Stephen Koch is a native of Arkansas County, graduate of
Arkansas State University, and a writer.

He is a research associate with the Butler Center for Arkansas
Studies and a committee member for the Center's Arkansas Music
Conference planned for this fall.

He is the author of Louis Jordan's biography in the University
of Arkansas Press' forthcoming "Arkansas Biography" and organizer
of the annual July 8 Louis Jordan Tribute held in downtown Little
Rock.  This event, entering it's fourth year, featured Jordan's 
widow, Martha, as guest of honor and was instrumental in getting
Jordan inducted into the newly opened Arkansas Entertainers
Hall of Fame in Pine Bluff in 1998.

Koch, whose byline appears as S. Koch, is a special projects 
editor at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, and his writing, 
photography and drawings have appeared in the "Arkansas
Times", "Arkansas Democrat-Gazette", "Memphis Flyer" and 
former Arkansas Secretary of State Bill McEuen's short-lived 
"Gaming Gazette", among other publications.

As a freelance writer he has traveled to Egypt, Turkey, Israel,
Nevis, the Abacos, Costa Rica and Holland.


His awards include:

Humorous Column, First Place 1996
Arkansas Press Association

Humorous Column, Second Place 1997
Arkansas Press Association

Humorous Column, Honorable Mention 1997
Arkansas Press Association

Best Reporter 1995
Little Rock Free Press Reader's Choice Awards

Woody Award for Environmental Reporting 1995
Sierra Club


As a 12-string guitarist and harmonicist, Koch has performed, albeit
irregularly, with a variety of Little Rock musicians including The
Noah Beerys, Brad Brown (Ho-Hum) and Dan Limke (Chapter 13), and on
a variety of Little Rock stages including Vino's, Whitewater Tavern,
Wabi-Sabi, Andina's, the River Market and Juanita's.  He writes his
own songs, but also highlights several artists in performance like 
Louis Jordan, Casey Bill Weldon and Johnny Cash.

In April, Koch spoke and performed at the Arkansas Historical 
Association's annual meeting in Pine Bluff, where he will present
his paper, "Mop!:  Louis Jordan, Cultural Homesteading and Arkansas'
Forgotten Legacy", to the AHA.

Keith was born near Chicago so he is an Arkansawyer by 
choice.  After graduating from Little Rock's Catholic 
High School he went on to earn a Bachelor of Science 
degree from Arkansas State University at Jonesboro.

He began his radio career as a rock 'n' roll disk
jockey and has worked off and on in radio for the 
thirteen years since doing stints at several Arkansas
radio stations and even working for a period as a radio 
newsman in Alaska. He currently works as morning news
anchor and assistant agri-business director for the 
statewide Texas State Networks following a stint as
a reporter and anchor at the Arkansas Radio Network
and top rated heritage station KARN AM/FM.  

His reports appear regularly on CBS News(radio) and have also 
been heard nationwide on AP Network News and National Public 
Radio.  He is a correspondent with the Arkansas Radio
Network and has apppeared as a guest 
on both the British Broadcasting Corporation 
and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation as well as 
on morning shows in Boston, Philadelphia, Toronto, 
Seattle, Houston, Denver and Oklahoma City.

Keith is an award winning reporter winning Associated Press 
awards for large market investigative reporting and continuing
coverage.  Most recently he won the National Association of 
Farm Broadcasters Horizon Award for the best up and coming
farm journalist in the South Region. 

In addition to his regular job he is beginning to find 
success as a freelance writer with pieces appearing in 
the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and the Little Rock Free Press.  

Keith is a research associate with the Butler 
Center for Arkansas Studies and serves on the committee 
for the Center's upcoming Arkansas Music Conference 
and was a featured speaker at the recent Louis Jordan 
Tribute held July 8th in Little Rock.