|  Jim
Thurman
James E. Thurman, Jr., grew up in St. Petersburg
listening to the heyday years of WLCY, WFSO, and WCWR. In
1970, as a ninth grader at Shorecrest School, he launched JET
Enterprises , a small agency booking local bands for junior
and senior high dances and parties. The same year, Jim
met WCWR dj Billy Shannon (Bill Morejon), who invited him to
sit in on a few shows at "The Boss of The Bay." Inspired by Billy
and the other Boss Jocks, Jim was determined to be more than
just an observer. In 1973, Jim left to attend Principia
College, just outside of St. Louis, quickly joined the college
station, WTPC-FM, as a dj and soon became station manager.
Returning home to St. Petersburg for summer
vacation 1974, Jim was hired by the legendary Scott Owens at
WILZ "Z-16 … Your Rock 'n Roll Mother." In keeping with WILZ's "on
the beach" theme, Jim adopted the air name "Jim Redington," and
was also known on occasion as "Jimmy The Jet." At WILZ,
Jim worked with some well-known Tampa Bay air personalities that
he'd met during the WCWR days … "The Great Scott" Owens, Uncle
Frank Scott (the late George Gainey), station manager Christopher
Wayne (Mel Tinney), along with David Allison, and Dave Wright
(from WGTO).
Jim's radio days were a fun and meaningful
part of his life, eventually leading to a career as a partner
in an advertising agency in Newport Beach, California. Jim
and his family returned to St. Petersburg in 1997, to pursue
his goal of devoting his full time to the healing practice of
Christian Science.
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