Radio

Ron Edwards – 2016

Ron Edwards was one of the original programmers for St. Louis’ community radio station KDHX when it went on the air in 1987. His weekly program, “Nothin’ But the Blues,” was required listening for true blues aficionados. Each themed program contained historic details not normally found in radio programming. His show became the first program to be syndicated by KDHX.

Ron was a founding member of the St. Louis Blues Society and served on its board for over ten years.

John McHenry – 2016

John McHenry cut his teeth on the blues by listening to KATZ, KWLW, KADI, and later, KDNA. He played drums in the Soulard Blues Band for several years, but it was his friend (and co-host) Dennis Clancy who finally persuaded him to become a KDHX announcer. Most of the music played on the show is from John’s personal collection.

Tom Ray – 2016

Tom Ray adopted the nom de plume Papa Ray for his weekly Monday blues program on KDHX. As a veteran of 30-plus years, Tom Ray brought his unique music perspective to KDHX listeners, focusing on blues cuts that were not rock-based. His life was totally immersed in music, from professional deejay work to ownership of Vintage Vinyl, the St. Louis area’s largest retail outlet for vintage vinyl and discs. He also performed regularly with local blues groups on vocals/harmonica.

George Logan – 2017

George “The Rockin’ Mr. G” Logan began his career in Mounds, Illinois, where he announced high school basketball games. A graduate of SIU Carbondale, Logan moved his family to St. Louis, and in the early ‘50s, he could be heard on KXLW. In two successive years, he won trophies as the listeners’ favorite disc jockey. He was also heard on KATZ in the late ‘50s, and was remembered by many for his gospel and spiritual show, “Lest We Forget.” One competitor DJ said that when G played that gospel and read those poems, the whole town heard him. Logan was active in the Civil Rights movement, travelling to Little Rock and reporting on the desegregation of their high school. When he left radio in the 1960s, he worked with the Head Start program and later helped senior citizens find employment.

France Laux – Legacy

France Laux has been called St. Louis’ “pioneer baseball voice,” a tribute that referred to his work with the St. Louis Browns and St. Louis Cardinals. He was the voice of baseball for 19 years on KMOX starting in 1929. The Sporting News presented him with its first award to the nation’s outstanding major league broadcaster in 1937. He did radio play-by-play in nine World Series and nine Major League All-Star Games, but his work wasn’t limited to baseball. Laux also broadcast boxing, football, wrestling, hockey and basketball. His voice was also heard on KXOK in St. Louis as part of his play-by-play baseball agreements, but his association with KMOX lasted 30 years. His list of broadcast booth sidekicks reads like a “Who’s Who” of sports: Gabby Street, Dizzy Dean, Pepper Martin, Joe Medwick, Leo Durocher and Frankie Frisch. He often bragged that he had worked for 20 years without missing a broadcast or arguing with a player or umpire.

Nancy Pool – 2011

Few people who worked with Nancy Pool during her radio career realized that she once worked as administrative assistant to KXOK’s PD Bud Connell in the ‘60s. She learned well, moving on to manage several stations in the St. Louis market, where her strength in ad sales served her and her employer well. She was president of KADI-FM, VP/GM of KSHE, WIL-AM/FM and was brought in to resuscitate the operations of KMOX-FM, KXOK/KLTH, and KWK/KGLD. Nancy was featured in “Who’s Who in Radio and Television,” “Who’s Who in Advertising” and “Who’s Who in American Women.” After leaving radio Nancy went on to a second successful career in real estate sales.