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Photos by Tessa Kolodny
April 15, 2024
Jud Ashmore joins Bandera County Centenarian Club
The Bandera County Historical Commission
Contributed
Say hello to the newest member of the Centenarian Club, local Banderian Jud "Hug Someone" Ashmore, 100 years young! Jud was born on April 11, 1924, in Oakford, IL.
When his mom passed in May 1940 and his father was away working in Alaska, he dropped out of high school and decided to ride the rails to see the Pacific coast. He learned the life of a Hobo and was only arrested twice for vagrancy. He did make it to the Pacific coast, and in June 1940, started his way back to Illinois to finish high school.
In June of 1943, he was drafted into the Navy for the duration of WW2. In 1946, he started college at University of Illinois using his GI Bill and graduated in 1950. In that same year, he joined the USAF and was sent to Officers Training School in San Antonio. He was commissioned as 2nd Lt. in 1950. He received orders for for Korea in 1953, but the war there was beginning to wind down, so he was sent to Japan for three years starting in 1953.
In 1957, the Air Force sent him to the University of Utah's school of Meteorology and then was promoted to Capt. He was assigned to the 303rd Bomb Wing as Weather Officer in 1958. From 1964-1968, he was assigned to HQ of the Air Weather Service Detachments but there wasn't enough excitement at this position so Jud opted to retire as a Lt. Col.
In 1968, he was hired as the KSAT Weatherman in San Antonio. In 1970, he was hired by TV NBC WFBM, and in 1972 took a job with NBC San Francisco. Jud was not happy in San Francisco and took the first opportunity to work back in San Antonio at KENS 5. In 1974, he was fired by KENS 5 for a comment he made, so he walked down the street to KSAT and was rehired the same day, and did the show that afternoon.
Doing the show on Channel 12 took very little time, so he went to KBUC radio and asked for a job doing the weather. He told KBUC he would work for them three months with no pay and then $50 per week if it worked out. Three months later, he and Ricky Ware had top ratings. Eleven years later, after doing late night TV and early morning radio, the station was sold. Jud changed stations to WOAI and continued for 10 more years before quitting TV.
"If I had it to do over again I wouldn't change a thing, if I'm hired tomorrow I'll take it. My father was right. Go to work. Pay your bills. Keep your word,” he said.
Jud had his 100th birthday party at the Pipe Creek Dancehall, and was interviewed by KENS 5 Weatherman Bill Taylor. Broadcast will hopefully be on KENS 5 on Monday or Tuesday, April 15 or 16. He was also honored by the Society of San Antonio Broadcasters at the OST on his actual birthday.
When his mom passed in May 1940 and his father was away working in Alaska, he dropped out of high school and decided to ride the rails to see the Pacific coast. He learned the life of a Hobo and was only arrested twice for vagrancy. He did make it to the Pacific coast, and in June 1940, started his way back to Illinois to finish high school.
In June of 1943, he was drafted into the Navy for the duration of WW2. In 1946, he started college at University of Illinois using his GI Bill and graduated in 1950. In that same year, he joined the USAF and was sent to Officers Training School in San Antonio. He was commissioned as 2nd Lt. in 1950. He received orders for for Korea in 1953, but the war there was beginning to wind down, so he was sent to Japan for three years starting in 1953.
In 1957, the Air Force sent him to the University of Utah's school of Meteorology and then was promoted to Capt. He was assigned to the 303rd Bomb Wing as Weather Officer in 1958. From 1964-1968, he was assigned to HQ of the Air Weather Service Detachments but there wasn't enough excitement at this position so Jud opted to retire as a Lt. Col.
In 1968, he was hired as the KSAT Weatherman in San Antonio. In 1970, he was hired by TV NBC WFBM, and in 1972 took a job with NBC San Francisco. Jud was not happy in San Francisco and took the first opportunity to work back in San Antonio at KENS 5. In 1974, he was fired by KENS 5 for a comment he made, so he walked down the street to KSAT and was rehired the same day, and did the show that afternoon.
Doing the show on Channel 12 took very little time, so he went to KBUC radio and asked for a job doing the weather. He told KBUC he would work for them three months with no pay and then $50 per week if it worked out. Three months later, he and Ricky Ware had top ratings. Eleven years later, after doing late night TV and early morning radio, the station was sold. Jud changed stations to WOAI and continued for 10 more years before quitting TV.
"If I had it to do over again I wouldn't change a thing, if I'm hired tomorrow I'll take it. My father was right. Go to work. Pay your bills. Keep your word,” he said.
Jud had his 100th birthday party at the Pipe Creek Dancehall, and was interviewed by KENS 5 Weatherman Bill Taylor. Broadcast will hopefully be on KENS 5 on Monday or Tuesday, April 15 or 16. He was also honored by the Society of San Antonio Broadcasters at the OST on his actual birthday.