TEX
JUSTUS Tex
Justus (born Olus William Justus Thurman TX) has been
called king of the 1940’s Owensboro KY tri-state
dance circuit and later became a longtime Boonville
IN air personality. Inspired by a meeting with Jimmie
Rogers he taught himself to play guitar and began singing
professionally in 1936. Justus made his radio debut
as a singer on WLAP Louisville KY, where he was nicknamed
Tex, and soon he was appearing with Mary Martin on
an NBC network series sponsored by Crazy Water Crystals,
a health potion made from boiled mineral waters. He
then performed on stations in Lexington KY where he
formed the Texas Cowboys a dance band that played in
a style similar to Bob Wills, before joining WOMI Owensboro
KY on April 21, 1939 with a six day a week half hour
of live music show. He was invited to join the Renfro
Valley Barn Dance and The Grand Ole Opry, primarily
as an announcer, but turned them both down because
he preferred to stay in Owensboro. In 1947, Justus
finally left that town to broadcast on WGBF Evansville.
In 1951 he went to WBNL Boonville IN as disc jockey
for a morning Country show and remained in that slot
for thirty years. He was twice named Mr. D J USA by
WSM radio and was a charter member of the Country Music
Association. Tex Justus was inducted into the Country
Music D J Hall of Fame in 1988.
