President's Column

By Laura Walcher

Radio Redux...

No sooner did we get under way with planning our May 6 "Salute to Radio Legends," than we learned some things we were thrilled to remember - and news we hated to hear. We loved, for instance, to know that Harry Martin can re-create his "Happy Hare" personality at the drop of a dime, but we hated to hear that Perry Allen, the creative wild man of radio, recently died at 75. (You can pull up a fond obit by Michael Kinsman from the U-T February 18). Who were your favorite radio personalities, jocks, news leaders, sportscasters, GMs? Chances are, you're going to meet up with at least some of them during our event.

One you'll hear, but won't see, is Bill Gordon, just about San Diego's first talk-show host, hired away from KFMB by KSDO's Peter Lund (if you recall all this, we KNOW how old you are!). Bill broadcast from the top of the El Cortez Hotel, and you may also remember how he harangued us with his zeal for vegetarianism and exercise. He must've been right, since he's still hale and hearty (and living in Cleveland) at over 80.

My own history with radio clients are among my best public relations experiences - and memories. KPBS-FM under Tom McManus (now deceased) was young public radio, with creative juices flowing among a passionate staff; KGB under Jim Price was a torrent of super-radio promotion, as he and an exuberant team delighted the city with the "KGB Chicken" and the "KGB Sky Show." I'd also be willing to bet that many of you have KGB's "Homegrown Albums" stashed away - if, that is, you haven't converted them to CDs. Later on, Jim headed KYXY, and there I went too, when he took over from Ed Denker. Jim is one of our Legends, of course. Since our criteria for this event are those people no longer working in the business, we can't include Mark DeBoskey, also in my radio past; he's making major radio waves at the helm of Jazz88.

More about our radio legends event appears in this issue; be sure to save the May 6 date - and stay tuned!

We also note and say farewell to longtime television reporter Margaret Radford, on her way to new adventures in Los Angeles, and, departing from KGTV/l0, Kim Edwards, who jumps to PR at the UCSD Health Sciences program. Read on; in this issue, she'll tell us more.

Posted March 2007