The selection committee of the West Virginia Broadcasting Hall of Fame announced today that eight broadcasting professionals will join the 195 current members of the West Virginia Broadcasting Hall of Fame on Sept 17, 2016, at the Museum of Radio and Technology in Huntington. Tom Resler, Hall of Fame committee chairman stated that the eight individuals have excelled in many areas of broadcasting including on-air talent that informed and entertained, owners/operators who nourished and expanded the industry and behind-the-scenes workers who kept radio and TV stations running. These people have given many years of their time, talent and knowledge to the people of West Virginia.
Following are this year’s inductees:
Spencer Adkins: This well-known man is the longest serving on-air personality on WOWK-TV in the Huntington/Charleston market, serving 25 years as Chief Meteorologist. Spencer began his TV career in 1989 at WBKB-TV, in Alpena Michigan, then came to Clarksburg WV and the eastern panhandle handling many other broadcasting duties before taking on the weather at WOWK-TV.
Randy Daniel: Mostly behind-the-scenes, Randy, a graduate of the West Virginia University School of Journalism, spent 42 years in the broadcasting industry working in sales, production and management. He was a major force at West Virginia Radio Corporation, Capitol Broadcasting and WCHS-TV in Charleston.
Rick Johnson: Rick started in radio in 1969 and he stayed in broadcasting for more than 42 years. He was a Disk Jockey and a Program Director in radio before becoming Promotions Manager of WOWK-TV. He also was active in TV programming and in community fund raising.
Charles Marlow: “Charlie” served as Chief Engineer at WJLS radio in Beckley for many years. He also was the engineering planner of the project that put WTNJ on the Beckley airwaves. Before that he ran the engineering side of WVRC in Spencer.
Howard Monroe: He is best known as a fine host of radio and TV shows in the Wheeling area since 1968 but Howard has done much more. He has also been a DJ, Reporter, Newscaster, News Manager, Program Director, Station Manager and Station Owner.
Molly O’Day: She was a popular country music singer with the Radio Ramblers on WCHS in radio’s early days. She was also a vocalist with Lynn Davis and The Forty Niners that performed on WHIS Bluefield. She made many recordings. Molly settled in Huntington in 1974 and performed on Christian radio. She died of cancer in 1987.
Bill Shahan: Bill began his long radio career at WVAF-FM (V100) in Charleston while pursuing a degree from WV State College. In 1986 he moved to WVSR-FM (Electric 102.7) and was promoted to Program Director. He returned to V100 as Program Director in 1999. For nearly 30 years his voice has been familiar to Kanawha Valley listeners.
Sam Yoho: Sam has had a storied career in broadcasting that resulted his building a company that owns and operates a chain of West Virginia radio stations including WRRR in St. Mary’s, WVVV in Vienna, and WXCR in New Martinsville. Earlier he worked for radio stations in Wheeling and in Pittsburgh.
