Rudy Tellez(1930-2008)

Best known as a producer on the Tonight Show in the late 60's. He earned two Emmy award nominations during his four-year Tonight Show tenure. He attended Texas Western University and graduated with a master's degree in English. He began his broadcasting career as a producer and on-air personality at El Paso radio station KTSM. Tellez created and produced the controversial talk show "The Les Crane Show" in the early 60s in San Francisco for KKGO. In his television career, he created and helped create such programs as the "Tomorrow Show," "The Wacky World Of Jonathan Winters," and "The Battle Of The Network Stars" In the latter phase of his career, Mr. Tellez and his wife, Tenaya Torres-Tellez, were part owners and on-air personalities on KASK in Las Cruces. He died November 2, 2008 in Albuquerque, NM after a long struggle following a major stroke in 2002.