Longtime Lloydminster resident, Ray Tatro, is reminiscing on the changes he has seen in the city as it grew from 4,000 residents to the present and the advent of FM radio in 106.1 The Goat.
“Lloydminster was fortunate to have the second radio station come on 25 years ago,” says Tatro. “What a breath of fresh air to get FM. The fact that it went to FM was such an upgrade in the quality.”
On May 18, 2001, The Goat 106.1FM started playing music in Lloydminster by cranking out Turn Up the Radio by Autograph, with the opening lyrics, “I’m working hard, you’re working too.” It seemed just suited for a hardworking area like Lloydminster.
Tatro and his wife, Shelley, are longstanding members of the Lions’ Club and regularly pitch in to support the Lions’ various projects and community concerns. From local scouts, baseball, hockey, and other volunteering efforts.
“It’s just a great town to keep young people active and semi-out-of-trouble,” Tatro muses. “There are a lot of activities that make Lloydminster a great community to live in.”
He points out that while you could pick up CKUA out of Edmonton, The Goat, coming on stream and based in Lloydminster, was a welcome change for rock music fans.
“The fact that The Goat was rock. Border Rock. It was really good to see.”
Tatro recalls The Goat brought in Dr. Hook at The Kooler in June 2001 to celebrate the station’s launch.
Deejay stunts
Tatro chuckles about the stunts of the early radio deejays.
“Some of the shenanigans that the morning crew put on are legendary. I love retelling the stories of Dave Wheeler, Cash Michaels, and Gruff. They were a pretty wild crew. They pushed the envelope on some of the pranks they were pulling on people.”
Tatro recalls a deejay calling someone and pretending they were from one of the veterinary clinics.
“I’m calling to tell you that the operation was a success. We neutered your dogs.” The dog owner was stunned to point out that the dogs were at the clinic for grooming.
“The poor guy went ballistic,” recalls Tatro, noting there have been some amazing radio personalities who have supported the community over the last 25 years.
A decade later
Tatro remembers on the 10th Anniversary, The Goat approached the Lions Club to collaborate on their fundraiser.
“We were able to bring in The Trews, Big Sugar, and Doug and the Slugs all on the same night. We had 2,800 people celebrating The Goat, as well as celebrating our Lions Border Bike Rally,” says Tatro. “It was a tremendous atmosphere. We were very thankful as a Lloydminster Lions Club that we were able to have The Goat come to us with the idea.”
The fundraiser was great for the Lions, reflects Tatro.
“All three groups were very well received.”
The Goat’s Christmas Wish
It has become a Christmas staple for The Goat’s listeners. In the lead-up to the holiday season, the station offers a lifeline to deserving families who may be going through a tough patch. Tatro was involved in the first act of generosity, which evolved over the years to become The Goat’s Christmas Wish.
“I just happened to ask Doug, who had recently had a stroke, if there was something that could be done,” says Tatro. “I found out recently that it has morphed into the Christmas Wish, which is how many years old?”
Two decades later, Tatro estimates nearly $1 million has been put back into the community through The Goat’s Christmas efforts.
“It’s always very interesting to listen to when they do the disbursement of funds in the week before Christmas, and how many people have been helped by that.”
While the fundraising is all year long, an independent committee meets separately to adjudicate from submitted recommendations and decides which families will be supported.
“The way they find the recipients is really thoughtful,” says Tatro.
Cheers to 25 years
Tatro is backing 106.1 The Goat as the station celebrates 25 years of broadcasting in the 21st century.
“Stew Dent and his wife Anita (original owners), for them to take the initiative – what a heart of the community they became. Tremendous community supporters. Stu Dent and the group that followed him. It’s been amazing to see some of the on-air personalities have advanced over the years. And where they are now in their lives and careers. Fantastic,” says Tatro as he salutes the station. “I’d like to wish The Goat another 125 years. Congratulations on the 25th anniversary.”
