Radio

Skeets Yaney – 2013

One of the only live radio musical performers to make the transition to disc jockey in St. Louis, Clyde “Skeets” Yaney, the “Golden Voice Yodeler,” began performing for free, singing and yodeling on KMOX in the 1930s. Within three weeks he was hired, allowing him to quit his job in road construction. He soon achieved star billing as part of the Skeets and Frankie duo, part of the National Champion Hillbillies, a group was featured on KMOX and CBS Network programming into the 1950s. They developed a large nationwide following, and Skeets received a stream of gifts and fan mail from female admirers.

When economic pressures caused radio stations to do away with live entertainment, Yaney re-invented himself as a disc jockey, first on WEW, then KSTL, extending a local radio career that spanned 40 years, all the while continuing his personal appearances at local clubs and fairs.

Jim Holder – 2007

​Jim Holder came to KSD radio and TV from WDRQ in Detroit in October, 1971. His duties centered around the news and sports departments in radio and television. In May, 1979 Jim began an 18 year stint in the KMOX sports department, where he served as morning drive sports anchor and hosted a variety of local and national sports talk shows.

Jim moved to KTRS in February of 1996 and spent 10 years there as sports director.

He was honored by the Missouri Broadcasters in four different decades for his work.

Jeremy Lansman – 2013

After apprenticing at KRAB in Seattle, at the time one of four U.S. stations supported by listener donations, Lansman returned to his home town in 1967 intending to pioneer a station more open to the community, forms of expression, and ideas, than is common in mass media.

Staffed by volunteer announcers and producers, KDNA became a platform for unusual music, serious news, as well as a platform for political expression from John Birchers to Communists. 

Listener support was a new concept.  Cajoling listeners to give cash to keep the station afloat required constant on-air reminders. Keeping KDNA alive was a huge challenge for Lansman and his staff.  Lansman also had to deal with people who were offended by the broadcasting of ideas that included both right wing and left. A worn-down Lansman (and station co-owner Lorenzo Milam) sold KDNA in 1974 with the idea of establishing a new station in the non-commercial-educational band.  Besides local offspring KDHX, Lansman helped create a plethora of independent community stations throughout the country.

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.

Andre Fuller – 2013

Andre Fuller started out in 1978 as an intern from Lewis and Clark College reading morning news at WESL Radio. “The Son of Mr. and Mrs. Fuller” was the first African American to attend the radio broadcasting program at Lewis and Clark College in 1975.  While at WESL he coined the station slogan: “the Greatest Station in the Nation.” The Spyderman was the first jock in the market to expose to his audience to the sounds of the founding fathers of Hip-Hop.  Andre Spyderman Fuller was appointed Program Director WESL in the mid 80″s.  He left WESL when an offer was made to him and fellow DJ Dr. Jockenstein to join the new Black-owned station Z-100 FM, where he also became Program Director. Andre also worked the 6 pm-10 pm shift at Majic 108.

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.