Buddy Bostick

M. N. Bostick, known since childhood as “Buddy,” was born May 18, 1918, east of Moody, in the Liberty Hill community in McLennan County, Texas. He was the son of Veda Welborn Bostick and Seth Pendleton Bostick. He passed away at St. Catherine’s Center on January 4, 2017. Bostick graduated from Moody High School and entered Baylor University. He treasured his Baylor education and the relationship he had with then president, Governor Pat Neff. During his college years, he began announcing on WACO Radio and imagining the day that he would have his own station. At the beginning of his junior year, he met a new Baylor transfer, Virginia Muller; they married in the fall of 1939, following their graduations. After working as a radio announcer in Memphis, Tennessee, Little Rock, Arkansas, and then in Dallas, Texas, he entered the United States Army. He became a part of the Army Air Corps and eventually trained as a fighter pilot. He was ready to fly the P51 Mustang into battle just as the war ended. He later purchased a P51 from the Canadian Air Force, refitted it as a private plane with a passenger seat, and had a joyous era flying and showing off his plane to anyone who might be interested—and there were many. Upon his return following WWII, he continued to pursue his goal of having his own radio station. He learned of a group of local men who had become business associates with Governor Buford Jester and were pursuing a license for a station in Waco. He landed the job of manager of that station, which he put on the air in 1946. The studios were located at 508 ½ South Sixth St. In 1952, he built new studios at 4520 Bosque Blvd, and in 1955, he competed and was successful in obtaining a license for KWTX-TV, Channel 10, to serve the Waco television market. He next added KBTX-TV in Bryan/College Station in 1957. After that he added KNAL radio in Victoria, Texas, KWTX-FM radio, KXII-TV in Sherman-Dennison, Texas, and KLFY-TV in Lafayette, Louisiana. In 1976, Bostick and W. W. Callan bought controlling interest in the Bellmead State Bank, changing its name to American Bank. They were later approved for a branch bank on the west side of Waco and built the American Plaza Building, with the American Bank occupying the first floor. When he was not working, he was striving to perfect new skills. He loved to snow ski, practicing diligently to execute all the basics as well as he possibly could. He loved fly fishing in Colorado, tying his own flies and aiming to land the trout with finesse. He became an avid bow hunter, practicing many hours so that he would be ready for the big moment. He loved quail hunting, and raising and training his own hunting dogs. His first love remained flying, piloting his King Air until the age of ninety. His sister, Mildred Brinegar, predeceased him on December 23, 2016. Virginia predeceased him in May of 2014, and they are survived by their two daughters and their families: Ellen Deaver and husband, Ray, and Martha Phipps and husband, Jim; their grandchildren, Kyle Deaver and wife, Diane, John Deaver and wife, Karina, Jenny Powers and husband, Roy, and JB Phipps and wife, Leisha; and their great grandchildren, Nick Deaver and wife, Anna-Louise, Morgan Snyder and husband, Scott, Alexandra Deaver, Ryan Powers, Connor Powers, and Wesley Phipps. The family extends special gratitude to Deborah Harrington for her faithfulness and care for him during the past two years. There will be a private graveside service at Moody Cemetery. Should anyone wish to send a memorial, the family requests that such be sent to one’s charity of choice. The family invites you to leave a message or memory on our “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com.