIVE TO THE 5:30 A.M. BUGLER'S BLAST THAT JARRED AMERICAN TROOPS FROM THEIR BEDS IN MILITARY OUTPOSTS ACROSS THE GLOBE. WITH A COLD COCA-COLA IN ONE HAND AND A STACK OF RECORDS IN THE OTHER. HER DAY AT HOLLYWOOD'S STATION KNX-AM BEGAN WITH HER SIGNATURE OPENING, 'HI THERE, BOYS OF THE USA.' 'WE'RE READY WITH THE STUFF THAT MAKES YOU SWING AND SWAY'. CALLED THE WORLD'S FIRST GLOBAL DISC JOCKEY, HER PROGRAMS REACHED SERVICEMEN IN 54 COUNTRIES. SOME SAW HER AS THE AMERICAN COUNTERBALANCE TO THE PACIFIC THEATER'S 'TOKYO ROSE'. SHE POSED FOR PINUP SHOTS AND WAS VOTED BY TROOPS 'THE GIRL WE'D MOST LIKE TO BE TRAPPED IN THE TURRET OF A B-17 WITH'.