HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Twelve years ago, Oct. 1, 2002, Bob Schmidt—Eagle Owner—sold controlling interest of Eagle to Employee-Owners.

In 2012, Employee-Owners purchased the final block of stock from Bob, giving them 100 percent ownership of the company. Eagle Communications employees in four different states—Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri and Colorado—celebrate Oct. 1st as Bob Schmidt Day in honor of the former owner who passed down ownership to his employees. Schmidt started the process in 1998 by transferring ownership of the company to 116 of his faithful employees through an Employee Stock Ownership Program. In 2002, employees became majority owners of the company.

Hutchinson employees of My 93.1, “Hutchinson’s Number 1 Hit Music Station,” Country 102.9, “Hutchinson’s Country Station” and KWBW 1450 AM/ 98.5 FM, “Where Hutchinson Comes to Talk,” celebrated the event with cupcakes.

Eagle Communications owns and operates 28 radio stations in Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska; and 59 cable systems in Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado.