Radio

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

Ed Bench- 2004

​Anyone who worked with Ed Bench describes him as the best radio engineer they’ve ever known.

He served as chief engineer for KSTL, KATZ and KCFM and as an independent contractor for Heritage Media and Clear Channel. Ed Bench was responsible for developing the market’s first stereophonic broadcasts at KCFM, whose initial stereo broadcast was coordinated to begin at the same time as those at WSYR (Syracuse) and WEFM (Chicago), midnight, June 1, 1961.

He received the first Type Approval for a stereo broadcasting system issued by the FCC on January 2, 1961 and operated the first multi-station circular polarized panel antenna in the nation. During his work building KCFM, Bench developed many of the testing techniques that are still being used to test stereo broadcast systems.

He has been honored with lifetime memberships in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the Society of Broadcast Engineers.

Lee Coffee – 2006

​Employed at various times at six different radio stations – some more than once – Lee Coffee was flexible enough to handle any format. He was nicknamed “The Musical Pumpkin” at KSHE after someone found a photo of him dressed in costume.

​Rotund, loved by his co-workers, with a laid back style and deep voice, Coffee once left radio briefly to become a TV news director, but he returned as a part-timer at KSD before leaving television completely for his first love.

​He had also worked at WIBV, KWK and WRTH before retiring from WEW in 1991.

Roy McCarthy – 2009

J. Roy McCarthy appeared on WTMV, WAMV, KXOK and KMOX using his real name and airnames Roger Bell and Byron Scott. During the early days of his career, McCarthy also taught English literature at McBride and CBC High Schools, but he became a full-time broadcaster when he joined KMOX in the late ‘50s.

It is believed that McCarthy, under the name Roger Bell, was the host of the market’s first call-in show on KXOK in the late ‘50s.

He appeared on the first broadcast of KMOX’s “At Your Service” and served as a host of the program from its inception until 1969. He continued to do volunteer work in the local drama community during his entire broadcast career.

Listen to J. Roy McCarthy on KMOX, in 1966

Frank O. Pinion – 2009

Frank O. Pinion began his radio career as a college student working at WRTH and WSIE under his given name, John Craddock.

After a decade working in advertising agencies and his own company, he returned to St. Louis radio in 1982.

In the ensuing years he worked at KSD-FM, KUSA, WKKX, KTRS, and KFNS.

His shows featured ensembles of talent, some of whom were hired and paid out of his pocket, part of his unique arrangement of selling ads in his own shows rather than being salaried.

Pinion credited his coworkers for much of his success citing the group dynamic and creativity as one of the main reasons for his consistent high ratings.

Jim Taszarek – 2009

Jim Taszarek started his radio career as a jock at WEW and KCFM while still a student at CBC. He also worked as an announcer on KWK and KMOX, did free-lance voiceover work and worked in radio and TV sales.

He eventually rose to the position of general manager at WRTH, after which he was hired by Pulitzer to run its Phoenix radio stations. While he was manager in Phoenix, his stations won the Peabody Award for Broadcast Excellence.

Jim served on the boards of the St. Louis Ad Club, the National Association of Broadcasters and the Radio Advertising Bureau, and he mentored many people who rose to management positions in St. Louis media.

In 1996 he created TazMedia, consulting broadcast, online and print media around the world.