National Radio Hall of Fame Announces 2005 Nominees

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 12, 2005

Media Contact: Gina Doyle, 312/396-0103

A geographically diverse group of local broadcasters and several classic series top the list of 2005 nominees into the National Radio Hall of Fame, announced today by NRHOF President Bruce DuMont.

"Our Radio Hall of Fame list this year includes many respected broadcasters who have worked at the local level and who are being recognized for the first time," said DuMont. "It is also important that we recognize the very special shows that defined the medium as an entertainment force and one of inspiration as well," DuMont added.

Winners in each of the following categories will be inducted during a national radio broadcast from Chicago's Renaissance Hotel on Saturday, November 5. Westwood One will produce and distribute the broadcast and Interep will co-sponsor the program.

The 2005 nominees to the National Radio Hall of Fame are:

NETWORK OR SYNDICATED - ACTIVE

  • Bob & Tom
    Indianapolis based comedy duo, Bob Kevoian and Tom Griswold, formed The Bob & Tom Show in 1983. Not only one of America's most popular morning shows, Bob & Tom have also been recognized for donating their comedy albums' proceeds to local charities.

  • Ann Compton
    ABC News White House Correspondent since 1974, Ann Compton Hughes was the first woman to cover the White House full time for a network. Ann has had the White House assignment through seven presidential campaigns. She also served as a panelist for the presidential debates of 1988 and 1992.

  • Marian McPartland
    Host of Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz for more than 25 years on National Public Radio, McPartland taught herself how to play piano at age three. This famed jazz musician, born in England, has hosted NPR's longest-running jazz program.

  • Dr. Laura Schlessinger
    An opinionated relationship advisor, Schlessinger is known for her no-nonsense philosophy of personal responsibility and self-motivation. This Brooklyn-born talk-show host since 1974, Schlessinger has a radio audience of millions and is on over 300 stations.

NETWORK OR SYNDICATED - PIONEER

  • Abbott & Costello
    The zany comedy team William Alexander Abbott and Louis Francis Costello aired on the ABC Network from 1941-46 and on NBC from 1946-49. They were best known for their signature skit "Who's on First," which debuted on the Kate Smith Radio Hour in 1938. Their satire provided comedic relief during the war.

  • Gang Busters
    This law enforcement reality series created by Phillips Lord and hosted by Col. H. Norman Schwarzkopf (the General's father) that aired on NBC, ABC, CBS and Mutual blasted into living rooms in 1935. With radio actors Art Carney, Richard Widmark and Alice Reinheart, the show featured stories based on FBI cases and a signature opening with machine guns, police whistles and screeching tires.

  • The Great Gildersleeve
    Comedy stars Harold Peary and Willard Waterman, along with a strong supporting cast, followed the antics of Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve - a pompous character who first appeared on Fibber McGee and Molly. The Great Gildersleeve was radio's first spin-off series and premiered on NBC in 1941, with its last live broadcast in 1957.

  • Music and the Spoken Word
    A program of inspiration and music, featuring The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Music and the Spoken Word is the longest-running radio broadcast in America. The Choir, which first started broadcasting on July 15, 1929, is made up of 360 volunteer members.

LOCAL OR REGIONAL - ACTIVE

  • Marty Brennaman
    Baseball Hall of Famer Marty Brennaman has been "the voice for the Cincinnati Reds" on WLW/Cincinnati for over 25 years. With his trademark bellow "And this one belongs to the Reds," Brennaman is known for his expressive style and his enthusiasm for the game.

  • Ron Chapman
    A legendary Texas disc jockey, Ron Chapman has been a broadcaster for over 40 years. His career began at KLIF in the late '50s and then continued at KVIL for more than 32 years. While at KLIF, Chapman launched a two-man show called the "Murphy & Harrigan" show in 1959. Ron Chapman will retire from KLUV/Dallas in June, 2005.

  • Ronn Owens
    A versatile talk show host on KGO/San Francisco since 1975, Ronn Owens covers discussions ranging from local to international issues and pop culture matters as well. His highly-rated show has been referred to as the "ultimate town meeting."

  • Scott Shannon
    A veteran on-air personality and program director of WPLJ/New York, Scott Shannon is a humanitarian also. He is one of radio's most respected music programmers and has been with WPLJ/New York since 1991.

LOCAL OR REGIONAL - PIONEER

  • Jess Cain
    Long-time morning talk-show host on WHDH/Boston for more than 33 years, Jess Cain has also made a career as a stage actor. In addition, the "morning man" is a supporter of many charities including Retina Foundation, Operation Able, the Jimmy Fund and Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

  • Mike Murphy
    A talk show host for over 24 years on KCMO/Kansas City, Mike Murphy has made a lasting mark on the "City of Fountains." He founded the city's St. Patrick's Day Parade and Murphy has raised over $1-million for the Salvation Army.

  • Jean Shepherd
    For 21 years on WOR/New York, this late radio humorist and gifted storyteller mesmerized his listeners with stories drawn from his own life experiences. The appeal of Shepherd -- who has been compared to Mark Twain -- has carried over to film, television, theater and the literary word.

  • Preston Westmoreland
    Longest-running Phoenix talk-show host on one station, Westmoreland has conducted over 26,000 interviews, including Bob Hope, Larry King, Jay Leno, Ted Koppel, Hillary Clinton and Paul Harvey. Westmoreland began in radio as a reporter in the US Marines and is also an instrument-rated pilot.

Ballots will be mailed in mid-May to radio executives, broadcast historians and all RHOF members. Anyone wishing to vote can join the Radio Hall of Fame ($15) at www.radiohof.org.

The voting deadline is August 1. Ballots will be tabulated by Altschuler, Melvoin and Glasser LLP of Chicago. Promotional support for the Radio Hall of Fame is provided by American Airlines and The Renaissance Chicago Hotel.

America's only Radio Hall of Fame, now undergoing major renovation in downtown Chicago, is scheduled to re-open in 2006.

To read about and hear past inductees into the National Radio Hall of Fame, please go to www.radiohof.org.