The radio “dean” of West Virginia broadcasters, Hoppy Kercheval joined West Virginia Radio Corporation in 1976. Through the years Hoppy’s assignments have spanned the gamut to include news, sports, and talk.
A native of Summit Point in Jefferson County, Hoppy began as a news anchor/reporter at WAJR in Morgantown while still attending West Virginia University. After graduating with honors from WVU, Kercheval took over as news director at WAJR and began carving an identity as one of the leading broadcasters in West Virginia.
A founding father of Metronews, Kercheval served as News Director until assuming the role of Vice President of Operations in 1991. In 1993, he created Metronews Talkline, which has become a signature program of the network. Hoppy’s gift of interviewing has made Talkline a must-listen for lawmakers and anyone interested in state politics and the day’s top news events.
Kercheval has a Master of Science in Journalism degree from WVU. He also has an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from West Virginia Wesleyan. Kercheval has received a number of honors over the years, including the Mel Burka Award, which is given annually by the West Virginia Broadcasters Association to the state’s top broadcaster.
An avid traveler, Hoppy’s adventures have taken him to 19 different countries around the world. He and his wife, Karin, live in Morgantown. Kercheval has one son, Ben, who lives in Denton, Texas where writes for the sports website bleacherreport.com.
Recent Articles by Hoppy Kercheval
Unanswered questions on transgender sports participation in WV
West Virginia’s Save Women’s Sports Act specifies that sports teams for girls and women “shall not be open to students of the male sex.” That prohibits a transgender girl from participating on the girl’s team. Last week’s 2-1 decision by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals cast that law into question. It cleared the way
April 24, 2024 - 12:20 am
Republican Voter Rolls Continue to Grow
Today is the final day West Virginians can register to be eligible to vote in the May 14 Primary Election. If the trend continues, the final numbers before the election will show that Republican registration will have grown, while Democratic registration will have declined or remained static. Currently, 40.3 percent of all registered voters are
April 23, 2024 - 12:44 am
Jim Justice jumps on the Moore Capito campaign. How much does it help?
Republican gubernatorial candidate Moore Capito has picked up momentum with two positive developments in recent days, but will it be enough to win the nomination? First, the MetroNews West Virginia Poll showed that Capito was within two points of frontrunner Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (31 percent to 29 percent).* Then Governor Jim Justice, who is
April 21, 2024 - 12:15 am
Another tragic abuse and neglect case that raises familiar questions
The Boone County Sheriff’s Department made a horrific discovery when they were called to a house in the Morrisvale community this week to investigate a reported death. They found the body of a 14-year-old girl on the bathroom floor. The criminal complaint described the girl’s physical appearance as “shocking with an obvious emaciated, skeletal state.”
April 19, 2024 - 12:26 am
West Virginia's childcare desert
A Talkline listener texted me this week about their problems with childcare. They work so they need childcare, which is their largest single monthly expense. But if they quit work to take care of their children, they wouldn’t be able to pay their other bills. That is a common conundrum, and it is from someone
April 18, 2024 - 12:19 am
Why hasn't Charleston fired Tyke Hunt?
The City of Charleston recently announced that former Police Chief Tyke Hunt has been suspended and demoted from lieutenant to corporal. The action follows an internal investigation into allegations that Hunt ensured a woman applying to the force passed a polygraph test in return for sex. Chelsea McCoy has sued Hunt, and she said in
April 17, 2024 - 12:19 am
FAFSA mess makes it even harder for WV students to get to college
More education typically, but not always, leads to higher incomes. There is plenty of research showing that individuals with associate or bachelor degrees or higher end up with better jobs and higher pay than their counterparts with only a high school diploma. Nationally, about 62 percent of high school (or equivalent) graduates go on to
April 16, 2024 - 12:02 am
