Tim Berry tells me he has been reading Radio World for more than 40 years. Which makes me all the happier to report that Tim has been honored by the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters with its Lifetime Achievement Award.
The award recognizes individuals who have spent their careers demonstrating a longstanding commitment to the broadcasting industry in Tennessee and the local communities they serve.
As my colleague Elle Kehres reported recently, Tim is chief engineer of Knoxville’s WUOT(FM), a role he also held from 1990 to 1998.
He has also served as the longtime chief and technical director for the Vol Radio Network, which he joined in 1991. In that job he has overseen and directed the engineering operations for University of Tennessee football, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball and softball games, and statewide weekly shows on one of the largest college sports radio networks in the country.
Tim also spent many years as the chief engineer of country station WIVK, in addition to the group of stations under the Cumulus Media group in Knoxville.
“Tim has been a tireless servant and leader within the Southeastern Conference Association of Broadcasts for more than three decades,” the association wrote.
“Earlier this spring, he was presented with an award from the Southeastern Conference for his service to the University of Tennessee and the SEC. He’s also been an integral part of TAB’s Alternative Broadcast Inspection Program, providing stations with self-inspections and engineering advice to members for over two decades.”
His co-recipient is David Widener, president and general manager of Holston Valley Broadcasting Corp. With five decades in broadcast, Widener has overseen six radio and two television stations serving the Johnson City–Kingsport–Bristol Tenn./Va. market.
Berry and Widener were honored at a banquet in August at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. Congratulations to both of them. And kudos to the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters, for holding up the work of engineers as worthy of celebration.
Radio World welcomes letters to the editor on this or any story. Email [email protected].
