2016 Career Achievement Candidates
Vic Aderhold
As a teenager in Atlanta during the 1950's, Vic grew up listening to the likes of Bob McKee, Johnny Murray, Bill Drake, Paul Drew, Hank “The Prank” Morgan, John “The Farmer's Boy”, Bob “Cousin Lem” Corley and others. He wanted to be like them, on the radio and people listening to him. Aderholt’s dream came true. He was a jock at WAKE, WQXI and WPLO. After spending three years in the U. S. Army, he got into radio sales, sales management and spent 15 years as a general manager in Oklahoma, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida. He owns Vic Aderhold Concepts.
Harry Beadle
Harry Beadle’s work in radio spanned stations in Mississippi, Tennessee and Georgia and included WGST in Atlanta as news anchor and investigative reporter. There, his work was honored some two dozen times at the state and regional level by news agencies and professional journalism and broadcasting organizations, and he received national honors from Investigative Reporters and Editors. In 1997, Harry was hired as a news anchor by the CNN Radio Network where he shared in two Peabody Awards and an Alfred I DuPont-Columbia University Award. Harry retired in early 2010 after 42 years in radio.
Matt Caesar
Matt Caesar was born in Philadelphia in 1950. Due to vision problems, he listened to radio as a child. He attended Career Academy in Washington then went to at WQAL Philadelphia. In 1973 while working for WIFI, he was transferred to WZGC in Atlanta. In 1973, Matt moved to WRFC in Athens, then WGAU. Matt went to WSB in 1978. He was hired as PD of WPEZ in Macon in 1982. In 1987, he went back to Athens and WGAU. Due to complications from vision surgery, he is currently on temporary disability but still employed by Cox Media in Athens.
Mark Cooper
Mark Cooper, a native of Kansas City, had a 40- year radio career, the majority was spent in Atlanta at WKLS and WGST. Mark was a PD and MD, air-talent, account exec, sales manager and general manager. Mark’s was Marketing Director and promotion director at WKLS/96rock highlights during his 10-year tenure. Noted accomplishments include creating the umbrella “96Days of Summer” promotion in the late 1980s, seamlessly introducing sponsors to the overall theme of the station, and the establishment of a 96rock apparel line at Rich’s Department Store. Building the 96rock brand, protecting the logo and the image were Cooper’s priorities.
Steve Gradick
Steve Gradick was born in Atlanta and grew up in Rome. His father operated three stations among the six he had put on the air across Georgia. After graduating from Georgia Tech, Steve worked as a reporter and news director at the family stations. Steve acquired WKNG AM 1060 licensed to Tallapoosa, Ga. Over the next thirty years Steve built a group of six stations serving West Georgia. They are operated in the tradition of Steve's uncle Robert J. McGarity, a Legacy Inductee of the GRHOF, and his father Les Gradick who owns and operates two stations in East Alabama.
Johnny Gray
Johnny Gray began his 43-year broadcasting career in 1963 in Alabama, spending 14 years at Birmingham's country WYDE on air and as Program/Music Director. In 1980, Johnny joined Atlanta's WPLO on air, and became Program/Music Director. In 1985, Johnny began on air at WKHX (KICKS), becoming Music Director for 20 years, Assistant Program Director, and Music Director for sister station 106.7. Throughout his career, Johnny received numerous awards acknowledging his contributions to broadcasting. Johnny retired in 2006.
Bob Harrison
Bob began radio at 15, mentored by GRHOF Legacy honoree Bill Hoopes at WSFB, Quitman. Following College Bob began full time radio in Valdosta at WVLD as Program Director, Station Manager, and later a station owner and Television Sports Anchor. Bob served as Chairman of the Turner Center, Rotary President and Rotary Assistant Governor. He also served on the Board of Trustees with Wiregrass University. Bob served on the Board of Directors with the GRHOF including Host Presenter at The Annual GRHOF Awards in Atlanta. Bob is an Ordained Deacon and he and wife Leah live in Valdosta.
Vic Jester
Vic Jester, a native of Bainbridge, GA, started his 42-year career in radio at local stations WMGR and WAZA. He continued to work in radio while attending college, announcing part-time at WVMG, WPGA, and WFOM. He graduated with a BEET from Southern Technical Institute. He was Chief Engineer at WLAG AM/FM in LaGrange and WAAX/WQEN in Gadsden, AL. Jester was a staff engineer at WSB and CNN Radio Network. He became Chief Engineer at WNNX in 1988. Since 2001, has been Chief Engineer for Radio One in Atlanta. Vic is a member of Society of Broadcast Engineers and IEEE.
English Nick
“English Nick” Parsons moved from England to Atlanta in 1996 and began his radio career at 96 Rock in November of 1999. Nick moved to 99X after 96 Rock was taken off the air in late 2006. During his time at Cumulus he would also do nights on Rock 100.5. In July of 2011 Nick began doing weekends/fill in at 97.1 The River where he still is on air now doing 7p- midnight Monday to Friday. Since January of 2015 he is also a part of The Von Haessler Doctrine on News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB ON Sundays.
Bobby Pope
Bobby Pope's radio career dates back to 1958 when he served as play by play announcer for Little League baseball at WSFT in Thomaston. In 1964 he joined WMAZ Radio and worked in the Macon market until November of 2014. His most lasting involvement was a 39-year tenure as host of the Saturday Football Scoreboard. Over the years he also did daily sports shows, as well as play by play for high school football and basketball games, Mercer University basketball, and Macon Braves baseball.
Condace Pressley
Condace Pressley is an accomplished, award-winning broadcaster. This UGA alum and Marietta native started at News 95-5 and AM750 WSB as weekend anchor. Today she manages Programming Operations and Community Affairs and she hosts Perspectives. Her career stops include: WFOM-AM, WUOG-FM, WGAU-AM/WNGC-FM, WRFC-AM and WGST-AM/Georgia Radio News Service. Profiled in 2014 by The HistoryMakers, Condace is a former NABJ President and the AABJ 2012 Pioneer Black Journalist. Her community service includes work on the boards of Hosea Feed the Hungry, Georgia Ballet, YWCA of Northwest Georgia, Atlanta Press Club, RTDNA, and the University of Georgia National Alumni Association’s Executive Committee.
Len Robinson
Len Robinson was born in Thomasville, Georgia. At 15, he was hired as an announcer at WPAX working summers and part time. After high school he went to at WMEN and WFRB in Tallahassee then back to Thomasville’s WLOR before entering the Army. Upon returned from serving in Viet Nam, he worked in education administration and owned a record store in Thomasville. In 1985 he bought WPAX and in 1988 he put WTUF FM on the air. He continues to own and operate the stations. Robinson has been recognized as a leader in Thomasville.
Bill Sanders
Bill Sanders enjoyed a fifty-year career in Georgia broadcasting beginning at WKLY in Hartwell, Georgia in 1957 as a teenage DJ. Over the years, Bill worked at WSB radio in Atlanta and WDUN in Gainesville. He was the founder and director of the Northeast Georgia Radio News Network. When Bill retired, he was President and CEO of the Georgia Association of Broadcasters, a position he held for twenty-eight years. He and his wife, Marlene, have been married for fifty years and have one daughter and two grandsons. They live in Roswell GA.
Ben Sandifer
Since 1971, Ben Sandifer’s radio career has included on-air work, programing and sales, at stations in Macon, Augusta, Thomasville and Tallahassee. He earned the CRMC designation from the Radio Advertising Bureau in 1987, and is a six-time Gabby winner from the Georgia Association of Broadcasters. Ben served as secretary on the board of the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame and is the owner of GMS Productions. His syndicated program “Solid Gold Sock Hop” now runs 22 times each week on stations worldwide and he is actively involved in start-up FM’s in Macon and Warner Robins.
Dan Vallie
It began at WIMO, Winder. Middays. Scared, but determined. Then to NC to marry his high school sweetheart - 45 years ago and the best decision ever made. Another best decision was a career in radio. WSGA Savannah was his dream; He was at WSSB Durham when the call came, it was the overnight show, and the turning point in his career. His daughter was born in Savannah. On to other markets, and eventually consulting stations in Georgia. In 2011 Dan began the National Radio Talent System. GAB voted to do the Radio Talent Institute at UGA to bring young people into radio. Minutes from Winder…seems appropriate.
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