Roger Hunt

I did some air shift work in 1980, then took over as continuity director when Jim Blachura left.  I remained there till February of 1982.  My thanks to John Posey for introducing me to Reggae music.  

Now I am composing music for film and TV, and I live in Burbank, CA.  I have been composing and producing music for film and TV for around 5 years and had the good fortune of hooking up with some very good and professional producers in Gainesville, hence my two national TV credits on PBS.

As with many of my contemporaries, I'm working a day job while establishing more contacts and future writing gigs.  My two daughters from my previous marriage (Rachel 17, and Rebecca 15) are still back in Gainesville with their Mom, and I miss them very much.  I am praying for some kind of break that will allow me to visit them more often and/or bring at least one of them out here.

I want to be counted as one of the many who loved and respected Larry Edwards.  I'll never forget his penchant for making little rhymes ("bagel wagel" and "Wayno Payno").

Regards,

Roger Hunt
www.afn.org/~rhmusic/

Augie Grant

Augie Grant still can't get a job in radio. To keep busy while he sends out tapes of his WDVH and WGGG air shifts from the 1970s, he has a day job as Director of Market Research and Entertainment for 2Wire, Inc., a Silicon Valley start-up. He filled his time during the 1980s and 1990s at various universities, including UF, the University of Southern California, University of Texas, University of Georgia, and the University of South Carolina. When they finally made him graduate, he started teaching radio and television production and programming. His knowledge became so dated that he was forced to start teaching theory and research methods. He dabbles in new technology, editing books on new technologies (but doesn't have time to write much himself because he is still busy trying to figure out how to get back into radio).

Today I am employed by Asterisk Communications, owners of three FM radio stations.  I am an account executive selling primarily GATOR COUNTRY-WYGC 100.9 and STAR 99.5-WBXY.  I also sell limited amounts on SMOOTH JAZZ 104.9-WXJZ.

I am presently separated from my wife, and the four children who live with her in North Carolina.  This has been a terrible chapter in my life!  I still enjoy writing and voicing the commercials that I sell and would welcome voice-over work when I am able to get myself setup for it.

Sean O'Neel (aka Don Neel, Don Donovan, 
Don Donahue, etc.)

As far as what I did at "The Ranch" goes, nobody knows!  On paper, having worked at WPXE beginning in November, 1971, Jim rescued me in 4/76 to work part-time.  I did the 1-3PM shift from the Summer of '76 until December of '76.  After a stint in Lumberton, NC and Mobile, AL I returned to WDVH in August of '77 as Music Director and midday dude.  After ANOTHER coffee break from 12/77 to 5/78 (WQIK and WVOJ), I returned to WDVH where I served as Asst. PD and later Program Director until I left for KLAK in Denver, 4/79.

Since September of '79 I've been in Houston where I've served at KNUZ, KFMK, Oldies 94.5, 93Q and now split my time between being Imaging Director for Classic Rock 93.7 and general production flunky for News Radio 740 KTRH (Dan Rather's old station).  I also have a successful freelance voiceover business and ahve been featured in national spots for Sears, Connoco, Pizza Hut, Domino's Pizza, Budweiser, Shiner Bock Beer and others.  In addition, I invented Viagra and soft serve ice cream.

Jim "Boogie" Williams

Jim came to WDVH in July of 1973 by way of WKWF, Key West and WOKC/WLMC, Okeechobee.  He did the mid-day shift and became Program Director in May of 1975, replacing Steve Sullivan in that position.  He got the name "Boogie Man" because he was always running around fixing things with his trusty screwdriver!  Jim moved on to KMPS in Seattle in March of 1978 where he spent 7 years doing mid-days.  After that it was 5 years as Promotion Director at KRPM where he worked for 5 Program Directors, 2 Sales Managers and 3 General Managers.  "It was one of those revolving door stations" says Jim, "I started thinking about an alternate career then."  He found that he had an aptitude for computer hardware and, after short stints and part-time work at KLSY, and KIXI he found work as a computer geek.  He was Network Administrator for a manufacturing firm in Kent, WA for 5 years and Network Administrator for a telecommunications firm in Seattle for 5 years. He is now an Information Technology Systems Analyst for the City of Seattle's Human Services Department and lives on a hill in Port Orchard with his wife Jane and various house-critters.

Dale Sizemore

Julie Williams

Don Dornberg

I've been in Atlanta since 1978. Spent 19 years at WGST, as a newstalker and assistant news director. Most of it was good times except for the last few years when Jacor tried to make it into a confrontational noise maker. Then a year at WSB, part time. For the past two years I've been with an outfit called Metro Source which provides text and audio to about 800 affiliates nationwide. The pay is not great, but there have been some wonderful assignments, i.e. the Pope in St. Louis, the White House during impeachment.

In the fall of 2000, John Posey wrote:

I have many great memories of DVH.  I guess you could say it was the beginning of a career that led me to LA. It taught me a lot about how to diversify to remain successful.  25 years later, it has proven to be a valuable lesson. I have found life as a screenwriter, playwright and voice over actor, in addition to my work as a TV/film actor.  Each one a necessity to stay ahead of the game. No two years are ever the same for me.  I found rather late in the game, that I should have been writing from the beginning  - once again, skills learned writing ads for High Springs Ford in the late 70's.  I will have three different films and one play produced within the next twelve months.  Very rewarding. I have begun to tinker with a story about small-town AM radio in the South.  Always found it romantic.  I travel the country with a one-man show I wrote called FATHER, SON & HOLY COACH.  Virtually every character in the play (and there are 18 of them) I discovered while living in G'ville. As for in front of the camera, I just finished shooting the season premiere of the show FAMILY LAW, and a couple of independent films.

Things are good here, though I always miss the Southeast.  I have had some recent luck with a couple of movie scripts that I wrote.  I believe they will both be shot in Florida or Georgia, so I should be back soon.  I stay busy with TV work, commercials, voice overs, etc, but the writing seems to be where the future is headed for me and to think, it all started at WDVH writing High Springs Ford commercials.

For what it's worth, I'm the voice of Pennzoil.  

Young Tyler Posey, all of eight years old, has already surpassed my acting career by nabbing the co-starring role opposite Arnold Schwarsenegger  in his next film COLLATERAL DAMAGE, due out next summer.

I will co-star opposite Tony Danza in the season premiere of CBS's FAMILY LAW. Other than that I may just sit back, write and watch my kid.

Bob Cunningham, Sales

I'm working in Telecommunications for the 4th largest phone company in the country.  I have an office in my home, phone is 904 739-0750 fax and office. Anyone can contact me there or by e-mail. I would like to hear from all of you.  My e-mail address is rccunningham@intermedia.com.

I was lobbying in Tallahassee and D.C, for small business and worked in north Florida for small business for several years.  I also got a chance to go to Canada and work with their lobbying group.

I have a place in Helen, Ga. I go there every year around July 4th, why don't we see if we can get together at that time?  . Spend a weekend cook out. 

My little girl Lora is a school teacher and is 29, my boy is a fireman and a cattle farmer near Panama City, Florida.  I now have 4 grand kids, 6,4,2,18 months. Be good and stay in touch.

Cheryl Ebbert Carson, News  

My husband, Bill, and I still live in Merritt Island.  All three of his children have married and we now have 8 grandchildren (3 nearby in Melbourne).  We have a new puppy named Teddy, two middle-aged cats named Bert and Ernie (Bert's a girl, Ernie's a boy), and two old cockatiels named Puff and Cleo.  Life is full as you can tell.

I work part-time at Rockledge Presbyterian Church as the Youth Coordinator.  I'm taking a course through Union Theological Seminary's-Presbyterian School of Christian Education.  I'm also taking photography classes and am leaning toward starting up a portraiture business in the near future.  My photography professor is also interested in me working as her student assistant (which I'm very, very excited about).

Bill still works out at the Kennedy Space Center.  He's the manager of video systems (which oversees NASA Select TV).  It's funny, he's in video and has absolutely no experience in that field (he's an engineer)...and I'm a broadcaster and am doing church work.  You just never know where you'll end up I guess.

Paul Hafer, News

Paul and his wife Vicki operate a Christian station in St. Marys, Georgia-
WECC.

Jerry O’Laughlin, News Director

I'm living in Ocala (my old hometown as you may
recall), but covering Gainesville and Ocala as a sales rep for GlaxoWellcome
(soon to become GlaxoSmithkline).  I've been with them for 12 years, starting
with a territory in Leesburg and moving to Ocala about five years ago.  

I'm married (2nd time around - can anyone out there relate?) and my wife, DeLane and I have a (soon-to-be) 16-year-old daughter, Valerie.  Valerie Woodard was the long-time female reporter who covered the school board for us.  Others on the news staff  during my tenure were Chuck Samuels, Spencer Mann (now an investigator with the State Attorney's office), Lynn Setzer, Leslie Ziegler, and Martin Hardee (the Amazing Hard).

Linda Miller, Bookkeeper 

I've got a pretty good job. I work for the office of Public Affairs at Appalachian State University. Mostly for the news bureau (we distribute the "official party line", like Pravda!)

In my spare time I play bluegrass bass. I've got a few friends in the next county (Mountain City, TN) who play music and we get together at somebody's house and pick and are asked, occasionally to play for various functions...picnics, benefits, garage door openings and so forth. I love it! It's what I was looking for when I moved up here to Boone NC.

Mitch Miglis, a.k.a. Terry Moore

Here's a capsule summary: I moved out west and graduated from the Los
Angeles College of Chiropractic. I married and have three children: a
boy in college at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, and
two daughters, one a sophomore in high school and one in sixth grade.
I live in Melbourne, FL, about 45 mi. south of the Cape. I have a
chiropractic practice and have been here for the last fifteen years.

Tom Hunt

For the past 10-1/2 years, I've owned and operated Mailmaster, Inc. in Boca
Raton.  (That's the southern tip of Palm Beach County, adjacent to
Broward--about 20 miles north of Fort Lauderdale.)

What started as a pack 'n ship biz (no franchise) became a paging (beeper
company) and then has evolved into a cellular phone store.  Frankly, we do
so many things, I have a hard time keeping up with it all.  In any event, we
lump all of this under "Business & Communications Services."

I'm pleased to report that the business has provided for me and my family
nicely over the years, and while the hours of retail are strenuous and, at
times, stressful, it sure beats corporate America!!--for me, anyway. From
time to time, though, I do miss radio.

My wife Carolyn and I just celebrated our 23rd wedding anniversary on the
9th, and I finally got around to giving her a new diamong ring. Carolyn has
been an active partner both building and running the business, and rankly I
couldn't have done it without her.  We own a home in Boca, as well, about 2
miles from the store. I should've moved ten times to a bigger house
(truthfully, it's big enough but I've always wanted a big library room), but
the thought of moving all that stuff has kept me from getting serious.  Next
week, my daughter, Andrea, who's 19, will be moving to her own condo, so
maybe I'll get some place to store my 2,000 plus volumes.  Come to think of
it, probably not! I think her mother has plans for that room already.

Yes, Andrea is 19.  She goes to school at FAU (Boca) full-time and continues
to work in the business, as well.  She's just started her sophomore year and
plans to major in Marketing.  Most people say Andrea is the "spittin' image" of me in female form.  Yes, she's tall, right at 6 feet, with long blond hair.  I continually remind both her and others that I'm the original and she's just a copy.  Truth is, Andrea needs
assertiveness training just to tone down.

Chris just turned 15 in August.  He's a sophomore in high school, and a self-proclaimed computer hacker.  Chris just recently started showing in interest in the business and now works for us after school and Saturdays.  While not yet quite as tall as his sister,
he's on the move at 5'9" and surpassed his Mom a couple of years ago.

Both kids are too intelligent for their own respective goods and at times,
spoiled.  But, then, aren't most kids today?  I've been blessed in many ways
in my life, but this family is perhaps the richest gift of all.  Neither of
my children have ever been in any kind of serious trouble whatsoever.  And,
we've thankfully all enjoyed good health.

Jeff Wilkinson, WDVH News 1983-1985

I live in Hong Kong. I am an assistant professor in "digital graphic
communication" in the School of Communication at Hong Kong Baptist
University, one of HK's seven public universities. I teach various
communication courses (in English, not Chinese--but I am learning the
language!) and this semester I teach "research methods" and "digital
audio/video production".

I finished my PhD in 1992 from University of Georgia, and worked
1991-1998 as an assistant professor at University of Tennessee in
Knoxville.

Ed note from Augie:  He has been a frequent contributor to my books on communication technology--he wrote the chapter on Streaming Media in my latest book (out last summer). He and I also partnered on a big quantitative study of the impact of Rush Limbaugh's program on all dayparts of radio stations adding the program--as you might expect, we find significant impacts on adjacent dayparts, but also found a ceiling effect--poor stations improved greatly in other dayparts, but strong stations improved very little .   Augie

Frank Ciarlo

Tallahassee was home after graduation, I was a television reporter covering state government for nine stations, then went to work for the state teachers' union, FEA/United. In 1996, after a business failure, we all moved to New York to work for the New York State United Teachers union(NYSUT).  I am the New Member Project Coordinator - an internal marketing/ education job. And a great job it is - pretty exciting to be communicating to the new generations. But unfortunately, the move, financial pressure and some illness took it's toll and Nancy and I divorced.  The kids survived better than the adults I think.  My 14 year old son, plays soccer, both are involved in their church youth groups - a great safety net for them during this transition.

Mitch Montagna
News, 1983-84

My time at WDVH was an incredible personal and learning experience; I perhaps learned more at the Radio Ranch about working with others, and communicating clearly, than anywhere else.  My days and nights in the trenches with news colleagues Jeff, Cheryl, Roy and Mike are among my most vivid professional memories; and it was an honor to share air time with the likes of Jim Brand, Pat Patterson and Keith Conway.   For the past 15 years, I've worked as a public relations manager for large telecommunications companies.  I am married and live in New Jersey.

Chris Maurer

From WDVH, I went on to become an anchor and reporter at WMBB-TV in Panama City. Later, I did some
freelance reporting for ABC-TV.  In the mid '80's, I moved up to the NY metropolitan area to accept a producing job at DWJ Television. From there, I had my own video production company for a while... and
freelance produced for Fox TV's "A Current Affair."

I was offered a producing job at CNBC where I am now and have been for the past ten years. I love it there! I have produced the "Al Roker" Show, "Daisy Fuentes," "The Best of Steals and Deals," and now am working on "Capital Report," "The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board," and "Market
Week."

In my free time, I've got my usual strange hobbies. I crew on tall ships, volunteer with the Coast Guard Auxiliary (and I'm the only female crew member on a US Coast Guard icebreaker on the Hudson River) ride horses (hunter/jumper) and have been running a judo school on the side for the past 12 years. You can see my judo website at http://members.tripod.com/ridgewoodjudo


Dan Chandler Huth

Here's a turbo-tour...Hannsen fired me mid-summer (between my first and second years at UM) for oversleeping and neglecting to sign the station on...repeatedly. The guy had no sense of humor.

But maybe it had something to do with a salary cap. After all, I was doing morning sign on, sales, production, writing and producing my own spots and others, then doing traffic. And making $55 a week. He probably just couldn't afford that kind of salary...

So I hopped in my 59 Chevy and hit the road, heading south. I found a job at WBIL in Leesburg for the rest of the summer, and it went great. They asked me to stay on. (Again, could salary have colored their opinion??)

Next summer I landed at WONN in Lakeland, doing 6-midnight and production.

Following summer I worked fulltime at a hospital in Bradenton as an orderly.

My senior year I segued from a part time airshift to a fulltime job at WCKR in Miami, doing overnights as Johnny Midnight. This would be 1960-61.

Married fellow UM student Penny Pieck in 62. Still have the original wife and original children. Two sons, four grandsons.

After that I worked at WKAT Miami, a Big Band station, Went on a prolonged "bum trip" of Europe with Penny for 3 months, came back and found a job at WIOD Miami as mid-day. In 66 moved to WQAM to be a rock and roll teenage idol. Became Promotion manager, Production mgr, then PD.

Quit in Dec. of 69 to form a videotape production company, the only such independent south of New York. Sold it a couple of years later to Teletronics of New York. Like you, got a MODEST profit. Founded a film/tape production house with my partner, a director, and did really well 'till he decided he wanted to take it to NYC.

He did. I didn't. I stayed and went into acting. Lots of movies, good bad and ugly. Got a running part in the old TV series EVERGLADES as the game warden's sidekick, Pete Hammond, and airboat guide.

That segued into FLIPPER where I sidekicked again! This time the father's buddy, Game Warden Ed Dennis.

Moved to Atlanta in 1980 where I reluctantly hosted an early morning "Good Morning, Atlanta" interview/news/wx/sports show on ABC/WSB-TV. I quit after 6 months. (Once a freelancer you can't go back. Besides, getting up at 3 am...?)

And I've been freelancing ever since. Recently cut out everything except voice overs, which I can do from my home office. Three shows running on cable now...a garden show called GARDENER'S DIARY on HGTV, a hunting show called REALTREE OUTDOORS on TNN, and a series of one-hour documentaries called EMPIRES OF INDUSTRY on THE HISTORY CHANNEL.

Last month we moved to a mountaintop overlooking Jasper, Georgia--about 70 miles north of Atlanta--where I'm dispensing wisdom and the meaning of life. (And boiled peanuts on cold days.)

Life's good. Health has been a challenge, what with a mugging-induced skull fracture causing temporary amnesia, a heart attack (fine now), Crohn's disease causing the removal of about 8 inches of chit'lins, and a Titanium right knee. But believe it or not, I feel absolutely terrific. I guess all the bad health is out of the way, now!

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