The Nebraska Broadcasters Association will soon welcome three new members into its hall of fame. Val Lane, Bill Kelly and Otis Twelve will officially be inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame on Aug. 8 during the NBA Annual Convention in La Vista, Neb. Established in 1972, the NBA Hall of Fame has grown to include 115 members.
Val Lane has provided engineering support for more than 40 years across Nebraska. From overseeing the design and construction of everything from remote broadcast headsets to 1,000-foot towers, NBA says Lane still travels throughout Nebraska upgrading, modifying, repairing, replacing and building for state broadcasting companies.
“Widely respected for his humble demeanor and willingness to teach others as he solves problems and builds new facilities, Val doesn’t view his work so much as fixing objects as much as understanding the vital service broadcasters provide in informing the public,” said NBA in a press release. “Long before the show ‘Better Call Saul’ gained popularity, the cry from dozens of Nebraska radio stations has been ‘Better Call Val.'”
Prior to devoting his time to contract engineering, Lane assisted 1970’s studio recordings by Neil Diamond (“Love at the Greek”) and Bob Dylan (“Bob Dylan at Budokan”).
Otis Twelve got his start as the host of “Midnight Mondo” on KQKQ in 1973. Six years later he became the morning show host of “Otis Twelve with Diver Dan Doomey” on KEZO.
“The show brought a new style of morning radio to Omaha, incorporating a significant amount of produced humor that quickly resulted in the top rated program in the market,” said NBA.
Twelve moved on to do mornings at KFAB in 1993 and at KKCD in 1994 before becoming a talk show host on Omaha’s KKAR from 1999 to 2001. He also served as a movie critic for local TV stations KETV and then KPTM from 1984 to 1996. Today, Twelve is the morning classical music host on Omaha’s KVNO(FM). “Fifty years in and still going strong, Otis is an Omaha radio icon.”
Bill Kelly has dedicated more than four decades of service to broadcast journalism in Nebraska. His career began in 1981 as a political and investigative reporter for Omaha’s WOWT(TV) before taking an interim producer’s role in 1989 at KOLN/KGIN(TV) in Lincoln. In 1990, Bill joined NET Television/Radio (now known as Nebraska Public Media) as a producer/reporter — a role he continues today.
“Respected for reliable, balanced and well-researched stories and documentaries, Bill has earned more than 40 first place state, regional and national awards for reporting and production excellence, in television and radio, including Regional Emmys and AP awards,” said NBA. “Kelly has also worked tirelessly to expand courtroom camera access for all Nebraska journalists, working hand in hand with members of the Nebraska Judicial Branch, Nebraska Bar Association and fellow journalists from across the state to foster increased cooperation and better coverage.”
