Cactus began his radio career in Austin on the 6th of June, 1944. Richard “Cactus” Pryor broadcast local news, played records, entertained, and took his fair share of tidying up the studios. It would be quite some time before he would wear the appendage of his father's movie theater, and take the name "Cactus," thus becoming a Texas legend! Over 60 years later Cactus can still be heard on KLBJ AM.
Cactus has also had an illustrious career in print. His columns have been carried by leading newspapers in Dallas, Ft. Worth, San Antonio, El Paso, Waco, Galveston, Abilene, Lubbock, Wichita Falls. His column was syndicated in the 70’s by Dallas Times Herald. He is the author of two books chronicling his life: Inside Texas (Shoal Creek Publishers) and Playback (University of Texas Publishers). He is also the author of a stage play “J. Frank Dobie.” He has also been published in Texas Monthly Magazine.
Cactus even made his mark in television and film. Cactus has appeared in movies with John Wayne, and Peter Fonda. He also co-hosted television shows with Darrell Royal and John Mackovic. He has entertained such corporate giants as Kodak, Chase Manhattan, 3M, IBM, NFL, White House Press Photographers Banquet, General Mills, Texaco, Exxon, and American Airlines.
He has won numerous awards including: Texas Association of Broadcasters Pioneer Broadcaster of the Year
His “Cactus Comments,” commentaries in which Cactus takes time to reflect on the many complexities of his rich life in Austin, can be heard each weekday at 6:56am and again at 8:56am on KLBJ AM’s Morning Show – Austin’s Morning