December 28, 2022, Issue 838
Chronicle: Duke Wright
Midwest Communications Pres./CEO Duke Wright (Duey E. Wright, Jr.) passed away Dec. 21 at the age of 83. Wright helped found Midwest in 1958 after convincing his parents to purchase the 1400 AM license in Wausau, WI. The station relaunched above the family music store as Top 40 WRIG. After graduating college, Wright began expanding the privately held company into other markets. Midwest currently owns stations in 18 markets including Country WNCY & WGEE/Appleton, WI; WNWN/Battle Creek, MI; KTCO & KDKE/ Duke Wright Duluth, MN; WLYD/Evansville, IN; KVOX/ Fargo, ND; WDKF/Green Bay, WI; WUSZ & WDKE/Hibbing, MN; WWDK/Jackson, MI; WDKW/Knoxville, TN; WXCL/Peoria, IL; WBFM/Sheboygan, WI; KTWB/Sioux Falls, SD; WTHI/Terre Haute, IN; and WDEZ/Wausau, WI. See a timeline of Wright’s ownership here. He was inducted into The Wisconsin Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 1989 and received the Conclave Rockwell Lifetime Award in 2016. Three of Wright’s four children work for Midwest: COO Michael Wright, CMO Mary Kay Wright and CSO Jeff Wright. They, along with Wright’s wife and partner of 50 years, Pegge Wright, will now lead the company. A receiving of friends is being held today (12/28) from 4-8pm CT at Lyndahl Funeral Home (1350 Lombardi Avenue, Green Bay, WI 54304) and tomorrow (12/29) from 2-3pm CT at Christ Alone Church (505 E. Allouez Avenue, Green Bay, WI 54301). Funeral services will be held immediately following at Christ Alone with burial to follow at Woodlawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Green Bay Humane Society. Complete obituary here.
offerings, and we can’t wait to see what 2023 will bring,” says Green. Prior to spending more than 13 years with iHeartMedia, Wilberding’s stops include Tribune Media, the Los Angeles Times, Viacom, WHTZ/New York, Infinity Broadcasting and Katz Radio Group. Reach him here.
Wilberding Joins Key Networks
WKXC’s Poxson Leaves
iHeartMedia/West Coast SVP/Sales Jason Wilberding has joined Key Networks as Pres./Sales. In the newly created role based in Nashville, Wilberding will report to CEO Rob Koblasz and COO Dennis Green. “Jason brings tremendous experience, creativity and energy to our operations and service
Hi, Hopes: KKBQ/Houston‘s inaugural St. Jude radiothon raises more than $400,000 and recruits 1,700 Partners In Hope. Pictured (standing, l-r) are ALSAC/St. Jude’s Pastor Giraud, the station‘s Travis Moon, ALSAC/St. Jude’s Scott Hinshelwood, the station‘s Mason Pradt, “Girardo” Sproet and Candy Graham, a local volunteer, the station‘s Richard Gerlovich and a local volunteer; (kneeling, l-r) the station‘s Bill Tatar, Corey Dillon, Lauren “Lo” Sessions, Erica Rico and Katelyn Maida.
Jason Wilberding
Beasley WKXC/Augusta, GA Kicks Wake Up Krew morning co-host Jess Poxson is leaving after more than a year and returning to Michigan. Host Bryan “Dub” Axelson remains. “I have so many great memories now from our time together, and y’all will always have a special place in my heart,” shares Poxson
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