One of the most popular radio broadcasts originating in the metropolis of southeast Texas is The Talk of Houston. It is carried by KTRH from 1:05 P. M. to 1:55 P. M. five days a week. The program has a great variety of discussions on numerous themes. Various religious groups have been on, discussing "their faith" and answering questions from Carl Brassel, Program Director, and from listeners--about twenty minutes are allowed on each broadcast in which telephone calls are received. KTRH is the only 50,000-watt station in Houston. It covers south and east Texas, the lower valley, and large areas of adjacent states.

Last October, Dr. Val Woodward, popular evolutionist and professor of biology at Rice University, appeared on the broadcast. This evoked a lot of comment, and set off a chain of events which resulted in much good accomplished.

The "Farm Editor" of KTRH, a member of the South Houston church, suggested to Carl Brassel that Roy and Paul Foutz, preachers at South Houston and Bellaire respectively, be given opportunity to present "the other side" regarding the subject of evolution. And the Foutz brothers ably presented, with poise and skill, "the other side" last November. Interest ran high. In fact, Brassel remarked that the response to the program on evolution had been the greatest ever known in KTRH's history. Woodward and the Foutz brothers were then brought "face to face" for a program. Roy and Paul had done their "home work." They rendered the cause of Christ a real service. They set forth, clearly and concisely, the Bible account of creation; showed how that evolution (theistic and otherwise) contradicts the word of God; directed questions to Woodward and elicited admissions and concessions which exposed evolution for its true color. Some who have studied the tapes (like Luther Blackmon and A. Hugh Clark) said they knew of nothing that had happened in Houston for many years that meant as much for truth.

The atmosphere was permeated with evolutionist propaganda. The Houston Post had given much space to the idea that evolution is an established fact. The Science Editor, Blair Justice, wrote (Aug. 4, 1964): "They (speaking of preachers) say evolution is just a theory. So is electricity. So is gravity. But electricity works, so does gravity . . . and so does evolution." An entire page (Aug. 23, 1964) was devoted to, Evolution--Is It a Fact or Is It a Theory? by Bob Sails. He declared: "The Rice University scientists (talking about Anthropologists) will tell you evolution is a fact-depending upon how you define evolution... Organic evolution could be defined as a series of regular changes in biology from the very simple to the complex (Dr. Frank Hole). Dr. Richard Randolph put it this way, 'If gravity is a fact, then evolution is."'

During the Woodward-Foutz exchange Woodward was asked if he accepted evolution as a fact. He replied' "Absolutely not! It is not equivalent with a fact. It is a theory . . . Evolution is not a fact. I have gone on record many times that evolution is not a fact. Fact and theory are not the same-- they have very different meanings." When reminded that the Science Editor of one large daily paper and his fellow professors at Rice were on record that evolution was a fact, he said, (concerning his fellow professors) "They were misquoted . . . I have talked to these men many times and they do not believe that evolution is a fact."

Other statements were made by Woodward respecting transmutation, fossils, etc. conceding that evolution is vulnerable on numerous counts. Truth had a field day. Here is hoping that the entire exchange can be printed, given wide circulation and preserved for future use. Roy and Paul are to be commended for thorough preparation and technical proficiency.

Truth Magazine IX: 10, p. 18
July 1965