BILLY PURL (HAROLD GLEN MARTIN) REMEMBERS:
The highlight of my broadcasting career was the year I spent working on-air at the infamous Blow-Torch Border Blaster, XERF in Acuna, Mexico, former home of the legendary Wolfman Jack. The station was known as the most powerful station in the world.
I was paid $500 a week in American dollars; the rate of exchange at the time was 250 pesos per dollar; a T-bone cost a dollar and a cold beer was a dime. To my knowledge, I was the last live American jock to actually broadcast from one of the world's first 'pirate' radio stations.
XERF was powered by four 50,000 watt transmitters and our signal was heard around the world. The station engineers would often entertain the tourists who stopped by. They would hold florescent bulbs as far as 50 yards away from the massive antennae. They would light up like a hot pinball machine.
Across the Rio Grande from Acuna stands a monument honoring Bob Smith/Wolfman Jack, who was, in my opinion, the greatest radio entertainer of all time. My XERF Gold Satin jacket was donated to the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of fame in Cleveland and hangs in the Border Radio exhibit.
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