Newly inducted into the Michigan Broadcasting Hall of Fame are radio folks Fred Jacobs, Les Root and John Wismer, and engineering consultant John F.X. Browne. Also named were TV figures Toby Cunningham and Chuck Furman.
The inductees were honored this week at the MAB’s annual meeting. They are:
John F.X. Browne established the communications engineering consulting firm of John F.X. Browne & Associates in 1966;
Toby Cunningham, executive producer of sports and special projects at WKBD/WWJ(TV) in Detroit.
Chuck Furman, assistant GM of WGVU(TV) in Grand Rapids, and one of the three original employees who helped launch the station in 1972.
Fred Jacobs, founder of Jacobs Media in Detroit in 1983, “had the notion that Album Rock could be fragmented with the Classic Rock format.” Broadcast consultant.
Luster “Les” Root, news director at WDZZ/WRSR/WWCK(AM-FM) Cumulus Media in Flint. “In a broadcast career that has spanned 50 years, Root has risen through the ranks as a street reporter, anchor and news director.”
John Wismer was owner and president of Wismer Broadcasting Inc., WHLS(AM), WSAQ(FM) in Port Huron. He began his career in 1946 as sports director at WHLS, became general manager in 1950, and purchased the station in 1954. MAB also honored him with its Lifetime Achievement Award.
