Following graduation, he attended the University of Arkansas until the Korean War erupted in 1950, when in his quest for adventure, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.
After returning to Newport, he began as a part-time announcer at radio station KNBY, and soon became known as the "Voice of the White River Valley."
Stephens helped launch the careers of Johnny Cash, Conway Twitty, Charlie Rich, Brenda Lee, Sonny Burgess, Fabian Forte and many others who appeared on Steve's Show during its 8-year run.
He new broke ground in another way when he became one of the first TV weathermen in the nation to use radar to detect Santa Claus flying into the state.
Senator John Little McClellan to join him on his staff in Washington, D.C. as a special assistant in charge of media relations.
Following retirement, he continued to be active as a "voice talent" for numerous local and national radio and television commercials, as well as documentaries.