Almost all immigrants settling in the United States struggled to overcome a common barrier: Lack of an adequate knowledge of the English language. But an estimated 15,000 Portuguese migrants who settled in the Turlock and Stanislaus County area in the early 1900's were able to hear a familiar voice on radio daily, bringing them music, news and commentary in their native Portuguese language.
The voice was that of Frank S. Mendonsa, whose morning show “Frankly Speaking,” was a fixture on KTUR (KCEY) for more than 20 years. He began his program in October of 1949 when KTUR 1390 KCs signed on the air. His program included news, commentary and music in Portuguese and was on the air 7 days a week from 6 am to 7 am.
Mendonsa was born September 19, 1895 on the island of Pico in the Azores where he grew up and obtained his formal education. He migrated to the United States in September of 1921 working at various businesses until 1929 when he purchased some farmland and began a dairy business in Turlock . His taught himself the English language and later during his broadcasting career developed the unique ability to take news stories off the news teletype machines and instantaneously translate the stories from English into Portuguese as he read them on the air.
Mendonsa also devoted a good share of his time teaching citizenship classes and helping newly arrived migrants become U.S. Citizens. He also provided translation services for Portuguese documents and worked with the Portuguese consul in San Francisco as well as governmental offices in the Azores.
He retired from farming in 1953 and passed away July 13, 1983 at the age of 88. Today his great-grand daughter Cristina Mendonsa is a news anchor at KXTV 10 in Sacramento.
KTUR's "Frankly Speaking" Portuguese Program
