Among the early wireless pioneers, Reginald Fessenden is often credited with the first voice and music broadcast – a Christmas Eve concert. The reality is a bit more complex. If you are interested in the story behind the story – and Fessenden himself – Donna Halper offers true history and some clarity. Before […]
In Nebraska, when something broke, it was often Val Lane who was called to get everything back on the air. Val passed away on July 18, 2025 in Kearney, NE.
Val A. Lane
June 18, 1957 – July 18, 2025
Son of Paul and Leona (Ring) Lane, Val was born in Valentine, Nebraska and grew up in Ainsworth, Nebraska before moving to Kearney.
Val graduated in 1975 from Kearney High School. In high school, he loved photography and developing film. After graduation, he worked for Stanal Sound Company as a sound engineer, travelling and touring around the world with various music artists.
In 1979, Val married Sherry (Espenhover) on September 8th, 1979, in Kearney. They had two children, Jennifer and Brian.
Val and Sherry opened their own television repair business, Comstock TV, later becoming Central Electronics in Kearney. Early on, they also owned and operated Black Rose Disco. Eventually, Val focused on broadcasting and was employed by Waitt Radio as a radio engineer. More recently, he has been active as a contract engineer servicing radio and television stations across Nebraska.
Val’s colleague Bart Jones said, “Val Lane was a great man, and a fine audio and RF engineer. Everyone loved Val. He always had a laid-back attitude and a smile on his face. Nothing was that big of a deal; he could just fix it. The transmitter blew up? He had some parts to get it back on the air. Console blew up? He could wire your automation system directly to your processor so you could stay on the air while getting a new console installed. The tower fell over? Wow! That’s extreme, but it happens, and he already had a plan to get you back on the air at low power from a neighbor’s tower until yours can be rebuilt.
“His whole attitude was that any problem can be solved. Just smile, and work on it one piece at a time.”
Val’s dedication to his work was recognized by the Nebraska Broadcaster’s Association, which inducted him into their Hall of Fame in August of 2023.
A private pilot, Val enjoyed flying airplanes and even pursued building his own Velocity airplane. He was a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association. When not in the air himself, Val loved to fly his drone and ride his motorcycle with his wife.
Val is survived by his mother, Leona Lane; wife, Sherry Lane of Kearney; daughter, Jennifer (John) Ryan of Ansley; son, Brian (Roxy) Lane; grandchild Ava Lane; brother, Kevin Lane of Pearblossom, California; sister, Julie (Monte) Arnold of Miller; sisters-in-law, Jackie (Mike) Carpenter of Gilmore City, IA and Deb (Keith) Smith of Kearney; as well as an extended family of many nieces, nephews and other relatives.
A video was made for his 2023 induction into the Nebraska Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
Jones recalls, “Val and I collaborated on many tower and antenna projects in Kansas and Nebraska over the last 25 years or so. He will be missed by many.”
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We wish to sincerely thank Bart Jones for his kind help in putting this memory of Val Lane together.
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Well-known and prolific consulting engineer Joel Saxberg passed away on December 21, 2024, at the age of 84 as a result of Parkinsons disease, from which he had been suffering for about 10 years.
Joel & Judy at NAB in 2012
Joel Tutori Saxberg
November 29, 1940 — December 21, 2024
Joel Tuori Saxberg was born in Quincy, Massachusetts on November 29, 1940. He attended North East High School in Northeast, Maryland.
After graduating from high school in 1958, Joel joined the U.S. Navy. His ship was the USS Hornet and toured Japan, Hong Kong, Guam and the Philippines. Joel was in Hawaii when it became the 50th state. While stationed in San Diego he started college and finished his Bachelor of Science degree at California State University Los Angeles.
Joel and Judy met in early 1961 and were married on August 15, 1964 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Temple City, CA. They were blessed with the birth of three daughters: Arlene, Lisa, and Kristina. Just last August, they celebrated their 60th Anniversary while Joel was at the Arcadia USC Hospital.
Joel was knowledgeable in all aspects of radio station operations but specialized in antenna systems and FCC applications. In the 1970’s he started his BEEM Co, Broadcast Engineering & Equipment Maintenance Company, building and maintaining radio stations all over the world.
Over the years, his work took him from all over California (and other Western states) to the top of the Empire State Building, Western Samoa, and several stations in the Hawaiian Islands. He not only solved station problems but made friends everywhere he went. He will be missed by many.
In 1974 Joel was commissioned, Lieutenant Junior Grade in the Naval Reserves. He served as an Engineering Duty Officer at many Command Units. On November 18, 2000, he retired in Long Beach as Commander after 29 ½ years of service to our country.
Bethlehem Lutheran Church has always been an important part of their family life. Services were held there (5319 Halifax Road Temple City, CA 91780) on Saturday morning, January 18, 2025.
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We wish to sincerely thank Burt Weiner for his kind help in putting this history of Joel Saxburg together.
A well-known broadcaster in both North and South America, Bruce Miller Earle, passed away on October 2, 2023, from heart failure at the age of 72.
Bruce Miller Earle
January 1, 1951 – October 2, 2023
Bruce Miller Earle, or BME as his friends knew him, was born January 1, 1951 in Baltimore. Eventually, the family moved to Louisville, KY.
His first big break in broadcasting was in 1964, at age 13, working as a bench tech and remote engineer for the Sunday morning God Squad at WAKY in Louisville. He also worked at radio stations in San Marcos, Austin, Temple, Beaumont, Dallas. Laredo and El Paso.
In the Summer of 1968 he went to Elkins to get his FCC License.
NBC’s WRC in Washington DC was Bruce’s next stop. He was the transmitter engineer at WRC, and at the same time worked across town with Ed Buterbaugh at WEAM. There, they built a solid friendship that lasted for years to come.
HIGH POWER AM RADIO
The following year, BME headed to Tijuana, Mexico to work with and learn the ways of high-power AM RF propagation at 50 kW XERB (1090) with Nestor Cuesta.
The next stop was in 1972 when Earle becomes Engineering Consultant for Arthur Holt (Holt Media Brokerage) in Bethlehem, PA. Bruce and Arthur along with John Ryman formed the company World Broadcasting and purchased the operating & U.S. sales rights for XELO Juarez, Mexico.
Bruce handled rebuilding the old water-cooled Bill Branch hand-made 150 kW transmitter, while his close friend Greg Ogonowski revamped the audio system. The station was later renamed XEROK and X-Rock was heard in a large part of the US.
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS
In 1973 Holt Media became involved with the upgrade & sales of WQRK in Norfolk.
BME did his audio & RF tweaks as Jay Blackburn, Director of Programming for Holt Media, puts on a pioneer “Q” format.
Bruce had been reading Claude Hall’s Vox Jox in Billboard since the late 60’s. Deciding it was time to meet him, he and Blackburn stormed the Billboard suite at the NAB in Washington D.C. with a case of Wild Turkey under his arm. Being a Texan, Hall smiled, “You old boys do come prepared. Now let’s have a drink.”
With that, their relationship was bonded forever. From then on they were best of friends.
BACK TO MEXICO AND HIGH POWER
Holt sent Bruce south of the border again in Summer 1973, this time to finally put the old Branch powerhouse transmitter down for good.
While the new 150 kW rig was being constructed in Dallas, the XELO transmitter was dismantled and replaced with a borrowed 10 kW Continental. Upon receiving the new Continental 318.5 rig, Bruce and Mexican engineer Sergio Cortez did the installation. (Bruce was fluent in Spanish, not only in speech but also reading and writing as well.)
Bruce checking out of only two Continental 318.5’s ever built
Eventually, they purchased a used Continental 317C (50 kW) as the stand-by. Unfortunately, the GM sold the 317 to WZAM Norfolk. Bruce was really annoyed and had to purchase a Collins 5 kW as the standby.
KOMA, Oklahoma City was Bruce’s next destination. He was contracted in 1974 to work on the station’s 50 kW water-cooled Western Electric transmitter. At the time in Oklahoma, it was required for him to acquire a plumber’s license to work on the transmitter!.
Once KOMA was rebuilt, Bruce went North to be a staff engineer at CKLW. Getting to work with his good friend, BME said: “I’m on my way to work with one of the best AM engineers in the hemisphere – Mr. Ed Buterbaugh.”
But Bruce was not to stay long in Canada.
A GROUP CHIEF AT 24
Just as he started in at CKLW, a phone call changed things.
Unbeknownst to BME, Claude Hall had contacted Bruce Johnson, the new President of the Sterling Radio Organization (SRO), recommending Mr. Earle as the right choice for his upcoming Director of Engineering position.
Bruce was just 24, and had the dream offer of the DoE position set in front of him. With a heavy heart he had to tell Buterbaugh that he must accept this chance for a DoE position and Ed graciously accepted and understands.
SRO YEARS AND MORE FRIENDS
The Sterling Recreational Organization (SRO) started with KZOK-FM and KUUU-AM in Seattle.
One of the programs that ran on OK102 was The Marvel Comics Radio Series, produced in Seattle at the Kate Smith Recording Studios. Two of the producers Peter B. Lewis and P. Craig Turner had started a recording studio named Eye Ear productions. BME handled the engineering.
They studio needed a new audio board, so BME and Turner made a trip to Chicago where they inspected and purchased the Neuman/Telefunken Console on which Chess records had recorded The Rolling Stones Satisfaction. Later, Bruce would use it to produce the funky jingles for XEROK.
STILL MORE POWER
150 kW was a definitely complex transmitter to install and maintain. But more was coming.
In 1976, Bruce assisted his mentor and high-power RF guru Nestor Cuesta with putting a Continental D320 – a 1 Megawatt behemoth on 625 kHz – on the air in Cartago, Costa Rica.
Not too many engineers get to work on a 1 MW transmitter
BME considered Nestor to be the Mexican engineer counter-part of Weldon & Branch. Bruce would say “If you need high-power RF these are the guys that can do it” and “My life as a MW wave engineer was greatly influenced by Nestor taking me under his wing when I was 18.”
Over the years, Nestor put several high-power border blasters on the air, including XER, XEPN, XERB, and XEG. He also worked with William “Bill” Branch on projects at WBAP, XELO, and, along with James O. Weldon, XER/XERF.
His work was not all AM: in early 1977 Holt Brokerage was contracted to sell WSDM Chicago and Bruce found himself playing with a transmitter high atop the John Hancock building as Holt & Blackburn installed a new format (AOR) & changed the calls to WLUP.
But Mexico called again.
PART THREE IN JUAREZ
Bruce was then sent back to XEROK for what BME called “part three” – to finish what he started.
At that time, the station was using CBS Audimax and Volumax units for audio processing. (A little-known fact: at the time, due to the bad match of the antenna and transmitter, the audio was rolled off at eight kHz so the transmitter would not kick off – this was on orders from Continental.)
Bruce said: “At no time did any transmission from XEROK at Ciudad Jurez, Chih, Mexico ever exceed 150 kW in any form or fashion. The transmitters averaged a high-power operation of 142 kW during evening hours and 52 kW days. Because the Doherty amplifier did not like different power levels, the unit was tuned for optimum efficiency and audio response at high power – taking advantage of the huge night time sky wave signal.
MAKING A TRANSMITTER SING!
Like his friend, Ed Buterbaugh, Bruce insisted that fidelity be maximized to its fullest potential and decided to process it like an FM.
Buterbaugh was a huge technical inspiration for the development of the X-Rock’s audio processing system. Bruce & Ed were two of a handful of engineers who truly know how to “make the X-Rock box talk.”
Bruce rebuilt the open transmission line and antenna matching units so as to promote better side-band response either side of XEROK’s 800 kHz signal. He then threw away the old CBS gear and replaced it with a pair of graphic equalizers, two UREI LA-4s, 1 UREI 1176, and a custom peak clipper.
He then built an a active-balanced differential input in the front end of the transmitter and managed to hit 100% modulation with virtually no distortion and PA efficiency of 85%. Even J.O. Weldon was impressed.
IN THE AIR EVERYWHERE
In the 1980s, Holt was very active with brokerage, reorganization, upgrade, and liquidation of several stations across the country. Bruce & Jay were sent to every one, where they did their magic and then moved onto the next.
In 1989, Bruce and Cynthia purchase a home near Mexico City as Mr. Earle takes over engineering and programming for XHFAJ – Alfa 91.3. There, he upgraded the transmitter, increasing power from 62 kW to 99.45 kW. Armed with a hybrid Drake/Blackburn format, he took the station to number one and stayed at the top of the Nielson ratings for three solid years. It was the
First station in Mexico City to broadcast a full-time American Top 40 format, and becoming a ratings winner.
First station in Mexico City to broadcast jingles in English.
First station in Mexico City with a mobile studio.
First station in Mexico to broadcast live rock concerts.
Alfa 91.3 paved the way for commercial radio in Mexico
TIME FOR TEXAS
They moved back to Texas in 1993, this time to Laredo as the BME purchased KZZQ-FM and turns it into KBDR “Border Radio” with the Alfa format.
The station was sold around 2002 they sell KBDR, so they could move up to the Texas hills area of Wimberley/New Braunfels and served as Engineering Consultant for several San Antonio stations and the CBS group.
In the early 2000’s he went to Eastern China to oversee construction and operations of one of China’s largest telecommunications suites.
ALMOST RETIRED
The Earls move for the last time in 2022, to be “close to the grand-kids” in Garland.
Still, Bruce worked as much as he could. His last project was in 2020 to build VH 530, a 100 kW DA1 on 530 kHz in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Bruce built a home studio and armed with VO talent Big Jim Edwards “Davis” of CKLW fame on ID’s and imagining liners, once a month for three hours he would produce an “oldies hits” show during prime skywave hours.
Bruce in Garland, Texas
Health issues cropped up late in life, Bruce was diagnosed with a failing liver and received a transplant. But, it was heart failure that claiomed him in October 2023.
Bruce is survived by Cynthia, his wife of 43 years, son, Henry, and 5 grandkids.
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We wish to sincerely thank Donald Keith Morgan for his kind help in putting this history of Bruce Miller Earle together.
Well-known broadcast engineer and consultant, Jack Sellmeyer passed of age related illnesses away on November 2, 2023 at the age of 82.
John S. Sellmeyer
March 26, 1941 – November 2, 2023
A native of Carlsbad, NM, Jack was the son of Ralph and Gewn (a miner and a teacher). He graduated from high school in Carlsbad, NM in May 1959. While in high school, began his radio career as a board operator and transmitter operator for radio station KPBM in Carlsbad, New Mexico.
After high school, Jack attended college first at Las Cruces, NM, where he also oversaw the construction of an addition to the studio/transmitter building, construction of new studios and the installation of a new 5 kW transmitter for station KGRT in Las Cruces, NM.
Jack transferred to Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ in 1963 where he went on to get his BSEE in 1966 from ASU. There he served as Chief Engineer for KRUX, Glendale, AZ, among other stations in the market.
After graduation, Jack joined Bauer Electronics in California, disgning a 7.5 kW transmitter, and then went on to Collins Radio in the Product Support/Field Service departments and was was sent to Southeast Asia on a US Army communications project to train Signal Corps personnel in the setup, maintenance and adjustment of the Collins supplied equipment.
DESIGN AND UPGRADE WORK
In 1969, Jack joined Gates in the FM Engineering Department, where, among other things, he developed the TE-3 and FMX-70 exciters, solved tuning problems with FM G and H series of transmitters, providing stable operations.
In June 1969, Jack married his wife Jeannine, and they spent over five decades together.
IN THE FIELD
After two years at Quincy, Jack decided there was nothing more for him at Gates and looked for a job in the field. He first landed at WGAR in Cleveland for Nationwide Communications.
In 1973 he was recruited back to Rockwell-Collins. There he focused on FM exciters and the 828E-1 5kW (Power Rock) and 1kW PWM AM transmitters. (He is listed as the co-inventor on three patents.)
Additionally, he designed the Audio Rock console – known as the 212-P, and the 212-R.
SELLMEYER ENGINEERING
When Rockwell-Collins was sold to Continental in 1980, Jack opened Sellmeyer Engineering, where he was active for over 40 years doing AM allocations, transmitter site design, development and construction, AM DA design and measurements.
He lectured at various NAB technical seminars and workshops dealing with AM directional antennas. Over the years, he has published numerous articles in the trade magazines. Jack was a member of several industry professional societies including AFCCE, IEEE, NSPE, SBE, and TSPE.
Along the way, Jack developed the AM Stereo system for TFT. He also filed for and was a partner in a new station on 620 in the northeast side of Dallas. He even found time to qualify as a private air pilot. Jack decided in 2017 to take what might be called “a soft retirement.” However, his love of radio kept him busy finishing off several projects. Perhaps one of his more interesting and personal jobs was in purchasing the Wichita Falls, TX 620 station and moving it to the Dallas area. He designed a directional antenna system that covers the Dallas-Ft. Worth market very well.
In 2009, Jack received the NAB Engineering Achievement Award of the year from NAB at the Spring convention, and in 2014 the Texas Association of Broadcasting named Jack to receive the The George Marti Award for Engineering Excellence.
As he moved through his 70s, he still enjoyed working in his workshop/ham station/historical library, and working in the field with some of the big signals in the country. KMOX, St Louis and WKY, Oklahoma City were just two of the many projects he worked on in his latter years.
… as his friends will tell you, his memory of broadcast history was strong, and he was always happy to share it!
Jack will be cremated after a memorial on 11/19/23 at the Greekwood United Methodist Church in Allen, TX.
Jack is survived by his wife, Jeannine, and two sons, Scott and David.
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David Stewart, a lifelong broadcast engineer and radio enthusiast, well-known and helpful to everyone, suffered a stroke and passed away July 1, 2023 at the age of 63.
David Stewart April 1, 1960 – July 1, 2023
David Stewart was born on April 1, 1960 in Lubbock, Texas to Richard and Janice. He then lived in Boyd, TX (about 30 miles NW of Ft. Worth).
He graduated from Boyd High School and Texas Tech University in Lubbock Even before graduating high school, he was already working for a local radio station – KNTO, Wichita Falls. David loved radio and found a way to get into almost every station in Dallas=Ft. Worth and environs: he asked to see the Public Information File. That led to a lot of tours, and he made some friends all over the area.
In college, he began serving as on-air talent at the campus radio station, and also handled master control and engineering duties for KCBD-TV. He also worked at KTEZ, KFYO, and KLBK-AM. When Texas Tech sold off the radio stations, David worked at and became Chief Engineer at KKAM AM/ KFMX-FM.
In 1985 he joined Tichenor Media Systems, where he worked for 12 years, largely based in El Paso, TX. In 1997, Heftel (later Hispanic Broadcasting) purchased Tichenor and David followed. (Hispanic merged with Univision is 2003.) He served the company as Director of Engineering for 13 years, supervising over three dozen engineers, and often lending a hand personally to make things work better.
It was in 2004 that David started Moving Target Consulting Works, targeting his efforts at small market and mom & pop owned stations. This included his taking ownership of KPET AM/FM in Lamesa, Texas. (He also was part owner since 2008 of KWFB, Holiday, TX and KXXN-FM Highland Park, TX.), In recent years, David kept KPET one the air almost singlehandedly, doing tech, sales, payroll, etc. etc., even when the city did not support his efforts.
In 2019, he received the George Marti Award for Engineering Excellence from the Texas Association of Broadcasters.
David was never too busy to help someone in need. He knew the industry. And, if you asked him a question about almost any station facilities and its history, you could easily have an hour-long conversation. His picture library of radio station sites – the good, the bad, the ugly – was tremendous, as was his willingness to share.
In keeping with David’s way of always helping others, he has donated all his organs to those in need.
More information will be added to this file as received.
Ray Topp, a life-long broadcaster and the Owner and Publisher of Media Magazines – best known for his long-running Radio Guide Magazine – passed away suddenly in early January. He was 74 years of age.
Raymond C. Topp
December 18, 1948 – January 2023
Ray developed his passion for radio growing up in Trimont, Minnesota where his grandfather, the owner of a Radio Repair Shop, introduced him to electronics. Ray would work in his grandfather’s radio shop, starting at the age of 11, learning how to rebuild small equipment and eventually radios. As he became a young adult, his passion deepened for radio.
Ray served for 6 years in the US Navy as a Petty Officer First Class stationed in Guam. He served as an electrical engineer defending our country during the Vietnam War.
After serving his country, Ray moved to Rochester, Minnesota and worked for several radio stations as an electrical engineer. He eventually became a contract engineer, expanding his impact to the number of stations he supported in southeast Minnesota and surrounding states.
During this time, Ray and his wife Rita became station owners of KYBA (FM) for two years before selling the station.
RADIO GUIDE
Ray started his publication business in 1988, when he began the first of eight publications – the Rochester Radio Guide.
For nearly 40 years he worked tirelessly on his publications and enjoyed meeting and working with those who shared his passion for radio and broadcasting. His booth at the NAB Convention was a meeting point for many, including those who had written for him over the years.
Ray considered all his colleagues he partnered with – as an electrical engineer, and owner/publisher of Radio Guide and his other Media Magazines – to be his friends, and spoke warmly about everyone.
Ray died in early January 2023. Ray is survived by his wife Rita, who were married for 44 years, as well as two stepchildren and 6 grandchildren. He will be missed by so many family members, friends, and colleagues whose live he touched in a positive way.
Anyone who would like to join Ray’s memorial service is welcome. The service is planned for 3:00 pm on April 15, 2023 in Sedona, Arizona at Christ Lutheran Church. Written condolences can be sent to:
Radio Guide
PO Box 20975
Sedona, AZ 86341
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We wish to express our sincere gratitude to Rita Topp for her kindly sharing this look at Ray’s life and accomplishments.
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Specs Howard, the force behind a school for broadcasters for over five decades, passed away on September 3rd at the age of 96.
Julian “Specs Howard” Liebman April 8, 1926 – September 3, 2022
Most folks today know him as the head of the eponymous Specs Howard School of Broadcasting which, for over 50 years helped Detroit students prepare for radio and TV careers. I was never a student, only an employee. When Specs hired me in 1999, I was not sure what to expect, but for more than 10 years it was a life-changing experience for me – big time.
Howard was born in Kittanning, PA in 1926. He had a difficult start, overcoming polio as a child. After High School, he attended and graduated from Allegheny College, after studying history and political science. But it soon developed that he had a love for radio, taking a job at a small station in Sharon, PA. It was there that he met his wife, Celia (Beshkin), and they were together for life.
In 1954, he moved to Cleveland, OH to take a job there. He became quite popular as a Rock and Roll DJ at KYW and later as the team of Martin and Howard. It was there his name was changed to reflect his strong glasses – and Julian Liebman became was Specs Howard.
From Cleveland, the accepted an offer to move to Detroit and WXYZ in 1967.
The team continued to do well, although things did change when the station suddenly changed format from Rock to “Middle of the Road.”
TEACHING OTHERS
So it was that Specs started his school in 1970, amid four other similar schools on a mission to change lives of others for the better.
After just one year, Specs Howard School was the only one left, and in the next 50 years more than 15,000 students were taught broadcasting, digital media arts, and graphic design.
When I started, I had just left a short stint with Cumulus and was managing my own syndication business. Specs had purchased their first ENCO system, and I was the first to test drive it and install it, while renovating the school. They ended up with ENCO and digital boards in 21 studios. For me, it was a dream job: no transmitter sites with wasps or towers to inspect.
HIS MISSION BECAME MY MISSION
Specs’ demeanor, shared by his top aides, like Dick Kernen, was the most upbeat of anyone for whom I have ever worked.
The most rewarding thing I learned as a Specs employee (in addition to re-inventing their technical plant) was not related to engineering. It was “helping others to become better than they thought they could be” whether it was learning to operate equipment, software-related, or just giving someone a word of encouragement.
That become my mission too.
Finishing and supporting those studios actually became secondary, but they did get many years of my blood and sweat which I happily provided because Specs treated me so well. For example, one time, when I was hospitalized with pneumonia, Specs Howard himself called me at my hospital bed with words of encouragement, then Dick Kernen called right after that.
Sometimes, while I was working on a studio, Specs always took time to ask me how things were going. I always got the impression that he truly cared about those of us working in the trenches. Like any large facility, there were challenges, but in general, it was a great place to work. That is only possible when the man at the top treats his staff well.
His door was always open and his keen interest in staff and students was apparent.
Specs Howard School had been in business 50 years. In 2021, the Specs Howard program was absorbed and now being taught by nearby Lawrence Technological University.
Specs passed away at home with his wife Celia at his side
Specs Howard may be gone, but his legacy continues.
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We appreciate the thoughts of Bob Burnham, a radio engineer who has been active in Detroit for four decades.
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Terry Baun, an accomplished broadcast engineer who enjoyed sharing his knowledge and experience, succumbed to health issues and passed away on January 1st at the age of 74.
Terrence Baun
1947 – January 1, 2022
Terry graduated from Marquette University, entering the broadcast industry in 1967 at WFMR-FM, Milwaukee.
Over the years, he built his reputation as a sharp engineer who was willing to help others in Wisconsin and nationally. In addition to operating his own consulting firm, Criterion Broadcast Services, he worked for Sudbrink Broadcasting, Multimedia Broadcasting, Cumulus Broadcasting, and the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.
Starting in 1995, Terry was the Chief Inspector for the ABIP in Wisconsin, as well as active in doing inspections in Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. His emphasis on helping stations achieve compliance was matched by his willingness to mentor more than find and cite violations. Another of his accomplishments was setting up an “engineering hotline” in 2000 that he answered 24/7 to help others in difficulty.
Many broadcasters know Terry from his years as an active SBE member: he was President (1995-97), Board Member, Certification Committee member (and Chair) – certified CPBE, AMD, and CBNT – Chapter Chairman, and later named a Fellow of the SBE (1999). It was at the SBE that he met his future wife, Linda (Godby), whom he married in since September 2002.
Richard Rudman, another former SBE President notes: “I first met Terry when I served on the Board of Directors of the SBE in the 80’s. Terry was an able and strong supporter of SBE to the benefit of all broadcast engineers. Terry will be remembered by his friends and fellow engineers as a patient, warm, caring person who was a real friend as well as a colleague.
“I know that Terry believed in the importance of radio as a medium that not only entertains and informs, but can save lives and property with timely emergency information when all else fails. Terry never failed us, and I will continue to remind myself of Terry as well as all our colleagues who have passed who invested of themselves in our profession’s survival and its future.”
Richard Hyatt added: “Terry Baun was one of the “best-of-the-best.” He wrote the formative engineering mission and vision statement for Cumulus Broadcasting, which had at its core a foundation of personal and professional integrity, and excellence in everything. Terry hired me to oversee the engineering for the CMLS facilities in the state of Maine, and there was no doubt as to his commitment to the growth of his personnel, as much as to “his” properties.” … “he will genuinely be missed, wherever gentlemen broadcast engineers may gather.”
Terry was also a member of the Audio Engineering Society (AES), the Association of Federal Communications Consulting Engineers (AFCCE), and the IEEE.
Over the years, Terry authored a number of articles in the trade press, and was also a co-author for an NAB Engineering Handbook chapter on facilities documentation. He “retired” in 2017.
Among his awards: 1991 SBE Broadcast Engineer of the Yea; 2003 SBE Educator of the Year; 2004 Wisconsin Broadcasters’ Association Foundation Hall of Fame; and 2010 The SBE John Battison Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Among his avocations: trains, Rock artists Fleetwood Mac and the Beatles, classical music, Football (especially the Packers), and family. Terry is survived by his wife, Linda, stepdaughters Leslie (Wood) and Stacey (Overman), and their five grandchildren.
His final request was for a party … (on January 16, 2022) … to bring all his many friends together to remember him and his contributions to the industry.
Dennis Baldridge passed away in Scottsdale, AZ on December 4th after a battle against cancer. He was 67 years old.
Dennis Baldridge November 25, 1954 – December 4, 2021
Dennis was born November 25, 1954 in Decatur, son of Everett and Juanita Baldridge.
He attended Alan Shepherd grade school and Bradley-Bourbonnais High School, graduating in 1972. Graduated Olivet Nazarene University 1976, B.S. Music Ed, trombone & piano.
At Olivet he met the love of his life, Jane Friske; they were married in 1976, four days after graduation. They were active in music and other ministries at KKK 1st Church of the Nazarene where Dennis served as Minister of Music in the 1980s.
Dennis also holds a Masters Degree in Science Education from Olivet, and a Doctorate Degree in Church Music from Louisiana Baptist University. He worked as a musician, educator, and broadcast engineer throughout his life. He was employed at Olivet for 13 years as Director for the Science Technology Facility, and WONU Chief Engineer (CE). In 1993, he and his family moved to rural WI, where he was employed as CE for WRCO, Richland Center for 28 years. He founded a Classically Christian radio station, WCNP-FM 89.5 in 2013, serving as General Manager and CE until 2020.
In late 2017, Dennis was suddenly diagnosed with stage IV prostate cancer. He fought valiantly for over 4 years, continuing to lead an active life, while researching and undergoing cancer treatments, both traditional and alternative. He and Jane moved to Scottsdale, AZ in October 2021 to be near family there.
Dennis was an active member of the Society of Broadcast Engineers, and the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association. He was highly regarded by his professional colleagues: Chairman of SBE Chapter 24 in 2008, SBE Educator of the Year in 2013, and speaker at SBE conferences as part of their Presenters Group. He earned 5 specialized SBE certifications, and performed technical inspections throughout Wisconsin for the WBA from 2004-2021. During this time, Dennis also continued to pursue his love for music. He was active in his church as Music Director, he and Jane enjoyed singing duets, and collaborating on other musical projects, such as the Gloria Home School Choir, teaching music/worship/conducting courses at the International Academy of Music in Indianapolis, and family music presentations. Playing the harp was a new interest he discovered in 2015; he enjoyed video lessons with a professional Canadian harpist.
Also among Dennis’ varied hobbies were Amateur Radio (held Extra-class License), gardening, and working on his antique cars (’38 Packard, ’29 Model A Ford). He had a passion for the Word of God, preparing sermons for pulpit-supply preaching, and reading the works of great theologians.
Dennis is survived by his wife Jane, 5 children: Jana (Tingom) of Scottsdale, AZ, Timothy of Denver, CO, Shelley (Chicago), Mark (Cedar Rapids, IA), and Ryan (Jacksonville, FL); 12 grandchildren; brother Terry (Olathe KS), sister Sandy Jewell, (Ft. Wayne, IN).
We appreciate information supplied by Kyle Geissler
The following is from Vicki Kipp:
“One of the things that I admire about Dennis is that he pursued advanced knowledge in all of the fields that he was in, dedicating himself to learning the subject, earning certifications, and serving as a leader.
“Dennis was flush with credentials in his broadcast career: his original blue 1st Class FCC Radiotelephone License, his Extra-class Ham License (K0DB), SBE certifications (CPBE, 8-VSB, AMD, DRB, CBNT, ATSC3), and SBE Educator of the Year, as well as his service as an ABIP inspector after Terry Baun and as a technical presenter, Chapter 24 chair, chief engineer roles at multiple radio stations, and starting a Christian radio station, 89.5 WCNP-FM Reedsburg.
“Dennis was among the first few people to take the very difficult ATSC 3 exam in 2019 while it was still in the Beta phase and passed it, demonstrating his commitment until the end, even as the cancer progressed. I think about Dennis presenting to us one last time in September at the Broadcasters Clinic, and consider how much time and energy it must have taken him to prepare, and how exhausting that must have been for him when he was in the final three months of his illness. He gave every last bit of energy he had to serve our industry that he cared about so much.
“I think that Dennis wanted to prepare us. After that last presentation, he offered up his broadcast engineering books to us because he and Jane were moving. He talked to people about the role of ABIP inspector.
“As much as Dennis was super productive as a broadcast engineer, he also excelled in other areas of his life. Family, for example. His wife Jane was with him for SBE picnics and many other events. When Chapter 24 toured the Dane County Airport, Dennis brought his sons Mark and Ryan along. It was a cold, rainy fall night and not great for a long drive back to Hillsboro, but they were fine.
“When I saw Dennis, the first thing that he would do is ask about my kids and what we were up to. And I’d ask Dennis what he’d been up to. He’d tell me about Jane and his kids and grandkids. Then, with great humility, Dennis would casually mention that he had been conducting an orchestra, teaching at the music academy, directing a student choir in concerts, or giving sermons at church. He had whole other areas of his life that he made great contributions of time and labor to, just like he did in broadcast engineering. I feel like Dennis’s dedication to whatever he was doing was a constant in his life.
“Even with his cancer treatment, Dennis educated himself on oncology and all of the treatment options and made informed decisions. If there was a patient certification, I feel confident that Dennis would have earned that, too.”
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In June 1969, Jack married his wife Jeannine, and they spent over five decades together.
