Boss Told Her to ‘Humor’ George, Accusor Testifies

A former account executive at KDOC-TV testified Wednesday that amorous advances from talk show host Wally George became so frequent that she complained to her boss--but was told to “humor” the station’s star.

Linda Ford testified that as a married woman she was embarrassed by George’s constant attention and once was forced to call police to escort him from her home.

Ford told jurors that George, then single, pursued her relentlessly for months, showering her with gifts, flowers and affectionate notes.

She turned to station manager Michael Volpe, but he did not respond. When she complained to Calvin Brack, a director of Golden Orange Broadcasting Co. Inc. which owns KDOC, he told her “to humor” George, Ford testified.

Ford has flatly contradicted virtually all of George’s testimony. The host of “Hot Seat” has testified that Ford pursued him, but he was too moral and too much of a gentleman to respond to the overtures of a married woman.

The testimony came in the lawsuit of Steve Conobre, 66, who sued George, the station, Brack and Volpe, alleging that he was fired unfairly in 1984.

Conobre has alleged that he was fired for protesting orders to use fake ratings in his sales pitch and that George maneuvered to get him fired after he told George to leave Ford alone.

Ford Wednesday identified more than 70 cards and notes Wednesday that she received from George in 1983-84. Earlier, George testified that he had neither seen nor written most of them.

One was a response to Ford’s continuing attempts to cool George’s passion, she testified.

In it, George promised to “never ever bring you flowers at the office” and not to “tell you that I love you (unless it is in a whisper).”

Another letter, purportedly from Ronald Reagan, was, in fact, from George, Ford testified.

The letter had Reagan saying that “Wally is madly and desperately in love with you and wants to marry you.”

It concluded with a “presidential order” directing matrimony: “I know he will make you happy, as he is really a terrific guy. Trust me.”

At first, George often chuckled during Ford’s testimony. But as the morning wore on in the courtroom of Orange County Superior Judge Robert A. Knox, the smiles turned into a fixed, unblinking stare.

Ford gave no indication that she noticed George’s presence.

George’s pursuit went beyond work, Ford testified. She threw a Christmas party at her home with her husband in 1983, and George simply refused to leave, Ford testified. Finally, Ford testified that she called police.

“They escorted him out of the house into his own car,” Ford told jurors.

Ford testified that George was a pest whom she considered “harmless”--until “Wally George threatened my life.”

George was a close associate of the station manager, Volpe. Ford, along with Conobre, opposed his leadership.

“Wally George said that he could kill me, and that he was very good friends with Michael Volpe, and that he could have me fired if he wanted to,” Ford testified.

Pat Boone, a major shareholder in Golden Orange Broadcasting Co. Inc., was said to be in Japan and unavailable for comment.

Conobre has asked for unspecified damages. He is seeking punitive damages--designed to punish a defendant for wrongdoing.