Tony Rose has gone from stuffing pepperonis on to pizzas at Auburn Minit Mart to Stuffing the Bus as one of Bowling Green's best-known media figures.
     The 1995 graduate of Logan County High School is the morning man for SAM 100.7 radio, the prime gig at one of Southcentral Kentucky's most popular stations.
     Thursday, July 23, for the fourth straight year the Auburn native will take up residence in a school bus in the parking lot of Bluegrass Cellular on Campbell Lane while collecting donations for area school children. "In the past three years, the amazing people of Southern Kentucky have donated over eight tons of supplies for the children of this area in this event. In turn, I have lived in the bus for nearly 300 hours of my life!" he says on the SAM website.
     He tells The Lo Jo, "When I get off the bus sometime next Monday, it will be a very smelly, sweatty version of Tony Rose. I'll be like a donut glazed with dirt."
     Rose's growth in popularity has come rapidly, but he knows he can't take it for granted. No media figure is more involved in community activities than Rose, who calls himself "the ultimate community guy. It's like running for office. You've got to be in front of people, shaking hands and kissing babies. You can't do it half way. You have to find your niche."
     Along with his buscapades, Rose can be found involved in cow milking contests or doing on-the-spot promotions and contests at every Western Kentucky University home football or basketball game. He's the host of the Humane Society's Adopt-A-Thon show and emcee for the Warren County Relay for Life.
    Air time for him is 6-9 a.m. weekdays, but he arrives at the station at 4 a.m. to get prepared. He gets home at 1:30 or 2 p.m. Soon he's back on the road, involved in some activity. Fortunately he has an understandng wife of four years, Shelli, who is busy herself as marketing director for Greenwood Mall.
    Known as Anthony Rose at LCHS where he ran track and was on Sean Willeford's school newspaper staff, Tony is the son of Bessie Rose and the late Johnny Rose. He was a student at Auburn Elementary School before moving on to LCHS. So working at the Auburn Minit Mart was a natural.
    After high school, he worked at JS Technos for a year and a half and was a volunteer EMT with the Auburn Ambulance Service. While studying broadcasting at WKU, he worked as a security guard at Fruit of the Loom.
    His big break came when he secured a part-time job with what was then G107, The Gator, as the weekend host of a 7 p.m.-midnight show called "Live and Local." Among the acts he introduced were the band Totem Soul, which had LCHS roots, and one with LCHS alum Zane Williams III. Program Director Brian Locke was his mentor. "I realize now how lucky I was to have a paying job in radio that young," he says. "I fell in love with radio, which I consider theatre of the mind."
    Also advising him was then-Gator star Maxwell P. Murphy, who lives in Russellville, as do Beaver mega-stars Myla Thomas and Scooter Davis. Max is now with 95.1, The Goober.
    Rose's work was complimented with he was recruited by Commonwealth to become an air personality for SAM, which was then known as 100.7 KLX. He began as the afternoon drive deejay before moving into the prime spot as the morning man. He also records a daily afternoon show for the company's Campbellsville station, Q104.
    Stuff the Bus is the promotion/event which he created and for which he is best known. "I can't stress it enough-- every single notebook to crayon stays local and goes right back into our school systems in Southern Kentucky. Sure it is hot.. sweaty..and well the bus sleeps terrible, but this has become a passion project for me each year." 
    He notes that donations from Logan Countians and Logan groups will result in school supplies being sent to schools here, and the station matches all donations.
    Additionally those who bring donations to the bus get air time and great publicity. "A small donation can result in the equivalent of $250-$500 worth of advertising," Tony Rose says.
   "I know the economy is tough right now and I would never ask for you to give more than you could, but this is a wonderful non-profit event that truly gets to the kids' hands on a local level. School supplies are more affordable than ever..and a simple $20 donation will truly bring a trunk load of stuff to the bus."
   Anyone who would like to make a donation can call 270-846-0222, email tonyroseshow@yahoo.com or send a message to Tony Rose on his Facebook page.