I came here out of college in late 1999, secretly living with my future wife and trying to get my professional life started. It was a happy accident that San Marcos is such an awesome place. The future Mrs. Garrett and I both knew it was something special.
Since then, I have bought two homes, opened a small business, coached baseball, attended birthdays, weddings, funerals and quinceañeras, gotten another degree, supported everything that all our kids do in our amazing San Marcos schools, and worked to build a good life in a great place. And now I am the current Board President of KZSM 104.1 FM and KZSM.org.
It is not in my nature to ask anyone for anything, which is probably how the station got into this predicament. We have used up the funds generously allocated to us by the city, the county, and the Burdine Johnson Foundation, and are now only a month or two away from silence. I focused on programming and building bridges between KZSM and the community, and now I see that I should have allocated more effort into the financials. I believe that hard work is rewarded, and I know that we have worked hard to make KZSM a radio station that truly represents San Marcos.
KZSM has been operating at the laughably low, FCC mandated 1 watt since taking over the 104.1 FM frequency in November 2023. This 1W is temporary, and getting KZSM’s fully approved 100W broadcasting capabilities across the airwaves of our greater San Marcos community is the ultimate goal of my three-year KZSM stewardship. We are getting closer to this goal, and it will not be long before you will hear KZSM 104.1 from Stairtown going west to Hugo Road.
So, what do you think? KZSM 104.1 FM/ KZSM.org needs your financial support, and San Marcos needs KZSM. It will be a shame if we allow this radio station to die because we are just starting to show what we bring to the community. If you believe local radio is a vital component to our bustling community, which is located in one of the fastest growing counties in the U.S., then go to our website, find the donate button and help us now. You may also send a check to 216 North Guadalupe or underwrite a show or sponsor an event. We appreciate it.
