How Gates Went From Local Radio Hero to Forgotten Broadcast Brand

Before local radio became automated, corporate, and hidden behind computer screens, Gates built the machines that kept American towns on the air — heavy transmitters, glowing tubes, audio consoles, and studio equipment trusted by engineers through storms, blackouts, and overnight shifts. From a small factory in Quincy, Illinois, Gates helped give thousands of local stations their voice. But when broadcasting moved from community control rooms to corporate spreadsheets, one of the most trusted names in radio slowly vanished from the front panel. #GatesRadio #BroadcastHistory #AMTransmitter