The Country Radio Hall of Fame Class of 2025 was announced today during CRS Honors at CRS 2025, and we have some Houston-area inductees on the list!
Rowdy Yates (Houston), Mary McCoy (Huntsville), and Big D & Bubba are in the On-Air Personality category.
ROWDY YATES
Joshua C. Holstead, known to radio listeners as Rowdy Yates, is an award-winning country radio personality who spent nearly two decades as the afternoon host on Houston’s 100.3 KILT-FM.
Holstead currently hosts "The Original Country Gold with Rowdy Yates," a syndicated show airing in over 120 U.S. markets. He also oversees the country programming for RFC Media’s Suite Radio, a 24/7 format service based in Houston, with duties including "The Rowdy Ride Home."
Throughout his career, Holstead has served as a personality, promotions director, and program director in various markets, including Dallas/Ft. Worth, Bryan/College Station, and small Texas towns like Brady and Bridgeport. His start in radio at age 15 at 1440 AM KDNT Denton led to a career at stations such as 95.7 KIKK Houston, 98.5 KVOO Tulsa, and 101.9 The Twister KTST.
His industry accolades include the Best Personality/Show award from the Country Radio Broadcasters (CRB) and Country Aircheck Readers in 2014. In 2013, he was named Personality of the Year by the Academy of Country Music.
A longtime leader in the Texas Radio Hall of Fame, Holstead was its Executive Director from 2014 onward before being named Director Emeritus in 2021. Previously, he served as Operations Manager of the Hall.
Inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame in 2008 at age 38, he remains the youngest-ever inductee. A true “radio baby,” he is the youngest son of Joe Holstead, known as the “dean of Texas radio news.”
MARY MCCOY
Mary McCoy has been on the air for over 73 years, many of them at K-Star Country 99.7 FM KVST Huntsville, where she co-hosts with Larry Galla from 10 a.m. to noon.
A 2010 inductee of the Texas Radio Hall of Fame, McCoy was recently honored as part of the 2024 Radio Hall of Fame induction class.
In 2023, Guinness World Records recognized her for having the longest career as a female radio presenter.
McCoy began her radio journey in 1951 at KMCO-AM, later working at KIKR before joining KVST.
Beyond radio, she was also a singer and guitarist who shared the stage with legends like Elvis Presley and Jim Reeves. In 1960, she released her first record, Deep Elem Blues.
Ginny “Rogers” Brophey, Clay Hunnicutt, and Gregg Swedberg are in the Radio category.
The Country Radio Hall of Fame Induction and Dinner will be held on Monday, July 21, 2025, at the Virgin Hotel Nashville.
RELATED
- Texas Radio Hall of Fame 2024 induction ceremony recap
- Rowdy Yates launches podcast talking to Houston radio greats
