“I’m overwhelmed and humbled by the reaction to the podcasts,” Barry said. “I have especially enjoyed the stories and comments listeners have shared. Many had interesting personal memories of my guests.”

Upcoming episodes will feature Dickie Goodman, Alan Alda, Henry Mancini, the Everly Brothers, Johnny Mathis, and Mel Blanc.

“The Bob Barry Unearthed Interviews podcast is a hidden gem,” said WBA President and CEO Michelle Vetterkind. “Each episode is a captivating time capsule that young and old will both appreciate. Bob’s got great questions for his guests and has interesting stories to tell about each interview. I’m looking forward to many more episodes.”

WBA member stations are welcome to download and air episodes as they become available, with credit given to the podcast.

A morning producer at WTMJ-AM in Milwaukee is the recipient of the first ever Results Broadcasting Education Grant.

Rachel Frye graduated from Western Illinois University in 2013 and began her career with a six-radio station cluster in Macomb, Illinois before taking a job at WTMJ-AM in June 2014. She started part time as a reporter and board operator and in February 2016 was hired full time as producer of Wisconsin’s Morning News. Her duties have since expanded to include producing digital content and leading station events.

Vice President and Market Manager Steve Wexler said Frye is the kind of employee every employer would covet. “She’s hard-working, sets a very high bar of expectations for herself and our team, and sweats the details.”

Frye said her goal was to pay off her student loans by the end of the year, and the grant will be a huge help toward making that goal.

“This grant money is so much appreciated, especially during these unstable times,” Frye wrote. “I encourage anyone who is considering applying in the future to do so. It’s a truly great program targeted at helping Wisconsin broadcasters.”

Steve Wexler and Rachel Frye

The Results Broadcasting Education Grant was established to provide student debt relief to broadcasters working in Wisconsin. It was created from what used to be the Results Broadcasting scholarship. Recipients get $1,000 to put toward relief of student debt.

“Results Broadcasting is so proud of the dedicated men and women in the Wisconsin over the air radio and TV industry working in all phases of the business,” wrote Results Broadcasting owner and WBA Hall of Famer Bruce Grassman. “It is an opportunity to help people with some of their student debt and to let them know they are part of the greatest state of broadcasters…Wisconsin. Results Broadcasting is proud to continue this award for many years to come.”

More than a dozen broadcasters applied for the grant. The recipient was chosen by a sub-committee of the WBA Foundation Board.

Applications for the next grant will be accepted starting Jan. 1, 2021 and the deadline will be Feb. 28, 2021. Find more details on the WBA Foundation website.

Five Wisconsin Broadcasters have been chosen as 2020 WBA Local Broadcast Legends.

The Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Local Broadcast Legends Award was established in 2015 under the direction of Bruce Grassman, owner/president of Results Radio. The Local Broadcast Legends Award is a great honor and recognition for individuals that work behind the scenes and within their communities fulfilling the commitment broadcasters have made to serve their local communities. They are individuals who exemplify localism. This award is a means to extend recognition of these individuals beyond their local communities.

Individuals with 15 years or more service in Wisconsin broadcasting may be nominated by their company, co-workers, community leaders, family members, and friends. The station or organization which the nominee is associated with submits the nomination on behalf of the nominating individual(s).

The WBA is grateful to Bruce Grassman for his vision to establish a means for dedicated local broadcast employees to be recognized for their contributions to Wisconsin broadcasting. This award is for those who unconditionally support their stations and community.

Profiles of these and past Local Broadcast Legends can be found at the Wisconsin Broadcasting Museum website.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s honorees will be recognized during the 2021 WBA Summer Conference at the Blue Harbor Resort in Sheboygan.

The 2020 WBA Hall of Fame inductees will be announced Wednesday.

Our 2020 Local Broadcast Legends honorees are as follows:

Karen Dalessandro

Karen Dalessandro is among the most recognizable voices in Milwaukee radio touching generations of listeners with her energy, passion, and love of people.

Karen started her career in 1981 at a small station in Michigan while still attending radio school. She moved to Milwaukee in 1998 when she was offered the opportunity to become morning host on country station WMIL-FM. She was, at the time, the host of one of only a handful of female-led morning shows in the nation. Awarded Broadcasting Personality of the Year by the Country Music Association in 2001 and 2015, Karen was inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame in 2015. In 2017 she moved to afternoons on WKTI-FM and in 2019 joined WKLH-FM as afternoon host.

Karen’s community efforts are countless. She co-hosted the annual Child Abuse Prevention radiothon that has raised an average of $300,000 a year. She raised thousands more for the same cause when her show took over the new Miller Park, and later the Fiserv Forum, to sit in every seat in the new stadiums. As founder of Karen’s Check Up for Chicks, she provided hundreds of breast cancer screenings for women in need.

In her more than three decades on the air, Karen has lived up to her reputation from her peers as the “gold standard of excellence in the broadcasting industry.”

Erin Davisson

Erin Davisson inspired television viewers in the Green Bay market with her persistence and professionalism in the face of a health crisis that nearly took her life.

Erin started her career in 1982 as a radio news announcer at WSPT-FM and WXYQ-AM in Stevens Point. She also worked at WSAW-TV in Wausau as a news anchor and reporter before joining WFRV-TV in 1988.

It was after that move that Erin staged a public battle with Wilson’s Disease, a rare and potentially fatal genetic disorder that prevents blood from clotting. She suffered three life-threatening episodes of internal bleeding. After medications failed to reverse or control the illness, a successful 13-hour liver transplant operation in 1990 saved her life.

Erin shared every step of her journey with her television audience in the hopes of promoting awareness of organ donation and transplants. She remains an advocate for the organ donation program.

Erin has won numerous awards for her excellent journalism and is a mentor to young journalists just starting their careers.

Erin’s peers say, “Her kindness, professionalism, and love for our business continues to be an inspiration to us and to others in the community to strive to follow their dreams even when things go wrong in our lives.”

She will retire in fall 2020 after 37 years in broadcasting and 32 years at WFRV-TV.

Peter Murphy

Peter Murphy (1935-2015) had a long career in radio highlighted by his distinction of hosting the first live radio talk show by telephone in the nation and a reputation for vigor and success.

In 1957 Peter met a farmer in Hartford who had pulled over to help with a flat tire. After hearing Peter’s voice, the farmer asked him if he wanted to be the voice of his basement radio show and Peter accepted.

Peter started at WKTL in Sheboygan and stayed for a year before moving to Eau Claire in 1958 as program manager at WEAQ. In 1960 he took over as the host of a morning talk show named The Party Line, later referred to as The Peter Murphy show by his listeners. He hosted this show for 30 years. He interviewed people from all walks of life including numerous celebrities, politicians, athletes, astronauts, and from his local community. More than 7,000 interviews took place from Peter’s booth. He was the voice of his people.

Peter’s greatest achievement was his five minute live, in-air, radio show from a Blue Angels fighter jet in 1976. In radio history, no other broadcaster can claim this same accomplishment.

A mentee to Peter once said, “Peter expected much of himself, inspiring the rest of us to match or at least catch the daily routine of success, self-confidence, and loving enthusiasm for the job that lay ahead of him.” 

Bill McCollum and John Moser

Bill McCollum and John Moser are institutions in Beaver Dam whose decades-long work has exemplified how committed radio personalities and leaders can have an immeasurable impact on a community.

“Uncle Bill” has been with WBEV and WXRO for 57 years with 43 years hosting The Morning Show, connecting with listeners on a personal level. Over the years he has accepted all opportunities to volunteer and he continues working at the station in retirement. He was the top biller in the sales department for 50 years. In 2017, the road on which the stations are located was renamed Bill McCollum Way.

John has been with the stations for 47 years. Over the years he served as news director, program director, sales manager, and finally as general manager. He is semi-retired but still co-hosts The Morning Show and continues to lead by coaching teammates across Good Karma Brands. John was named Beaver Dam’s Citizen of the Year in 2016 and continues his involvement in the community in a number of leadership roles.

Both Bill and John were involved in numerous station initiatives to help raise money and awareness in the community, including the annual Children’s Radiothon which has raised $1.9 million over the years.

WBEV/WXRO General Manager Ryan Gabel wrote of Bill and John that, “Their localism and impact are felt by everyone who works at the station, our listeners, and those in the Beaver Dam community.”