Oklahoma Broadcasting Pioneer Dies

Bill Thrash, a man who helped shape programming and educational television in Oklahoma for more than five decades, died July 15 at the age of 73.

Thrash was an Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame member. He began his television career in 1955 at KTEN in Ada when he was still in high school. He later worked at KOCO and KFOR. In 1988, he joined OETA where he produced Oklahoma Passage, a five-hour mini-series on Oklahoma's heritage that became the most-watched television special event in OETA history.

Thrash died after a long battle with cancer. Arrangements are being made for a service to honor him.