WTMV 1954;
KXOK 1961-1964, 1990-1991;
WIL 1965-, 1990, 2005-;
KSHE;
KADI-FM 1967;
WIL-FM 1988-;
WRTH 1991-;
KMOX 2009-2020;
Legacy Inductee
Ron Elz had radio in his blood, which accounts for his longevity in the business.
His first on-air gig was in 1954 on WTMV. He was 15 years old, and he brokered his time, selling the ads and doing the announcing work. After high school graduation he bounced around, landing the evening slot at the Storz St. Louis property, KXOK, where he took the air name “Johnny Rabbitt.”
He went to WIL in 1965 and later to WRTH.
He helped program KSHE when the station switched to its progressive rock format, for which it became nationally known, and also consulted KADI when it changed from jazz to rock. In his position at WRTH, Elz was the morning drive host.
Elz was honored as a recipient the AIR Awards Lifetime Achievement Award.