Burton “Burt” Harrison’s joined the WSU communications faculty in 1949 after kicking off his commercial broadcasting career as station manager of KSFT and KOKO in Colorado. During his 27 years at WSU, Harrison became one of public radio’s most influential spokesman and colorful personalities. He wrote thousands of radio scripts and his show, Literary Scrapbook, was distributed to nearly 50 stations. He also wrote for National Public Radio and was the writer-producer for 16 film and television documentaries. Harrison’s honors include Emporia State’s Alumni Achievement Award, 1977, and the Washington State Association of Broadcasters’ Broadcaster of the of the Year Award, 1987.

Harrison passed away January 22, 2004 in Centralia.