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| Top row: Jay Jones, Gary Stone, Mat “The Mighty Quinn” and Lance Zierlein. Middle row: Paul Gleiser and John Granato. Front row: Jud Ashmore, Val Wilson, Mary Lanoue, Melanie Miller, Terri Thomas, and “Big Frank” Franklin (Photo credit: Bachman-Hand) |
The Texas Radio Hall of Fame (TRHOF) inducted its new batch of members at the Texas Broadcast Museum in Kilgore the first weekend of November 2024.
The Friday night before the big induction ceremony, the radio greats were treated to a special screening of my 101 KLOL documentary "Runaway Radio!" On stage for a terrific doc Q&A were 2024 inductee Jay Jones (former KLOL owner), members Dayna Steele and Doug Harris, and me, your favorite media blogger/director.
Fun fact, some "Runaway Radio" scenes were shot at the Texas Broadcast Museum so it was super cool to actually show the film there! If you love broadcasting, the museum is worth the drive!
Mister McKinney's Historic Houston and ABC7 KABC Los Angeles president and general manager Wendy Granato were seen in the crowd for the Houston radio film.
You can watch "Runaway Radio" on VOD / Tubi or DVD.
On Saturday, Hall of Famer Scott Arthur kicked off the ceremony with the induction of San Antonio's Jud Ashmore, who had just celebrated his 100th birthday.
Hall of Famer Steele returned to the stage to welcome Mary McCoy, holder of the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest career as a female radio personality (72 years!), and nine-year-old Mary Ella Woodstock, host of KIDZ STAR Radio on DFW's KNON-NOW.
Texas Association of Broadcasters president Oscar Rodriguez provided a legislative update, and THROF Executive Director Josh Holstead touted the organization's scholarship program.
TRHOF Executive Director Doug Harris noted that the Induction ceremony was sold out for the third consecutive year. As a result, the event will again be held in Kilgore on November 7-8, 2025.
A complete list of the TRHOF's Class of 2024:
Jud Ashmore - WOAI, KENS, KBUC San Antonio
Jay Britt - KBZB Odessa and KILT FM100 Houston
Raoul Cortez - Founded KCOR San Antonio, the first full-time Spanish-language radio station in the contiguous United States
“Big Frank” Franklin - K-99 Corpus Christi and 98-1 KVET Austin
Paul Gleiser - owner of 600 KTBB-AM and 97.5 KTBB-FM and "92.1 The Team" KRWR Tyler-Longview
John Granato and Lance Zierlein - ESPN 97.5 Houston and previously SportsRadio 610 KILT morning hosts
Henry Guerra - "Voice of San Antonio" WOAI
Mat "The Mighty Quinn" Guinn - 104.1 KRBE Houston
Dene Hallam - 93Q Houston and WWWW Detroit, WHN New York, KYCY San Francisco, WKHX Atlanta and WDAF Kansas City
Jay Jones - Rock 101 KLOL and 740 KTRH Houston owner
Mary Marin Lanoue - Cox Media, KISS-FM San Antonio
Melanie Miller - KPDN-AM Pampa, KGNC-AM - KIXZ-AM - KAMR-TV Amarillo, KTLK-AM Lubbock, 740 KTRH Houston
Charlie Parker - WOAI San Antonio morning host and KCCW, KLLS, KKYX, KRIO, KTSA
John Roberts - Classic Rock 96.1 KKTX Kilgore
Clifton “King Bee” Smith - KCOH Houston.
Gary B. Stone - President Chief Operating Officer with 40 years of Broadcast experience. 30 years of Spanish media experience, 25 years with Univision Radio.
Terri Thomas - Former Director of Operations/Programming for 97.9 THE BOX KBXX, MAJIC 102.1 KMJQ
Harvey “Harvey T” Thompson - 95.7 KIKK Houston
Jerry Trupiano - Houston sports play-by-play announcer
Val Wilson - Radio One "Sunday Morning Live," KTSU2 and Texas Southern University - School of Communication Adjunct Professor - Radio, Television, Film Department
Following Saturday's induction ceremony, a reception for inductees and their families was held at the restored Post Office, operated by the Kilgore Historical and Preservation Society.
