Indiana Broadcast History Archive

Photo Courtesy of Indiana Broadcast Pioneers

Terre Haute’s George Arthur Foulkes was born in 1920 and made several notable contributions to broadcasting during his career. He worked at three different Indiana radio stations before he bought a station in Terre Haute, WAAC, and ran it the rest of his life. 

Foulkes's love for broadcasting began when he went to Terre Haute Wiley High School and participated in local radio programs. He served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during World War II. After the war, Foulkes attended Indiana State Teachers College (now Indiana State University) where he took courses in radio and speech. While at college he also worked part-time at WTHI (AM) Terre Haute.  

Foulkes graduated in 1948 and first worked as a salesman for H.J. Heinz Company. In 1950 he worked for WITZ (AM) in Jasper, Indiana as a regional salesman. In 1952 he worked for WTHI on the sales staff. He also briefly worked at WILO (AM) in 1954 in Frankfort Indiana as a manager. When WILO was sold, he returned to WTHI, which became WTHI-AM-TV, where he continued to be promoted to sales executive jobs until 1956 when he became the National Sales Manager, General Sales Manager in 1959, and Vice President in Charge of Sales in 1961.  

Foulkes left WTHI in 1962 and purchased WMFT (AM), Terre Haute, in 1963 and changed the call letters to WAAC. Foulkes and his family worked diligently to improve WAAC and in two years it became a top station in Terre Haute. He created programs for WAAC such as Eye in the Sky traffic reports, Dial for Information, Speak Out and daily editorials.  

 He also served as the Director of the Daytime Broadcasters Association, a group of daytime-only AM stations that signed off each evening at sunset to avoid interference with other stations.  Foulkes was also involved in the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), the CBS Radio Affiliates Board, and Vice President of the Indiana Broadcasters Association. 

Foulkes passed away in 1977 at the age of 52. At the time of his death, he was serving as President and General Manager of WAAC Radio in Terre Haute. In 1981 Foulkes was inducted into the Indiana Broadcast Hall of Fame.

January 2025 

Katherine Maners