Gold Mine Radio is the brainchild of station co-owner, Keith (Alan) Thomas, a long-time local  resident with family ties to the area dating back to the earliest days of the county. He grew up listening to country music artists of the 70s and 80s on Atlanta radio stations WPLO (AM) and later Y-106 (FM) where the airwaves were filled with tunes by artists as Ronnie Milsap, Kenny Rogers, and Barbara Mandrell. His childhood years were often spent playing 45s on his record player as he dreamt of being a radio DJ one day. During this time he was also a drummer in his father’s gospel music ensemble, and once performed live on a Cumming, Georgia gospel radio station as a young child in the mid-1970s.

       Keith’s interests broadened as he became an adult, and he eventually pursued a career in education. Wanting to make a positive difference in the lives of students in the north Georgia mountains, Keith became an award-winning educator. Seeking unique ways to help students better understand the real-world applications of their classroom studies, Keith went on to receive numerous awards. First selected as “Teacher of The Year” at his local school, Keith later was named “one of the top educators in the nation” (Dahlonega Nugget 10/2006) when he was awarded “Georgia Teacher of The Year” by Phi Delta Kappa International Honor Society and The Walmart Foundation. Keith received a $10,000 classroom grant to implement his educational strategies into the classroom, and years later, he was recognized again as a county level “Top Middle School Teacher” by ExploreLearning.com.