In 2020 Thunderbolt Broadcasting is celebrating three local radio personalities who’ve logged thousands of hours on the radio here in the Ken Tenn area. Jim Adcock has been in radio for 55 years, Terry Hailey for 53 years and Paul Tinkle 50 years. The three combine for 158 years working in local radio!

Jim AdcockJim Adcock, who began his broadcast career in 1965, got the “radio bug“ at the age of 14 when he won a record by answering a trivia question at a radio station. He was fascinated with seeing the announcer on air and two years later found himself behind the microphone as a deejay and later as a newsman and now a successful marketing representative.


Terry HaileyTerry Hailey became “hooked on radio” at the age of 13 when he began his love of music. He played in a rock band also made the afternoon announcements on his school’s PA system. In 1967 Terry became a deejay at age of 16 in Dyersburg and later became a music and program director, general manager and radio owner.

Hailey, who serves as Mayor of Union City and Tinkle both have been chairman of the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters and both have honored with the Tennessee Association of Broadcaster’s Distinguished Service Award. Tinkle was inducted into the Tennessee Journalism Hall of Fame this past year and has served on the National Association of Broadcasters Radio board.


Paul TinklePaul Tinkle’s interest in radio began at the age of nine when he was “keying up” the microphone on his grandfather’s CB radio. He began his career in Martin in 1970 and been a deejay, news director, play by play broadcaster, general manager and now radio owner. All three teens had to pass a rigorous Federal Communications Commission test to be “on the air” and had to learn how to take transmitter readings.


Today all three are working with the Thunderbolt Radio family. Adcock is a marketing representative with KYTN and WQAK, Hailey serves as programming and on air advisor for Mix 101.3 and Star 95.1 while Tinkle is president of Thunderbolt. Tinkle and Hailey remain on air each morning on “WCMT’s Good Times in the Morning.”

Thunderbolt is also pleased to recognize Cindy Prince who is beginning her 41st year in broadcasting. Mrs. Prince began her career in radio immediately after high school in 1979 as the office and commercial manager for the Martin offices of Thunderbolt Broadcasting. She is the longest employed member of the Thunderbolt family.

Thunderbolt Broadcasting is a locally owned company with studios in Martin and Union City. Stations include “Talk and News You Can Use” 1410 WCMT which rebroadcasts on 92.7, 96.1, 99.7, 100.5 and 103.3 FM. Thunderbolt also owns Mix 101.3 WCMT FM, Star 95.1 WCDZ FM , Country 104.9 KYTN and 105.7 The Quake WQAK.

Thunderbolt is pleased to be an Obion County Chamber member and is a past recipient of the chamber’s “You Made it Happen Award.” Their locally owned radio stations keep the communities it serves in touch each day with a rich tradition of local news and high school sports and is a partner in many community events. It also provides businesses with marketing opportunities including “over the air” and “digital” with thunderboltradio.com.