CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Some of the top broadcasters in West Virginia will be honored Saturday night at the ninth annual West Virginia Broadcasting Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
“It means everything,” said Morgantown radio personality Lacy Neff on Thursday’s MetroNews Talkline. “You never get into this business to win an award but when they do come along it is kind of a reflection of a lot of hard work and the people who help get you there—the Hall of Fame is the pinnacle.”
Neff is one of 10 inductees that have enjoyed successful careers spanning the various aspects of broadcasting.
Beckley radio engineer Randy Kerbawy originally wanted to be a TV repairman but took a radio engineering class and fell in love with the business. He said a Hall of Fame career never seemed a possibility.
“I was shocked and amazed,” Kerbawy described when he heard the news of his selection. “Wow! I never imagined that would happen.”
The induction ceremony will be held at The Museum of Radio &Technology in Huntington. The by-invitation-only event begins at 5 p.m. Saturday.
Neff has won a pair of Marconi Awards and has been recognized numbers of times as the best on-air personality in West Virginia. He’s led West Virginia Radio Corporation’s WVAQ in Morgantown to three Marconi Awards. For the past year he’s been hospitalized in Boston receiving treatment for a rare disease. He had a heart transplant earlier this year and is awaiting a stem cell transplant.
“I love Boston, it’s a great city but it’s never been home for me,” Neff said. “Get back to West Virginia, get back to doing what I love, hanging out with my family and get back into radio. I love it so much. I miss it everyday.”
Neff said he’s often been asked why not take his broadcasting talents to a bigger market in another state. He said the last year has confirmed his decision.
“You wouldn’t believe the reaction I’ve gotten since I’ve been here in Boston, the cards, the letters, the emails, the Facebook messages, the outpouring of love,” the Fairmont native said. “It just goes to show you I made the right choice by staying home.”
Neff’s sister will speak for him Saturday night.
The full list of inductees:
Dick Callaway: Before becoming St. Albans mayor, Callaway had various roles in radio and television. He was owner and operator of radio stations in Madison, West Virginia and Charleston. He has been a news director and reporter for Charleston and Beckley radio stations. Callaway has served as announcer, sales manager, and engineer technician. More recently, he was producer and host in Charleston for several programs on the West Virginia Library Television Network.
Jack Canfield: Canfield’s first time behind a microphone was at WKYR, Keyser, West Virginia as a teenage disc jockey. Canfield studied journalism at Potomac State College and West Virginia University. While at WVU, he was assistant news director of WCLG Radio, Morgantown. He became news editor and reporter for WCHS-TV, Charleston. Later, he was spokesman and speechwriter for Gov. Hulett C. Smith. He served in similar roles for governors Jay Rockefeller and Bob Wise. He has also worked at WSAZ-TV in Charleston. In 2001, he founded Jack Canfield, LLC, a marketing and advertising firm.
Jack Deakin: Deakin began his broadcast career as a producer/director for WOWK-TV, Huntington, in 1977. He has been with WSAZ in Huntington and Charleston for the past 35 years. He has served as public affairs producer, executive producer of the local edition of PM Magazine, production manager, local sales manager, Charleston station manager, and director of new media, which led to his current position as internet and research manager.
The Late Lloyd Scott Garten: During his radio career, which began in 1949 on WHTN AM, Huntington, Garten was a disc jockey, announcer, and program director. In February, 1955, he joined WSAZ Radio and TV, where he hosted “Top Five, Night Watch,” and “Top Ten Dance Party.” Garten later worked at other radio stations in Huntington, Fort Myers, Florida, and Charleston as on-air personality and program director. The Huntington native was known for his voice and knowledge of music in a 35-year broadcasting career.
Randy Kerbawy: This year, Kerbawy received the John E. McKinney Excellence in Technology Award from the West Virginia Broadcasters Association. He began his broadcasting career as an overnight announcer on WJLS Radio, Beckley. He then became an engineer at a radio station in Pineville, WSWP-TV, Beckley, and WOAY-TV, Oak Hill. Kerbawy worked for WTNJ Radio, Beckley until he joined West Virginia Radio Corporation at WJLS AM-FM, Beckley in 2013.
Michael Kidd: The long-time general manager and owner of WRON AM-FM in Ronceverte-Lewisburg, along with sister Radio Greenbrier stations WRLB and WSLW. Kidd has held positions in radio as an announcer, sports play-by-play, and sales executive.
The Late Paul Krakowski: Krakowski became the first professor of broadcast journalism at West Virginia University around 1950. He sent students to WAJR Radio, Morgantown, helping prepare local newscasts, and teaching such beginners as Nick Basso, Bos Johnson, and Greg Van Camp how to do radio news. When Basso moved to WSAZ-TV in Huntington to set up the first television newsroom in the state, he hired Krawowksi to teach recent journalism graduates from WVU how to write for radio and TV. Krakowski later returned to teaching broadcast journalism at Duquesne University.
Fritz Leichner: Fritz led WSAZ Television local program productions as producer/director and production manager. For more than 40 years, he oversaw the changing television production technology at WSAZ. Leichner was the leading edge of production for local programs, such as “Coffee Time,” children’s programming, the long-running “Saturday Night Jamboree,” live coverage of Marshall University basketball at home and away, the opening day of the West Virginia legislature, and gubernatorial inaugurations.
Lacy Neff: The air personality and program director of WVAQ-FM, Morgantown, started at the station as the nighttime DJ in 1987. He has won two Marconi Awards, presented by the National Association of Broadcasters, for best on-air personality and has led West Virginia Radio Corporation to receive three Marconi Awards. Neff was named best on-air personality by the West Virginia Broadcasters Association every year from 2003 through 2007.
Dan Shoemaker: While a teacher and coach at Huntington East High School, Shoemaker began serving as a color analyst for Marshall University football and basketball games on local TV stations. While doing color commentary, he became interested in the business side of televised sports events. He formed Creative Productions in Huntington and later worked for Creative Sports Marketing in Charlotte. Shoemaker became ESPN vice president of college development in 1994. In the past year, he has retired from full-time duties with ESPN and moved to Charleston, South Carolina.