Jeremy Ruck
1971 – 2021

Jeremy Ruck, RPE, and owner of Jeremy Ruck and Associates in Canton IL was a well-known and active professional and consulting engineer. Sadly, he passed away on December 11^th from complications from the covid virus at just 50 years of age.

Jeremy Ruck
March 2, 1971 – December 11, 2021

Jeremy graduated from High School in 1988 and got his BSEE from Bradley University in 1996.

A man with focus and determination, he would set a goal and worked toward accomplishing it. For example, when he decided to get his Electrical PE License, he did not return to school, but studied all the material required and just went and took the test.

Starting in 1996, he worked under Don Markley in Peoria for 10 years. When Markley died, he put out his shingle as Jeremy Ruck & Associates. Among many projects, he managed the RF activities at Willis Tower in Chicago, the largest single Broadcasting antenna site in the US.

At the time of his death, he was especially busy working on the Chicago Television re-pack up on the Willis Tower. He was a tireless worker, many times worker long hours and overnights, particularly at Willis Tower.

He was a good friend to fellow Engineers and very approachable. Jeremy was excellent at communicating difficult concepts and making them clear. He carried on Markley’s annual tradition of speaking at the Madison Broadcasters Clinic. I’m not sure who is going to do that now. He was noted for his dry humor, cartoons, and funny photos at the start of his presentation as well as sharing his real-world RF experiences and stories of his antenna work at Willis Tower.

Jeremy is survived by his wife of 25 years, Frankie, sister Holly, son Alexander, his mother Jerrie Ruck, and step-mother Beverly Ruck. He will be sorely missed by many more than just his family, friends, and those with whom he worked.

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Our thanks to Rich Wood and Art Reis for their kind help with some of Jeremy’s background.

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Bernie O’Brien
1947 – 2021

Bernie O’Brien, a familiar face to SCMS clients and many others, passed away on November 22^nd after an extended illness. He was 74 years old.

Bernie O’Brien
 September 30, 1947 – November 22, 2021

Born September 30, 1947, Bernie was a private person who left home as a teenager, and preferred to leave it at that. However, he was also someone who never met a stranger. He was always more than gracious to assist anyone in business or in his personal life.

Over the years, Bernie became well-known widely by Broadcasters throughout the US as well as many manufacturers with whom he worked over the years.

Bernie joined SCMS about 34 years ago as a sales engineer who had previously worked for David Green and Associates (acquired by Radio Resources). Bernie was the first field salesperson that SCMS hired and a great engineer that loved the industry. In addition to selling for SCMS, Inc., Bernie also worked with several groups on a contract consulting basis such as Flinn Broadcast in Memphis.

Easy to recognize with his faded Blue Jeans and Handle Mustache, Bernie could often be found at conventions outside having a smoke with his longtime friend Dale Tucker or meeting with his close engineering buddy Dave Hacker.

Bernie was a problem solver and will be missed. He loved giving each of us answers to our customers’ questions and problems, providing unique technical solutions from his many years of experience. As he would often say, “No Problem Chief!”

Bernie passed away on November 22^nd after a six-month extended illness that was unrelated to Covid.

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Our thanks to Bob Cauthen for this above information.

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                 Phil Kane
               1936 – 2021

Phil Kane, well-known broadcast engineer, FCC District Director (San Francisco), attorney, and Amateur K2ASP passed away on November 24^th in Beaverton, OR after dealing with some health issues.
He was 85 years old.

 

                           Philip M. Kane
December 6, 1936 – November 24, 2021

Phil Kane was born in Brooklyn NY on December 6, 1936. Life brought him to California.

Phil earned a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degree from The Cooper Union School of Engineering. He also graduated from UCLA, Los Angeles, with a degree in System Engineering.

After graduation, in 1957, Phil worked for the US Air Force as an Electronic Systems Engineer on major defense applications including USAF/SAC Command and Control System. There he designed and oversaw functional and operational tests.

From 1964-67, he served in the Ministry of Communications of the State of Israel. In the Engineering Services, Frequency and Licensing Branch he worked as a regulatory engineer, dealing with national and international communications regulatory issues.

Back in the USA, Phil joined the FCC in 1967, serving in the San Francisco office for 28 years and rising to the post of District Director. Known as a detailed engineer, he usually was more concerned with helping broadcast stations correct problems – although when the ignored/disobeyed his orders, there would be consequences.

During his time at the FCC Phil also attended San Francisco Law School, graduating with a JD in 1994. He was admitted to legal practice before California State and Federal Courts and before the Federal Communications Commission – and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Since retiring from the FCC in 1995, Phil would become perhaps the very first Alternate Broadcast Inspector under the ABIP arrangement. He had been an Attorney and Engineering Manager as Vice-President-General Counsel of the consulting engineering firm CSI Telecommunications. There his specialties included  communications regulatory compliance – legal and technical areas such as siting and land use permit issues for communications facilities, especially emergency communication siting, planning and operations.

As part of his work over the past 50 years, he qualified as Registered Professional Engineer in California, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah, and is eligible in all other jurisdictions.

Phil was Senior Life Member, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE); a Life Member – Society of Broadcast Engineers, Chapter Vice-Chair; a Senior Member – National Association of Radio and Telecommunications Engineers and a Life Member and Asst. Division Director – American Radio Relay League, and, locally, active in the Washington County (Oregon) ARES.

Phil had a both a great sense of humor and a clear understanding of the issues that have consumed much of the FCC he knew.

Phil passed away just a month after his wife. He is survived by son Lee (Gina Rosito) Kane and daughter, Shoshana (Stephen) Silver; and stepson, Daniel (Leslie) Petcher; and step-daughter, Ruthanne Gould. They asked that those wishing to make donations, do so in their name to any food bank.

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Thomas L. Giglio

September 22, 1943 – October 16, 2021

Longtime Atlanta broadcast engineer Tom Giglio lost his battle with cancer on October 16, passing away at home in Loganville, GA. He was 77 years old.

Tom was born in Atlanta in 1943 to James Anthony Giglio and Virginia Wathen Giglio.

He attended John B. Gordon Elementary School in East Atlanta and graduated from Murphy High School in 1961. After High School, Tom went to Georgia Tech.

In 1961, while attending Georgia Tech, he went to work as a transmitter operator with hometown radio station WQXI in Atlanta, GA. Forty-five years later, in 2006, and still with the same company aside from a stint in the US Army, he retired as Corporate Vice-President of Engineering at Jefferson-Pilot.

Tom was well-respected in the broadcast community. A Ham (W4LGA), he was active in county emergency volunteer work and emergency communications with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency.

In 2017 was inducted into the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame. In 2019, the Georgia Association of Broadcasters awarded Tom the GAB Engineering Award. And, in 2020 he was commended for his years as Secretary of the Walton County Citizen Corps Council.

Tom married a childhood friend, Lynn Daniel in 1993. He always claimed that marrying Lynn was the wisest thing he ever did. Lynn was still at his side when he passed away.

Along with his wife, Tom is survived by two brothers and two sisters: James Cruz Giglio (Ann) of Maryland, John Anthony Giglio (Arlene) of Cedartown, GA, Angela Andrews (Bill) of Chicago, and Virginia Dunnigan (Neal) of Cork, Ireland. He had 3 children, 5 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

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Darryl E. Parker

October 24, 1943 – August 6, 2021

The well-liked and respected broadcaster, the longtime “face” of TFT at conventions, Darryl Parker passed away on August 6th in San Jose, CA. He was 77 years old.

Darryl was Texas born and bred, and always spoke with a pleasant voice that reminded listeners of his origins. Southern Methodist University is where he got his BA in classics and mathematics. He also studied marketing at Caltech, which prepared him well for his long career in sales/marketing.

Darryl’s start in broadcasting came as an on-air and newscaster at a local station.

From 1970 to 1978, Darryl was the Electrical Engineering Director at Texas State Networks. After a stint as Sales Manager at MZB Associates, and a couple years with is own Parker Communications working with MCI/Sony, Darryl joined TFT in San Jose, CA in 1991 and was Senior VP for the next 14 years. When TFT abruptly closed its doors, Darryl became marketing manager of Alligator Communications, makers of SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) radios. At the same time, he made himself easily available to TFT users, helping them get parts and support for their equipment.

In addition to his broadcast activities Darryl was an accomplished organist, especially for church services.

He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Elizabeth, a sister, two children, his step-daughter, three grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

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Bill Croghan

January 16, 1944 – November 9, 2018

One of the nicest guys in the radio business, Bill Croghan WB0KSW, passed away Saturday, November 9, 2018, less than a day after entering hospice in Las Vegas, suffering from lung cancer. He was 74 years of age.

Bill Croghan was born in Alden, New York, where he graduated from Alden Senior High School. He then studied Music Education at the State University of New York at Fredonia. During that time, he became interested in radio, buying a CB radio in 1962 from Olsen’s Electronics in Buffalo, NY and acquired the call sign KLP-6464. This led to a gig at the college radio station as a DJ, radio newsman, television newsman, eventually drifting into the engineering.

After University, Croghan joined the Air Force. A Vietnam era veteran, He served as a Sergeant, and was an Instructor in Electronics Intelligence. He has served several decades with the Civil Air Patrol and was a Lt. Colonel with the Nevada Wing at the time of his passing.

He also once worked as a professional photographer taking school pictures.

Croghan, along with his wife Cecile “Ski” KA7QEH started Broadcast Radio Services in 1980 while residing in the Denver and Colorado Springs areas of CO. Later, they moved to Turlock, CA and Tucson and Sierra Vista, AZ, before coming to Las Vegas in 1998. While in Arizona, he was the Chief Engineer for Behan Broadcasting, and very active in the Ham community.

For twenty years the Croghans had resided in Las Vegas where he had become a stalwart of the local amateur radio community as well as co-chair of the EAS SECC, and notably supportive of the Nevada Broadcasters’ Association. He was the Chief Engineer for Lotus Broadcasting where he oversaw the eight local radio stations until he retired at the end of September 2017.

The Croghans were Life Members of the American Radio Relay League. Additionally, he was a member and past officer of the Las Vegas Radio Amateur Club, a member of Clark County ARES/RACES, a member of Air Force MARS, the Civil Air Patrol, a SKYWARN volunteer, and a Volunteer Examiner for both the ARRL and W5YI VEC’. He also was an examiner for National Radio Examiners which tests candidates for Commercial Radio Licenses – and often helped train new hams.

Croghan was the 1991 Arizona Ham of the Year. He also was a member of the BؚO Amateur Radio Fraternity and the Straight Key Century Club. He was also the trustee of the K7UGE repeaters, volunteering for and supporting nearly every public service activity which required amateur radio communications.

In recent years, Croghan was inducted into the Nevada Broadcasters Hall of Fame. He was the Chairman of Chapter 128 of the Society of Broadcast Engineers and an Adjunct Instructor at the College of Southern Nevada.

In addition to wife, Ski, Croghan is survived by his sister, Gail Nelson, and daughter Angie Wilson Bashaw.

At Croghan’s request, there will be no services or memorials.

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Our sincere thanks to John Higby for much of the information, and Paul Walker for the picture.

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Bob Moore

1948 – 2021

Broadcast engineer and tech support guru Bob Moore passed away on June 13, 2021 after suffering lingering effects of a motorcycle accident in the Summer of 2017. He was 72 years old.

Robert Rudolph Moore, Jr.
October 28, 1948 – June 13, 2021

Bob was born on October 28, 1948 in Fremont, Michigan to Robert Rudolph and Lila Therese (Bondie) Moore, Sr. and graduated from Fremont High School. Starting while in school he worked as a Disc Jockey for some time at his hometown stations, including WBFC and WSHN.

Bob went into the military as a Broadcast Specialist, producing interviews of soldiers, editing them, and sending them back to the US. Starting in 1970, he attended Grand Rapids Junior College and RETS Television and Electronics School and, after trade school and acquiring his First Phone, worked as an radio engineer.

After graduation, Bob’s career path continued in broadcast engineering and sound management. In late 1975 he went to work for Gates Radio/Harris, leaving in 1978 to go to WKBW, Buffalo NY, as the assistant Chief Engineer. There, he and Peter Burk built a remote control system.

Bob next served as Chief Engineer at WJNL in Petoskey, Michigan and WBAP in Fort Worth, Texas.

Starting in 1985, he was the Customer Service Manager for Pacific Recorders and Engineering in Carlsbad, California, where he was the “goto” guy for many users of PRE consoles and other gear. He was liked and respected by those who knew him well.

In 1991, Bob returned to radio at KTNQ in Los Angeles, California, and WINS AM/FM and WCBS AM/FM in New York City.

He “retired” in 2000, then moved back to Fremont and opened Mooretronix, providing sales, service parts, and even refurbishing services for PRE equipment.

He was active until the motorcycle accident in June 2017. Recovery proved to be difficult, and ultimately he succumbed.

Preceded in death by his parents, Bob is survived by his sister, Cynthia Ann Webb of South Daytona Beach, FL; nephews Christian, Robert, Tony and niece Lila; great niece, Cindy; and great great niece, Callie.

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Ken Branton

1932 – 2021

If you ever tried to get help to repair a transmitter in the middle of the night, you have likely spoken to Ken Branton, the kindly, calm, and expert voice at Collins (later Continental) Technical Support. Ken passed away on June 17th; He was 89 years old.

Marion Kenneth Branton was born in 1932 in White Bluff, Mississippi and graduated from High School just in time to enlist in the Marines and to ship off to the Korean War. When he got home from Korea, Ken attended LSU, where he got a degree in Electrical Engineering.

During the Vietnam War, Collins Radio sent Ken to Vietnam to help maintain the armed services’ radio gear – and where he met his wife, Trang. Despite the chaos of the final days, Ken and his family were able to escape from Vietnam on one of the final evacuation planes, thanks to the co-pilot who knew Ken and literally pulled him and his family on board.

Back in the USA, Ken joined the Collins Broadcast Field Service office and, along with Dave Chenoweth began a tradition that extended to Continental Electronics when that company purchased the Broadcast Division from Rockwell-Collins in 1980. Their level of technical support was widely acknowledged as the Gold Standard, and other companies have tried to emulate it in the years since.

A family man, although he did travel some – to many places around the world – Ken preferred to stay at home and dispense assistance from his office while Chenoweth did more of the on-site work. That is why a 3 AM phone call more often than not connected to Ken’s calm re-assuring Southern tones. Even if you were off-air, when talking to Ken, anxiety immediately started to fade.

“Now look,” he would say, “someone built this thing and we can fix it.”

With his help, a whole generation of engineers was patiently taught and walked-through maintenance of their transmitters – or as Ken would say “radios.” It was not unusual for him to say something like “on the back wall of that radio, about 18 inches from the left side, you will see the capacitor. We will fix that and the radio will be right back on the air.”

Some folks found it surprising to learn how Ken knew each and every wire and component in the “radio.” His ability to visualize and trace circuitry was so good, he often would turn out the lights and close the door to his office as he guided engineers through the electronic and mechanical systems.

Ken’s willingness to follow up and trace problems was even shown behind the scenes. Co-workers relate how he would sit behind a transmitter in the dark for hours, just waiting to see an arc. He and Dave also spent a lot of time to solve the “Crystal Gayle” problem – a low frequency tone burst that would knock a Power Rock (5 kW transmitter) off the air.

As the industry consolidation gathered speed in the late 1990’s, Ken particularly noticed how local engineers were stretched ever thinner even as transmitters become ever more computerized. “With the way it is now, engineers don’t have the time to go play with their transmitters even if they wanted to know how they work,” he says.

Ken retired from Continental in 1997, but continued to respond to calls for help, often coming down to the company’s offices, turn off the lights, and troubleshoot with the local engineer.

Despite having a low profile in the industry – Ken never really sought recognition and many only knew his voice, not even his name – in 2008, Radio Guide Magazine elected Ken to the Radio Guide Hall of Achievement, and presented a plaque thanking him for his contribution to so many in the business.

More Than Radio

As he segued from Continental, Ken’s passion for fixing things, including cars, led him to build a small chain of quick-lube oil-change shops that he purchased with a partner. The operated the shops for 20 years.

Always close to his family, Ken put all four children through college and watched them become successful in their pursuits. He especially loved seeing and spending time with his granddaughters.

Marion Kenneth Branton is survived by his wife of 50 years, Trang, his four children Von, Thuy (Mark Sherman), Steven, and Mark Branton, his brother Jehugh and sister-in-law Billie, and grandchildren Macy and Bailey Sherman – and his dog, Biscuit.

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We would like to sincerely thank John Abnour for his help and comments on how Ken Branton made life better for many broadcasters.

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It was 113 years ago when Nathan Stubblefield was awarded a Patent for “wireless telephone.” Yet, despite a number of extremely vocal proponents, Stubblefield was never given the acclaim he desired. Still, his efforts were worth remembering. As historians look at inventions, it is sometimes difficult to know exactly what was invented and […]

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Veteran broadcaster, teacher, and friend, Dick Kernen passed away of natural causes at home in Dearborn, MI on December 18, 2020 at the age of 82.

Richard C. Kernen
May 12, 1938 – December 18, 2020

The broadcast industry has lost a giant. Dick Kernen was a Master Engineer of People in the broadcast industry. No one knew how to fit the right people into the right slot as well as he did. No one!

A former Music Director and Assistant Program Director of ABC Radio’s WXYZ-AM Detroit, and the first Program Director of their sister rock station, WRIF-FM, he had settled into his favorite position many decades ago at Specs Howard School of Media Arts, in Southfield, Michigan.

When we first met in May 1999, my personal career had already been well underway. I had already built radio stations from the ground up, I had already worked with the best engineers in town maintaining and building complex facilities. I had already been on the air fulltime and been a fulltime production guy. I loved it all.

So how could knowing someone like Dick Kernen change my life? Somehow he did.

I was hired as Tom Profit’s right hand technical person, and joined the Specs Howard family as an employee. Dick would often catch me in the halls, telling me to come into his office – he had something to discuss or fix or give me.

Those would often turn into animated discussions, beginning with “What’s new?” which would lead to us exchanging hilarious horror stories about someone’s misadventure in the business … or some success stories! He knew everyone I knew, and I knew many of his friends.

I quickly became one of Kernen’s friends working at Specs Howard and afterward as well. Why? Because we both loved the business and both realized there was no need to retire if what you are doing what does not seem like work. We had a lot in common.

Dick was all thumbs, though, when it came to technical matters and he would sometimes ask me to explain something that he did not quite understand, or “how can I make this work?” One of my greatest joys at Specs was sharing with others what I had learned “the hard way.” I did not know everything but Dick was always a great listener as well as a great teacher, and he was quick to heap accolades on someone.

Once while going to my car in the Specs parking lot, he stopped me, shook my hand and said “Congratulations. You did it!” Puzzled, I said “Did what?” My work was my pleasure, but I had launched specsradio.com, the school’s first music-intensive Internet radio station, and that was “something” in Dick’s eyes. It was the last major project I had completed as an employee, but not the end of our friendship. Far from that.

He had a wickedly sarcastic and hilarious sense of humor. But rightfully so, he seemed most proud of what he had done for others through his association with the Specs Howard school. Dick would often say “You can’t walk into any radio or television station without running into a handful of Specs Howard graduates.” But it was Kernen who was the master “engineer” who had fit so many of those “pieces” into the right place.

During the course of my prior career, I encountered many of Kernen’s “pieces” who became good friends, because they were good people to begin with. They had been passengers on Kernen’s infamous “Clue Bus” which was basically his way of telling students to get their act together and be realistic.

The first year I worked for Specs Howard School, a staff season’s party was held at Kernen’s home in Dearborn. After most everyone had left, Dick spent a good amount of time giving myself and the wife the grand tour and chatting with us about everything. We were just getting to know each other, but he was incredibly gracious and treated us like family.

I remember fondly when I was hospitalized for about a week – the first phone call I received was from Dick Kernen. Truly, he cared more about my wellbeing than my own family.

The school made a Dick Kernen bobble-head and gave them away to employees on Dick’s 50th anniversary in the broadcast business. When I was no longer an employee, he told me I was still welcome in his office anytime. His modest words were “You know I’m just a hood ornament here” referring to his position as Vice President of Industry Relations at Specs Howard School. He said that we could have lunch anytime.

Sadly, those lunches did not occur – at least with me – nor did I have a chance to thank him for teaching me what I learned from him simply by observation.

Thank you Dick Kernen for your friendship.

The industry has lost a giant.

Dick Kernen is survived by Charlene his wife of 56 years, son Robert and wife Patty, brothers Tom and Jim, sister Janis Redinger, and several grandchildren.

Memorial arrangements are pending. Donations in Kernen’s name are suggested for Hospice of Michigan.

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In addition to his time as staff engineer at the Specs Howard School of broadcasting, Bob Burnham has been doing on-air and radio engineering work in the Detroit area and around Michigan for over four decades. You can contact him at: bob@brcbroadcast.com

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