VBL lost one of our long-time Modesto members, Cal Purviance, on January 23rd at the Alexander Cohen Hospice House in Hughson at age 90. Cal had been ill for several months and had recently undergone surgery for prostate cancer.

Cal had a remarkable 31-year career at the same radio station, KTRB, where he mixed music, weather, news, and human interest stories as host of the morning show. Cal's wife, Betty, recalls constantly hearing people say that they were "out milking the cows and listening to Cal."

A native of Exeter (Tulare County), Cal was a World War II vet, leaving the Navy in 1947 as a radio man first class.

As a hardworking community volunteer, he was named "Mr. Modesto" by the City Council in 1970. He chaired the city's Fourth of July celebration for 20 years, produced/emceed the "Miss Modesto" pageant. He was Kiwanis Club president, on the Modesto Planning Commission, and a Methodist lay leader.

Cal retired from broadcasting in 1990 after serving as operations manager for KTRB/KHOP. Cal and Betty traveled extensively, visiting 39 states and five Canadian provinces during a three-month trip in a Nissan Pathfinder.

Fellow VBL member Bob Lang says, "Cal gave me my first job in radio in 1969. He and Betty have been good friends to me and I'll miss him very much."

Cal is survived by his wife, sons Gregg Purviance, Brad Zais and Craig Zais, and daughters Vann Nichelini and Laurie Henson.

VBL thanks Cal's family, Kevin Valine of the Modesto Bee, and Bob Lang for their contributions to this tribute.