KTIM Founder Retiring; LG’s Chowdory Named Successor

Nine years after building and launching Fayette County’s 5,000-watt Non-Commercial Community Radio Station, KTIM-FM 89.1, and associated Video Broadcasting Service, Managing Director John Askins has announced his retirement and the selection of his successor, Caleb Chowdory, formally the station’s Director of Operations for the past two years.

“As we reached the end of our 2023-24 prep broadcast calendar, it seemed the perfect time to pass the torch to the next generation of broadcasters. After a career of over 45 years in collegiate athletics, my wife, Brenda, and I were happily retired nine years ago. But fate stepped in and got us both involved, saving this project and getting ‘K-TIMe’ on the air. We’ve been amazed by its growth and how it’s become such a tremendous asset for La Grange and Fayette County, especially gratifying to see our vision begin with nothing and become a reality,” Mr. and Mrs. Askins stepped in to save the FCC license before it was abandoned and lost forever. A group from Austin had initially won the permit, but found little traction in their hopes of building out the project.

“When the FCC awards a license, you have five years to get the station on the air. I found out that after three and a half years they were stuck and planned to let the permit expire. Here was an opportunity for our community to have a radio beacon that covers Fayette County, in addition to parts of five surrounding counties. That was an opportunity that I saw as too good to just let vanish,” said Askins.

With so little time before the FCC expiration date, there was no time to build community support the traditional way. So, Askins took on the responsibility of getting the station built himself.

“The usual process is that you meet with community members, build a consensus, begin a fund-raising effort, and slowly secure and purchase the infrastructure needed,’ said Askins. “But with so little time left, I made the decision to secure the license from Austin Airwaves, then purchase the hard assets, the transmitter, the antenna, the studio location and all the support items myself.”

“So, what we were left with, the license was held by our 501(c)(3) entity, Texas Independent Media, with myself privately owning all the hard assets.”

When the time came to consider his retirement again, this made the transition fairly easy.

Mr. and Mrs. Askins agreed to sell these assets to Mr. Chowdory, then in a minor change, at the last Texas Independent Media board meeting on June 6, Mr. Askins and his son Michael Redding, agreed to resign from the board simultaneously, as Mr. Chowdory and his father, Assad Chowdory, were elected new members.

The present board moving forward consists of those two, in addition to, holdovers Lee Fritsch and Brenda Askins.

“Part of our mission statement calls for the education and providing opportunities for people in the community, and this certainly stays true to that part of it,” said Mrs. Askins.

A graduate of La Grange High School and Blinn College- Schulenburg, Caleb Chowdory voiced his enthusiasm after assuming his new role as Managing Director.

“It’s a lot to take in, but I’m pretty excited about the future, the next chapter that we’ll be taking on here at K-TIMe. And I’m excited for the volunteers behind me, to help make this all happen,’ said Chowdory. “First and foremost, we will address underwriting, getting people on board to help us get the 2024-25 season on and make it better than the last.”

“Certainly of all the students and volunteers we have recruited over the years, Caleb stood out and made the most of his opportunity. I’m very proud of him and he’s most deserving of this next chapter in his career and the future of KTIM,” said Askins.

In its 7th year on the air, KTIM-FM has been chosen as Fayette County’s Best Radio Station by the readers of the Fayette County Record for the past three years.