KLBJ-A/Austin Fixture Cactus Pryor Dead At 88

Cactus

RICHARD "CACTUS" PRYOR, the longtime AUSTIN, TX radio and TV personality heard for several decades on KLBJ-A/AUSTIN, died TUESDAY (8/30) in AUSTIN at 88.  He had been battling Alzheimer's disease and had recently suffered a fall.

PRYOR joined KLBJ (then KTBC-A) during WORLD WAR II and hosted, anchored the news, and served as PD, adding work at sister KTBC-TV both on the air and as program manager when that station signed on in 1951.  PRYOR's humorous, folksy commentaries with the signature nonsense signoff "Thermostrocka Mortimer" aired regularly on KLBJ until 2008.  

He also appeared in the JOHN WAYNE movies "Hellfighters" and "The Green Berets" and co-hosted former UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS football coach DARRELL ROYAL's show on KTBC-TV.  His son DON PRYOR is midday traffic reporter, commentator, and former morning co-host on KLBJ, and another son, PAUL PRYOR, worked at KLBJ-A and KVET.

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