Your Favorite
Anchorage Radio Personalities
Where Are They Now?

by Michael R Dougherty
(California)

Ron Moore

Ron Moore

If you remember hearing anchorage radio personalities on KFQD, KENI, KBYR, KYAK, KHAR, KWHL and more, this page helps you reconnect those voices with the lives that followed.

You’ll find familiar names from the 1950s through the 1970s, along with updates on who retired, who stayed in Alaska, who moved on, and who is no longer with us.

Because this list keeps growing through reader memories and corrections, it works as both a reference and a shared archive.

You listened to them on your radio at home, in your car, or on a portable radio. We all had our favorite radio personalities, and they were like a part of your Anchorage family.

Who were your favorite Anchorage Radio personalities from the 1950s, 1960s, and through the 1970s?

And where are they now?

Remember, Anchorage radio personalities moved around to different radio stations, so if you have additional information, be sure to use the “Comments” section below to update this list.

Anchorage Radio Personalities




Ron Moore – “The Royal Coachman”, KFQD, KENI and KBYR. Now retired and living in Texas.

Jim “Boom Boom” Cannon, KBYR, is now retired.

G. Morgan S. (Gene Shedlock), KENI, KBYR. Sadly, Gene is no longer with us.

Larry Wayne, last known location was K-Love radio in Sacramento, California.

Jerry Valley – also Frank James (Frank Tonnema), KENI, KBYR. Sadly, Frank is no longer with us.

Ruben Gaines, KHAR, sadly, Ruben is no longer with us.

Herb Shaindlin, KFQD, Herb is no longer with us.

Jerry Rose (Peter Bie), KENI, KBYR, went into the ministry and lives in Southern California.

Dick Lobdell, KENI, sadly, Dick is no longer with us.

Roger Lathum, KENI, KBYR, Roger is no longer with us.

Les Snow, (Gene Miner) KBYR, Les lives in Florida (where there is really “less snow”).

Tom Rivers, KFQD, sadly, Tom is no longer with us.

Marcus in the Morning, (Mark Lewis), KFQD, KYMG (Magic) Marcus is now retired.

Jack Frost, KBYR, owns Jack Frost & Friends Ad agency in Anchorage.

Steve Knoll, KPXR (Power 102), in Arkansas.

Merrill Mael, KENI, sadly, Merrill is no longer with us.

Bob Fleming, KENI, KYAK, no longer with us.

TY Clark, KENI

Ed Riley, KFQD, KANC, KOOL, retired and still spends summers in Anchorage.

Scotty Ferguson, KFQD, sadly, Scotty is no longer with us.

Ron Gardner, KYAK

Jim Robbins, KYAK, sadly, Jim is no longer with us.

Rodney Overstreet, KYAK, now in Tennessee.

Dan Thomas, KWHL (K-Whale) now in Minnesota.

Rocky Roberts, KWHL (K-Whale)

Steve Agbaba, KHAR, KENI, Steve is no longer with us.

Fern Chandonnet, KHAR, KENI

Jack Arnold, KYAK, sadly Jack is no longer with us.

Chris Adams, KENI

Michael Tremayne, (Mike Pocaro) KENI. Still on the radio in Anchorage using his real name, Mike Pocaro.

Gerry Reynolds, KENI

Hank Mann, KENI, owner of KANC, sadly, Hank is no longer with us.

Ed Riley, KFQD, KANC, still in Anchorage.

Rick Goodfellow, KLEF, still in Anchorage.

Dave Stroh, Oldies 102.1, still in Anchorage.

Art Bell, KENI, sadly, Art is no longer with us.

Randy Kruse (Terry Curtis), KENI, KANC, KBYR, KTVA, now in Renton, Washington.

“Tracy in the Sky” (Heidi Hayes) KENI

Michael W. Rogers, KFQD (1990–1996) now lives in Las Vegas.

Chuck Albright, Chuck is no longer with us.

Doc Hawkins or Dr. Wade Hawkins (Bill Brink) KYAK, now lives in Virginia.


Note: This list is “in progress” and will be updated as we get information.


To add to the list, use the “Comments” section below

BONUS



You can listen to some of your favorite Anchorage personalities
Visit Alaska Oldies and remember.

Who are your favorite Anchorage radio personalities?

Comments for Your Favorite
Anchorage Radio Personalities
Where Are They Now?

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Jerry Ritter
by: Darryl Huffman

Jerry Ritter is alive and well and living in the greater DC area.

Jerry worked in Anchorage radio for years.

He is probably best known for the La Mex commercials he did for TV, where he wore a big sombrero and faked a Mexican accent.

Jerry also did a weekly TV segment called On the Park Bench.

Jerry worked a lot with Fern Chandeney. (sp?)
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Where is Ron Rink?
by: Larry wayne

Ron Rink was on in the morning, or maybe it was the afternoon on KFQD. That was in the early to mid-1970s.

At that time, other DJs included Art Lewis, Gary Daly, Jack G, and O Quinn (I believe that was his last name).

Jack was doing the news, and I think Lee Gordon was the program director at that time.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		What happened to JD Chandler?
by: Anonymous

I remember JD Chandler from KRKN, and also one of the top 40 stations. Does anyone know what happened to him?
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		KJZZ, KRKN, KGOT
by: Larry Wallace

I was a jock at KGOT in 1979 and KJZZ/KRKN in 1980.

I loved my work, as jocks were soon limited to corporate playlists after that, and all the fun was gone. So I moved into news and sports radio in Denver, which is my great broadcasting passion.

I was known as Larry Knight at KGOT and Larry Wallace at KJZZ/KRKN.

I'd love to hear from anyone left standing who worked with me or recalls me on the air. PD Jay Noble and Jock Ron Thorne both passed away a few years ago. I was delighted to be in touch with both of them. I am married, happily, to a woman I met in Anchorage in 1980.

I am a retired rabbi and counselor in Austin, Texas. And I'm still active as a musician and songwriter.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		KANC, KENI, KBYR, KFQD, KWHL late 70s
by: Bill Benhoff

I went by the air name, Bill King.

Worked with Marcus in the Morning, Randy Kruse, The Real Scott O'Neil, Roger Carey, Rich West and many others.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Marcus in the Morning
by: Connie

I used to listen to Marcus all the time on KFQD.

Here is a story about Marcus in the Morning.

It was Labor Day weekend on the Anchorage Park Strip in 1981.

They were having Helicopter rides around the sound. We wanted to go but had a 3-week-old, and they would not allow her on the helicopter.

So Marcus in the Morning volunteered to hold her while we went for a helicopter ride.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Ron Moore
by: Melinda C Johnson

Ron Moore always closed his radio show with the song Earth Angel. I remember the dance's he used to MC and of course sitting outside the Bun Drive-In watching him in the DJ booth.

I had the honor and pleasure to be "Miss Anchorage 1966"

Gr8t times and memories.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Remembering Scott Kaye
by: Ceil Hovey

Does anyone remember Scott Kaye?

He was my Dad.

He passed away in 1974 and is buried in Anchorage. I am 69 and just returned from visiting his grave for the first time.

I would love to hear a recording of his voice, which I have not heard since I was 12.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Wee Willy Walley
by: Patrick Mikel

Wee Willy Walley. I think he was from North Dakota.

He was a morning radio personality on KENI around 1963-1965. I saw him when he was one of the hosts at the Rondy.

He used to open up his show with, "This is Wee Willy Walley, it's time to get up and wee."
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Love my Anchorage News Work
by: Terry Vann

I started as a DJ at KFQD in 1963, while still in the Air Force, and stayed when my duty was time was up.

Moved into News in late 1965 and loved the work, as Anchorage was growing so fast, and Alaska was as well. In 1967 Went to KTVA Television News and eventually became News Director there. It was a great time too.

I eventually went into the fire service and moved to Florida, became a Fire Chief of a small department, and then into building ambulances and rescue vehicles.

My time in Alaska was fabulous! Still miss it!
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		1960s KFQD
by: Anonymous

What happened to Scott Ferguson?

Is he still on radio somewhere? I also saw him in a play at Alaska Methodist University.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Scotty Ferguson
by: Rick

Loved the Scotty Ferguson Show on KFQD.

Gerald Mcboing boing and the soft drink Teem. I still know the words to the Teem commercial song.
Rating
starstarstarstar 		Ade Carlson
by: Anonymous

Back in 1961-62, Ade Carlson (known to my family as Uncle Ade) used to play a special bedtime record for my preschool children.

I think it was "Big Rock Candy Mountain." He died in the fire when the station burned down.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		KENI 1973 - 1975
by: Brad Woods

DJ Dan York with a British accent.

He was on air for a couple of years and in the same time period as Larry Wayne.

Does anyone remember Dan York or know where he went?
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Terry Vann
by: David Wallace

All night DJ on KFQD in the mid 60s
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Paul Hansen - An Original KWHL DJ
by: Danny

I always wondered what ever happened to Paul Hansen, one of the original DJ's for KWHL.

He was my roommate for a while, and a pretty good guy!
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Old KANC and KENI DJs
by: Anonymous

Mid-late 70s KANC and KENI

On air name/ real name

Rich West/ Rich Grissom

The Real Ron O’Neil

Bobby Simon/Bobby Gardener

Rodger Carey
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Anchorage Radio Memories
by: Anonymous

I remember Marcus in the morning.

My mom used to listen to him every morning on her commute. We first moved to Alaska in 1977.

Does anybody remember Mark Guy? I'm not sure if he was the news man for KFQD, but Terry from the morning Wacky Show on KWHL would hijack Mark Guy during the news.

Anyway thank you, Alaska, for my prime time years 1977 to 2000.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		“Good Nght Scotty”
by: Scott Freeman

I remember listening to Scotty Ferguson, on KFQD from 1960 to 1962 while I was stationed at Elmendorf AFB.

We loved the sign-off with the soft woman’s voice saying good night to all the remote villages and sites, finishing with, "Good night Scotty"…
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Mike Ford
by: Anonymous

Mike Ford...KFQD, KASH-MIX,103.1,Q-99.7,Country Legends 100.9, currently Mike in the morning on KOOL 97.3
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Larry Wayne and Dennis Evans
by: Wayne Maloney

I started at KANC in the 80s, then worked for KENI when it was a rock station on 550 AM.

I jumped to KYAK and KGOT as a news broadcaster and sidekick to Dennis Evans and Larry Wayne.

Later I worked with Dick Lobdell and Jim
Robbins on KENI and KASH.

I also worked at KBFX, the Fox; before leaving radio.

Dennis, Jim and Dick passed away. Larry Wayne is retired and lives in California. I am retired and live in SE Virginia.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Linda and Tom Edgeworth
by: Bill Brink

Does anyone know where Linda and Tom Edgeworth are?

They used to be part owners of Empire Advertising in Anchorage. Linda later worked in sales at KYAK or KGOT. Tom worked part-time on air at KYAK as Gator Williams.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Bill Brink at KYAK Radio
by: Bill Brink

Bill Brink here. Was Program Director at KYAK throughout the seventies.

Later, returned to KYAK on air as Doc Hawkins or Dr Wade Hawkins.

Now retired, living near Roanoke, Virginia.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Anchorage Radio and TV 1972-1975
by: Jeff Allen Gonnason

I was a West High classmate of Al Bramstedt Jr and Jim Boom Boom Cannon.

Worked for KHAR TV briefly in 1971, then KENI Radio and TV. DJ every summer as Jeff Allen with Mike Porcaro, then DJ KANC Country summer 1975.

Got my Optometry Doctor degree in 1976 and practiced in Anchorage for 42 years.

Also, a classmate of Mike Swanigan (Swani) who was chief pilot of Alaska Airlines and did the Seahawks ads - brother of Lester Holt NBC News.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Bill Stewart
by: Stewart

My dad, Bill Stewart KENI

He started at KENI Radio then moved to KENI TV as News anchor & sales manager.

We lived in the KENI building until I was in 3rd grade.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Art Bell, Fern Chandonnet, Dick Lobdell
by: Anonymous

I worked AT KENI/KKGR in 1987-1988 selling airtime and writing commercials.

It was the old building on Westchester Lagoon.

I would work with Fern getting guests. I would deliver tapes to Art Bell at the FM sister station of KENI, KKGR. Dick Lobdell worked there as well.

The tower sat in saltwater, a great conductor for the lower power station. We would get mail from as far away as Sweden.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Charlie Albright
by: Anonymous

Charlie Albright (was a DJ in the 60s but is no longer with us).
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Favorite Anchorage Female Radio Personalities
by: David Jensen

CC Ryder

April Powers
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Steve Heimel
by: David Jensen

Great newscaster and voice.

Always thorough and reliable as a source for news.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Monika Thomas
by: Brian Ross

Monika Thomas, formerly of Mix 103.1 KMXS middays, also on The Buzz 102.1 KDBZ mornings, and NewsRadio 750 KFQD with weekends/fill-ins on Kool 97.3

She moved on to California and was a talent on 94.5 Bay FM.


Monika is also a real estate agent in San Francisco and is still doing some radio on-call with KQED there.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Bob Lake, KFQD, 60s
by: Judith Wright Twitchell

Bob Lake got me my first-ever (non-babysitting job the summer after my Junior year).

I had the prestigious job of Saturday morning receptionist, which included writing up the outcomes of local sports events.

Bob and his wife Linda were friends of my family and I used to Babysit for their two daughters.

Just after I left for college, he quit radio and became a full-time missionary, moving to Missouri. Years later, he retired from that and moved to mildly (at the time) famous Branson, MO, where they bought the only little laundromat/dry cleaner in town.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Marcus in the Morning
by: Candee Schweitzer

I can’t remember if it was Marcus, but there were 2 brothers, and they were both in radio I think.

They used to broadcast from crazy places.

I remember something about camping on the island in the lagoon or some little island.

Was this Marcus and his brother? There was a definite reason there were there, and they were staying until something happened?

Hilarious Characters. Hope someone remembers the details.

Also, how about Steve Stripling?

He is still broadcasting.

Played great music with his hands.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Chip Lewis
by: Anonymous

Not sure which Anchorage radio station he worked for.

I think he moved to somewhere in Washington station in the late 70s.
Rating
starstarstarstar 		Ken Flynn
by: Mike Dahlager

Ken Flynn of Fern & Flynn fame?
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		KENI Radio Jocks in the Early 70s
by: John Grant

Art Bell is mentioned here a few time. He did do middays at KENI for a while.

I worked there doing the 6-midnight shift for a while. I've used John Lee as my air-name for most of my radio career, but I think I was using Jay Carter back then. Really can't remember.

Other DJ's included Larry Wayne, Chuck Roberts, Dan York, Bob (something) was the Program Director and morning show guy. (Larry W, what was his last name?)
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Tracy in the Sky (Heidi Hayes)
by: Lynda Myers

On KENI radio of Westchester Lagoon my younger sister used to go and work.

She did a character (voice) for the weather. She went by "Tracy in the sky" and she would be speaking with Gunther.

Her name was at the time was Heidi Hayes. She is now Heidi Main.

She wasn’t on the air a long time, I think maybe a year maybe year and a half, but she was awesome, and she had a lot of people that liked her.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Terry Curtis
by: Anonymous

Terry Curtis (Randy Kruse) KENI, KANC, KBYR, KTVA,
now in Renton Washington
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Doc Pournelle
by: Anonymous

These comments were written by my adopted uncle, Robert Knox. He and his wife, Wilma, were journalists in Anchorage between 1951 and 1984.


In spite of its small size—or perhaps because of it—KBYR tended to attract some unusual characters.

One of these was Doc Pournelle, who was hired to be the station manager.

I never learned his real name, but he acquired the nickname Doc because he was said to have a national reputation for being a doctor for sick radio stations.

Pournelle took over the early morning time slot (on KBYR), and Anchorage residents were soon being coaxed from sleep with Doc’s low, slow, Southern drawl, then jolted awake with rousing military marches.

"Let’s get up and march around the breakfast table!" he urged his listeners.

As unorthodox as it was, the show caught on and became the most popular radio program in Anchorage.

(Note: Pournelle died in 1965. A death announcement was printed in the Anchorage Daily Times on April 19, 1965.)
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Art Bell
by: Tony

I am pretty sure that Art Bell was at KENI in 60s, maybe 70s. Someone in the biz, as we say, should know for sure.

I was told this when I worked radio 1997 - 2000 somewhere in there.

Way back when KENI was down by Westchester Lagoon area.

The only reason that I say 'pretty sure' is that it came 2nd (maybe 3rd) hand from a lady that had been involved in radio there, back in the day.

A Note from Anchorage Memories

Thank you, Tony, we have added Art to our list. Sadly, Art is no longer with us.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		KWHL
by: Anonymous

Mark Raney and Carry Carrigan - KWHL
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Aka Ed Riley
by: Walt Larson

Retired after 40 years on the air in Anchorage.

Worked at KANC, KFQD and KOOL.

Now snowbird Anchorage and San Tan Valley, AZ.


A Note from Anchorage Memories

Ed:

Thank you for checking in. We have added your name to the growing list above.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Anchorage Radio Personalities
by: Tom Hughes

Art Bell is no longer with us.


A Note from Anchorage Memories

Wasn't Art Bell a nationally syndicated radio talk show host, and not a local Anchorage DJ?
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Father in Radio
by: Karen Sykes

Please add Hank Mann 1960-70s.

KENI radio DJ/owner of KANC. He since passed in 2012.

Past President of the Anchorage Broadcasters Association and owner of Columbia Broadcasters Association... Anchorage.

Thank you
Sykes Family
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		To Our Anchorage Radio Personalities
by: Michael Hankins

Anchorage has, and has had, some great radio DJs.

They helped make those long, dark, winter-days and nights more palpable.

God bless them all!

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