Motor City Radio Flashbacks recently heard from Mike Kenny on June 19.
Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts and comments, posted under, Former Detroit Radio Personalities — Deceased. Mr. Kenny, wrote:
“I spent 17 years in Detroit Radio / TV. Let me add some information to your list of deceased Radio / TV people who were my co-workers:
“J. P. McCarthy – Died 16 August 1995 of a rare form of blood disease. Age 62.
“Oscar Frenette – Hired me at WPON in Pontiac, then was my co-worker at WJR News. Died 9 December 1997. Age 71. Emphysema.
“Rita Bell – hostess of “Prize Movie” Channel 7 in Detroit. Died here in San Diego (Rancho Bernardo) of Colon cancer on 9 December 2003. Age 78.
“Lowell Newton – WXYZ-TV “street reporter” then Editorial Director at the station. Was vacationing in Rome in 1981 when an assassin shot at Pope John Paul II. Newton was first to report from the scene. He was later called to Rome to testify at the trial of the assassin. Died 8 February 2000. Age 87 (?) following heart surgery.
“Dave Diles – Died at his Ohio farm from a stroke on 27 December 2009 (not the 2005 date listed). Age 78
“Jim Herrington – WXYZ-TV “street reporter”. Died in Sarasota, Florida on 4 January 2013. Age 84.
“Jennifer Moore – WJR then WDIV Newscaster. Died 11 July 2014 of cancer. Age 64.
“Bill Bonds – WXYZ-TV News anchor. Died 13 December 2014. Age 82.
“Don Haney – WXYZ-TV – He helped break the “color barrier” in Detroit TV in the 1960’s. Died in Little Rock, Arkansas on 24 March 2015. Age 80.
“2016 was a bad year for WJR alumni. I lost some good friends:
Paul Carey – WJR Sports and Tigers play-by-play announcer with Ernie Harwell. 35 years @ WJR. Died 12 April 2016. Age 88.
“Rod Hansen – WJR Award-winning Newscaster. 35 years at the station. Died on the 4th of July 2016. Age 75.
“Gene Healy – WJR Newscaster for 27 years died 16 September 2016. Age 85.
“Bob Pisor – Detroit News reporter, Coleman Young Press Secretary and WDIV Newscaster for 11 years – Died 7 July 2017 of cancer at his Northern Michigan farm. Age 77.
“Frank Benesh – First broadcaster to appear on WJRT Flint when it went on the air. Later WXYZ-TV News Director (and my boss) during the Bill Bonds, Barney Morris, Solon Gray and Ken Thomas eras. Died 7 December 2017. Age 92.
“Mike Whorf – WJR Award winning Broadcaster. Died 10 November 2020. Age 88.
“Tommy Shannon – Well known and popular CKLW & WXYZ Radio “jock”. Died in Salinas, California 27 May 2021. Age 82.
“Frank Beckmann – WJR Newsman, then Sports for 30-plus years.. Voice of U. of M., and Detroit Lions football. Died 11 February 2022. Age 72.
“I am thoroughly enjoying your look at the “old days” of Detroit Radio / TV. I will look to see if I have any old ‘radio-checks’ around.”
Thanks, Mike Kenny
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Thank you, Mike, for your comments and visiting MCRFB.COM! 🙂
