John Sims
I have great, blessed memories of my mentor and friend H.S.(Harry) Waterhouse. Harry taught me good radio technique and patiently molded me into the "radio man" I eventually became. Harry believed fervently that we should be "Communicating for the Coming King, and he was a great communicator of that truth.
After Steve Francis graduated from CBC, I was selected by Harry to be the basketball play by play announcer of the Calvary Warriors team. Harry was the color commentator. When the game would get exciting and I became a partisan instead of an objective reporter, Harry would give a grin and a look that communicated what I needed to hear without saying a word.
Harry always told me he regretted not having more technical knowledge and training, which motivated me in future radio ministries to learn all I could technically and be willing to learn by doing. My mind today goes to the KLJC "staff meetings" that would be held at the Waterhouse domicile on Sunday evenings after Church. Some how I ended up playing Scrabble with NJ (Mrs Waterhouse) on one such night. We had some great matches and I still laugh when I think of one word she used to win the match after telling me I could not tell anyone she used that word!
Harry invested his life into so many of us who went on to full time ministry in Christian radio. Men like Justin(Rusty)Dix, John Maher, Barry Potter and Dan Webster and many others come to mind. Harry famously gave a final test which required writing in a blue book what I would do when I was named Manager of a new Christian radio station somewhere in the world. We all wrote feverishly in our blue books and were instructed to pick up an envelope from the desk that had our name inscribed. When the envelope was opened, we were admonished that good radio people do not let others know what is actually going on in the studio, especially when things were rapidly falling apart. so the note inside told us not to react, but the test we had just taken had no impact on our final grade (which he had already figured) but would have a great impact on our future ministry. I used the things Harry taught me in that class when I put KFSI in Rochester MN on the air several years later. I also borrowed that technique from Harry when years later I taught that same class to my students at CBC. Some of my former students still remind me of that final test and laugh with me about it now.
I will readily admit I was devastated when Harry announced in the CBC Chapel that he was resigning from CBC and KLJC at the end of the semester. I went into the library and found my Pastor's wife (Janet Dix) and had a good cry over Calvary's loss of Harry Waterhouse. I am thankful for Harry's ministry and investment in my life and ministry. I know at times I frustrated him, yet he still loved me and prayed for God's best for me. Harry would be taking his RED editors pencil to this recollection to shorten it, I'm sure!
Today I bless Harry's memory and thank God for making me a student of Mr Waterhouse. Thank you Harry for modeling a Godly Radio Man for me. And thank you for teaching us all to advance the Knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Tuesday November 14, 2017 at 2:36 pm