The selection committee of the West Virginia Broadcasting Hall of Fame announced today that ten broadcasting professionals will join the 185 current members of the West Virginia Broadcasting Hall of Fame on Oct 31, 2015, at the Museum of Radio and Technology in Huntington. Tom Resler, Hall of Fame committee chairman, said that the ten individuals have excelled in many facets of radio, television and broadcast journalism and have served the viewers and listeners in the region and other areas of the country for decades.
Following are this year’s inductees:
Dennis Adkins: From studio floor crew member to Sales Manager at WSAZ-TV in Huntington, he was then appointed General Manager of WCHS-TV, Charleston. He retired from broadcasting after serving as Executive Director of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
Mike Buxser: Former Vice President and Market Manager of West Virginia Radio Corporation who has served more than 30 years in broadcasting. He has been on the air with sports play-by-play, as host of talk shows and in many other roles. He also acted as Program Director, Sales Manager, General Manager and Chief Operating Officer. He is still active in broadcasting.
Sandra Cole: Long-time News Anchor with WOWK-TV in Huntington and Charleston. She was a popular TV presence for 17 years as News Anchor of the evening and late night newscasts on Channel 13. She is now retired.
Frank Giardina: Spent more than 30 years in radio and TV doing sports play-by-play. He was ESPN Regional Sportscaster for 13 seasons, Sports Anchor at WSAZ-TV in Huntington, and a sports talk radio host.
Hoppy Kercheval: Radio “dean” of broadcasters, who joined West Virginia Radio Corporation in 1976 doing news, sports and talk shows, primarily from Morgantown. He was founding father of MetroNews and Vice President of Operations for WV Radio Corp. He is still broadcasting there.
Mike Kirtner: Sales Manager at WGNT radio in Huntington who became General Manager of WTCR at age 27. Later he was named Divisional Manager of Capital Broadcasting. He now is Chief Executive Officer of Kindred Communications, operating multiple radio stations.
Gary McNair : Vice President and General Manager of WECT in Wilmington, NC, who became VP and GM of WBOY-TV in Clarksburg, WV, with oversight of WTRF-TV, Wheeling. He has held marketing and production positions at WSAZ-TV, Huntington.
Gary “Music” Miller: Gary “Music” Miller was a popular Disc Jockey and Music Director at WKEE and other Huntington area stations during a career that lasted nearly 40 years. With a minor in journalism one of the early jobs in his varied broadcasting life was as News Director at WTCR in Ashland, KY. He is retired.
Don Staats: Began his career in radio as an on-air personality in 1972. He worked in news and sales and served as Station Manager. Don purchased his first radio station in 1983. He has since served as General Manager of the six Results Radio stations in Parkersburg – WXIL, WHBR, WGGE, WRZZ, WVNT, and WADC.
Beth Vorhees: News Director of WV Public Radio as well as producer and host of West Virginia Morning. She has been a long time news leader in public broadcasting radio & TV for 31 years.
The ten exceptional broadcasters will be honored during an induction ceremony, which is a by-invitation-only event, at the Museum of Radio and Technology, 1640 Florence, Ave., Huntington, from 5-7 p.m., Oct 31. A portion of the museum was renovated to house the Hall of Fame with support from the Foundation for the Tri-State Community and the Cabell County Commission.
Founded in 1991, the museum features hundreds of radio and TV exhibits and maintains a library of broadcasting history. The museum is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1-4 p.m.
