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Gene Chase – 2006

​Those listeners who remember Gene Chase from his years of beautiful music station KCFM may have trouble thinking of him in terms of anything but a deep-voiced, classy announcer filled with musical knowledge. But his alter ego had been at the forefront for awhile on WIL, where he was known as “Big Daddy-O from All-Night Raddio.”

​Chase went the extra mile to hook up with virtually every musical act that came through St. Louis, interviewing them at the Chase Club or Municipal Opera, then playing the tapes on his shows to share those moments with listeners.

​After leaving the air he continued in the business selling advertising.

Listen to Gene Chase on WIL, from 1958

Ben Abell – 2006

A professor of meteorology at St. Louis University’s Parks College in 1962 and later the College of Arts and Sciences, Ben Abell is known to the general public for his unique approach to weather forecasts on several St. Louis radio stations.

He volunteered his services for the local radio service for the blind on a continuous basis beginning in 1973.

His broadcast weather reports were heard on KWMU, KFUO-FM, KMOX, KHTR and KCFM. An experienced forensic meteorologist with a folksy approach to his broadcast work, Ben endeared himself to listeners with an acknowledgement that forecasting was an inexact science, using his catchphrase “I can’t rule out…”​.

Steven B. Stevens – 2007

Steven B. Stevens was one of the deep-voiced news personalities at KXOK during its legendary run as one of St. Louis’ and the nation’s top stations.

He joined the staff there just prior to turning 20. In addition to his news duties, he was often called upon to act as a straight man in humorous bits with KXOK’s Johnny Rabbitt and Bruno J. Grunyon characters during the 7 – midnight slot, the station’s heavy listening time. He worked at KXOK for 7 years as one of master programmer Bud Connell’s “Voice of god” men, moving on to television news in Cincinnati.​

Ray Otis – 2007

​Shortly after Ray Otis took over as host of the KXOK morning show, it became the top morning show in the market. Another one of the deep-voiced guys on the Big 630’s airwaves during the heyday of the 60s, Otis began his eight-year stint here in 1962. His affable on-air approach led to regular appearances on his show by St. Louis Mayor A.J. Cervantes and many others.

​Schooled in programming by Myron Jones and the famed Storz men, Jack Thayer and Harvey Glasscock, Ray Otis became KXOK’s program director.

​Otis left St. Louis for a job at WNEW-AM in New York. He also hosted a network show.

Anne Keefe – 2007

​Anne Keefe’s first work in broadcasting was performing bit parts in soap operas. She rose through the ranks to become a television news anchor in Rochester, NY.

In 1976, she was hired as a talk show host at KMOX where she stayed until her retirement in 1993. Her work there soon earned her the honorary title of “dean of women radio reporters” in the region. She was honored for that work by the Missouri Press Women and Missouri Bar Association. She was also the recipient of a Peabody Award and two Armstrong Awards.

William A. Hopkins – 2007

​William A. Hopkins came to KXOK in 1965. During his six-year run at the station his afternoon drive show, in which he counted down the market’s top hits, drew a larger audience than 50,000 watt competitor KMOX.

While in St. Louis, he was active in the Webster Groves Theater Guild.

For his work at KXOK, Bill was named Best Major Market Air Personality by “Billboard” Magazine and DJ of the Week by “Teen Life” Magazine. He left St. Louis for a job at WNBC in New York City.