The Gentle Musers- the affectionate name for the morning drive radio sportscasters on KTCK 1310 AM "The Ticket". George Dunham makes up one half of this dynamic duo. The term fits very appropriately the easy going fun-- loving attitudes of Dunham and his whole family. George, Kelly, his wife, and Brent and Blake, their two sons, have planted roots and live out their American dream right here in the North Dallas suburb of Coppell.

George has had an interesting set of life experiences. From his early youth playing ice hockey on frozen ponds in Chicago, to growing up outside Marble Falls, TX in a golfer's paradise called Horseshoe Bay. George has been able to experience life as a youth from two completely different perspectives.

Now as a father of two,George enjoys life more now than ever. His involvement as a coach of his kids' teams keeps him occupied on most weekends while (I very successful morning talk-radio show, in probably the most competitive talk radio market, challenges him daily during the week-- if any one has the right to talk 'life smack', Dunham qualifies.

YST: Tell us about where you grew up.
"I was born in San Antonio and then my dad was transferred to Minnesota and then to Wheaten, Illinois...it's what you would imagine Middle America to be. Although I love Texas, growing up in the midwest was a great experience. You've got basements, snow in the winter, frozen ponds where you skate in the winter time, and swimming in the summer; you truly experience all four seasons. "

YST: What were your family experiences like up there?
"I'm the youngest of five kids: I'm like an only child, because all of my siblings are at least 10 years older than myself. By the time I was old enough to appreciate them, they were off at college and I was pretty much the only one at home. "

YST: What was it like being an only child the majority of the time?
"The holidays were my favorite times because everybody came home. My greatest memories of childhood were Christmas, Thanksgiving and summer when my brothers and sisters came home. I always missed them when they were away at college... since we were from Texas most of them went to college in Texas; Baylor, UTA, my oldest sister went to Iowa State. My brother Rick, who was my sports hero, was a swimmer at UTA. He actually coached the youth swim team that I was on. I thought that was the greatest. I'm still close to my brothers and sisters. "

YST: Are your parents still alive ?
"Yes, they live in Carrollton. Dad plays a lot of golf now that he's retired. He was in commercial roofing with WR Grace Corp., and they transferred him when I was a kid from San Antonio to Minneapolis. Then he went with another company that was based in Chicago. We were anxious to get back to Texas, so he became a consultant and we moved to Horseshoe Bay. Then during my sophomore year in high school, we moved to Farmers Branch. "

YST: Who was the most positive influence in your life?
"My mom and dad. I hate to single out one parent. My mom was good...she taught me patience and to be fair to others. Dad taught discipline... he was a U.S. Marine Pilot in W.W.II. So you didn't want to cross him. I always had a lot of respect for him. I think both of them were great role models. I hope I can be half the role model to my kids that they were to me. "

YST: Can you recall a 'not so fond' childhood memory ?
"Playing the violin... it was the worst. I got decent at it and took private lessons, but would rather be out playing football. I rarely play it now, the kids usually tell me to put it up. "

YST: How were your with academics growing up?
"Very average. I was good at subjects that I was interested in, like history. I don't think I would have made it through college if it wasn't for my wife. We took some classes together and she helped tutor me. I wasn't very good in school. It just never came easy. "

YST: Tell us about how you and Kelly met.
"We met at North Texas, a baseball game our freshman year. She didn't want to have anything to do with me for two years. We started seeing a lot of each other our junior year. Kelly: We first met at a fraternity party and then again at a baseball game. A friend of ours introduced us... I remember thinking "well, he's kinda cute". "

YST: Tell us about that first big date.
"It was funny.., we were friends and wanted to go out. For some reason she thought it was important for her parents to come along. We met at the Anatole and danced. We had a great time and after that I knew I wanted to spend a lot more time with her. It was a great first date. Kelly: We had been good friends before we went out. It was important to me that our first 'official' date was special. I really wanted my parents to meet him, since they had heard so much about him. So we went dancing with my parents at the Anatole and had a great time. "

YST: Did your future father-in-law drill you on what your career aspirations were?
"No. I was going to the Cowboys vs. Giants game the next day and I think we talked Cowboys and Danny White. Both sets of parents were very supportive on our marriage. As for my current career choice, I think there was some hesitation on my parents part and probably on my own. I can't think of a job that has more uncertainty. I was real fortunate to get an opportunity in a big market. It was what I wanted to do so they supported me on it. "

YST: Is sports broadcasting what you wanted to do as a profession all along?
"No, actually I thought I would work for my dad and be a roofer, but there is way too much math involved. I loved sports growing up. I used to do Howard Cosell and Keith Jackson impersonations. I loved Pat Summeral and Tom Brockshire. I used to listen to Verne Lunquist calling the Cowboy's games. I was told to go to bed at half time during Monday night football and I would take my transistor radio with me and listen to the second half and fall asleep to it. I never thought about broadcasting as a career until college."

YST: When was your first time on the radio ?
"A Monday morning sports cast. All I had to do was run down the NFL scores of the day and whatever was going on at North Texas. I thought that I was pretty good. Now I go over my old tapes and think, "how did those ever go on the air". Later Craig and I started a sports show on Monday night, called Sport Line. It was a great way to learn how to become a sports broadcaster."

YST: What was your career path after you graduated?
"Graduated in May of '88. My wife and I were headed to Brenhan, TX, for a job that was still up in the air. I heard KRLD had an opening... Craig Way was kind enough to recommend me for the job. Any success I have in broadcasting I owe to Brad Sham, he took a chance on me. A great day for me was June 26, 1988...my first sportscast on KRLD. It was what really got me started. In the fall of '89, little over a year later, Lance Brown left as the Sports Broadcaster at TSN. I was really torn because I wanted to keep working under Brad at KRLD but TSN offered me a chance to go over there to do the Cowboys half time show. That is what I did all the way up till the TICKET; November of '93."

YST: How much was Brad involved in your initial training ?
"I owe a lot to Brad. He gave me some strong advice... "Quit making so many mistakes." He really paid attention to detail. His meticulous critiques helped out a lot, but it was not easy. He was like a coach in a lot of ways; he was a great one. "

YST: How was it, those first few months at the Ticket?
"Oh, the glory days at the little TICKET. We have been able to come a long way. Those first couple of months on the air.... We had fun; I think those people who listened to us had fun, but behind the scenes we were just getting going. I guess it proves that sometimes risks do pay off. At some point someone said, "You have to take a risk to do something great." I guess we did. Yeah, those first days were wild."

YST: Tell us about your kids.
"Brent, 10, and Blake, 6, are quite different. Brent really pays attention to detail. I think he has a photographic memory. He is able to remember stats and facts, just unbelievable. Brent has always been fascinated with sports from a very young age. He's a pitcher and point guard...always with a ball in his hands. Blake is a soccer player. He's a little more laid back. He plays basketball and he's a good little baseball player. He's able to play with his brother and his brother's older friends. Blake's more artistic.. drawing. A little more verbal. Kelly: Brent is very analytical. He enjoys learning facts about any subject. Math is his favorite class. He loves playing sports-- especially basketball and baseball. He has a great sense of humor. Blake is adventuresome. He enjoys the outdoors and learning about nature. He's very creative. He also likes to play basketball, soccer and baseball. "

YST: What do ya'll do as a family for fun ?
"We go to movies. When the weather is a little nicer, we like to go to the park on a picnic. We make sporting events a family project. When we can, we try to go to the local high school games. A lot of the things that we end up doing as a family are youth sports. When Brent is playing in a baseball game, that makes our day and then we build off that. We like to have our relatives come out to the games with us and enjoy the whole day. "

YST: Can you describe the perfect family day ?
Kelly: "First, we would all wake up and have breakfast together. Then we would enjoy a day at home..going for walks, playing outside, renting movies. With George's early morning schedule, that doesn't happen often. "

YST: What sports did you participate in growing up?
"I swam competitively for six years. While I didn't play organized little league baseball or football, man we had some games in my old neighborhood. I think that is one thing kids miss out on today... pick-up games. In jr. high I got into football for three years. My sophomore year in high school, I switched to golf. "

YST: Do you remember a coach, as a youth, that had a positive influence on you?
"Coach Saucier, he was our eighth grade football coach in Llano. He was TEXAN. He had all the mannerisms and 'coach speak'. He taught us a lot about responsibility. If you left something out of your locker and you didn't have it the next day, you knew where it was. It was in his office and the only way to get it back was to take a paddling. He was a good man. Also Ned Voclous, my swim coach. I wanted to be a real good swimmer, like my brother Rick. But I was not real comfortable with the water yet. In my first meet, I had to swim 25 yards free style. Pretty easy. The one thing that I didn't know, was how to breath. I started out great... had the lead for the first half. But slowly everyone passed me, because I hadn't taken a breath. I finished last place, but I was thrilled that I had even finished. After the meet, Coach Voclous came up and gave me a ribbon. He said, "I know you did your best, here you go." I knew I was a swimmer then. That really encouraged me. I'll never forget it."

YST: What qualities do you think a good youth coach should possess ?
"Patience, you gotta have it. There's an art to it. It's hard to separate your emotions for your child. You got to like being around kids. I'm lucky enough to be able to coach baseball, basketball and soccer for my boys. "

YST: What do you think is the best thing that a child can gain from playing youth sports?
"Confidence and self esteem. Like the ribbon from coach Voclous, I can't tell you how much self-esteem that gave me. I see that same kind of confidence being built up in some of the players that I've coached. It might not be anything athletically, it may just be socially.., in how they carry themselves. Kelly: The confidence gained from being part of a team."

YST: What advice can you give a child or parent involved in youth sports ?
"Just enjoy what you have. Always play the sport because you want to play and it's fun. I think sports mirrors life in a lot of ways."

YST: If you could really excel in any one sport, what would that be?
"Golf or football. Would I rather make a putt and win the US Open or would I rather be in the Superbowl? That's a hard one. "