By Allison Peck | North Platte Post/Sandhills Post
Hear the full interview with Paxton Gordon on our Kubota Podcast
Eagle Communications in North Platte is entering a new chapter with the promotion of Paxton Gordon to Operations Manager, a move that reflects both the company’s commitment to internal growth and Gordon’s steady rise within the organization.
Gordon officially stepped into the role at the start of the new year after longtime Operations Manager Derek Beck departed Eagle Communications to pursue his own venture, Your Ag Network. Beck had worked for Eagle Communications for just over five years, celebrating his five-year Eagle anniversary in December.
Beck’s departure followed months of transition planning, allowing for a smooth handoff of responsibilities and providing Gordon time to prepare for the role.
For Gordon, the promotion represents both an opportunity and a challenge. Now overseeing operations for five Eagle radio stations in North Platte, he is responsible for keeping the day-to-day mechanics of the stations running while supporting on-air staff, production, and sports coverage.
“They’re like my children now,” Gordon said, referring to the stations. “I have to always worry about them.”
Gordon, a Kansas State University graduate, earned his degree in Mass Communications and Journalism from the A.Q. Miller School of Journalism. His path into broadcasting, however, was not a straightforward one. He initially entered college planning to follow family members into aerospace engineering before realizing that career path wasn’t the right fit.
Radio, it turned out, had already been quietly shaping his future.
Growing up, Gordon spent his early morning drives to school listening to a local sports radio show hosted by broadcaster Jim Davis, whom he still considers an inspiration. That daily routine sparked an interest that followed him through high school and into college, eventually steering him toward broadcasting.
With encouragement from his mother—who reminded him that his love of talking could be turned into a career—and guidance from industry professionals, Gordon began to seriously consider radio. A pivotal moment came during a conversation with longtime Kansas State play-by-play broadcaster Wyatt Thompson, who helped Gordon better understand the possibilities within the field.
“That was really the start of everything,” Gordon said, reflecting on the moment he realized radio could be his future.
After graduating in 2021, Gordon accepted his first broadcasting position in Marysville, Kansas. While the job provided valuable experience, the daily hour-long commute prompted him to explore other opportunities. After interning for Eagle in Manhattan, KS he was eventually offered the full-time Sports Director position in North Platte.
Gordon relocated to North Platte within weeks and quickly became a familiar voice across Eagle’s stations. In addition to sports coverage, he took on production responsibilities, steadily expanding his role behind the scenes.
Now nearing four years with the company, Gordon’s promotion to Operations Manager aligns with Eagle Communications’ long-standing practice of promoting from within.
“It’s one big family,” Gordon said. “They like to keep things internal, reward people who work hard, and keep good people around.”
Stepping into the Operations Manager role means following Beck, whom Gordon credits as both a mentor and a respected leader during his five-plus years with the company.
“Derek’s a superstar in terms of what he’s done,” Gordon said. “There are big shoes to fill.”
In the short term, Gordon will continue handling sports duties through the end of basketball season. Coverage of North Platte Community College and North Platte High School games will remain unchanged for now, with a transition planned as Eagle moves into spring sports. Eagle Communications is actively working to fill the Sports Director and Production Manager position, allowing Gordon to fully focus on his expanded leadership role.
Despite recent staffing changes across departments, Gordon emphasized that listeners should not expect major disruptions.
“We’ve been pretty adaptable over the last few years,” he said. “I don’t think anything too drastic is going to change.”
Those changes include on-air schedule adjustments and internal role shifts that Gordon believes strengthen the overall lineup while maintaining the consistency radio audiences value.
Even as the youngest member of the office, Gordon now leads the North Platte operation, a responsibility he approaches with humility and humor. He credits teamwork, routine, and what he jokingly refers to as the office’s “feng shui” for keeping things running smoothly.
“It’s definitely a little weird,” he said of the transition. “But it was time to take on a new challenge.”
As he begins his first full week as Operations Manager, Gordon remains focused on stability, growth, and serving the North Platte community through local radio.
“Nothing’s really going to change,” Gordon said. “It’s going to be the same great radio. We’re going to put in the effort and do the best we can.”
For Eagle Communications in North Platte, Gordon’s promotion signals continuity backed by fresh leadership—grounded in experience, familiarity, and a genuine passion for radio.