Bill Ray after his 2017 induction into the Kansas Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Photo courtesy Kaysie Chrisman
Eagle Radio lost a hall of famer and friend and listeners a beloved radio personality Sunday.
Longtime Salina radio personality Bill Ray (Bill Rowson, who was inducted into the Kansas Association of Broadcasters (KAB) Hall of Fame in 2017, died suddenly Sunday. Service information is pending.
“Bill’s warm voice will be missed in our community and his friendship will be missed by his Eagle co-workers,” said Terry Drouhard, Eagle's regional manager for Salina and Hutchinson.
No one will miss him more than Dave Foor, who shared the airways with Ray during KINA's Saturdays with Bill and Dave show.
"Bill Ray and I worked together for over 30 years. I could write a book about all we shared through those years and all those hours on the air together. Bill was a first class professional, one of the best I ever worked with during 52 years in radio. In all those years I don’t remember that we ever had an argument. We respected each other," Dave said. "But, so much more than that he was, and always will be, my friend. That kind of relationship comes along once in a lifetime, if you’re very lucky. I will miss him terribly."
Not only is Ray well known in the Salina area, but he also has his own entry on the Kansas Historical Society's kansapedia website.
Ray's interest in radio began while he was a student at Liberal High School, according to the kansapedia entry. While in school, he helped produce a high school radio show, which aired on KSCB-AM in Liberal. A 1968 graduate of Liberal High School, he went on to study radio and TV broadcasting at Emporia State University. He began his fulltime professional radio career in 1973, the kansapedia entry noted. He began his Salina radio career in 1980, according to kansapedia.
Ray and KINA's Randy Picking shared an early love of radio.
"What I liked about Bill is he made everyone comfortable and was very easy to talk to," Picking said. "We both fell in love with radio at a young age, and have been disappointed that the industry isn't the same as it was when we started."
When Picking retired late last year, Ray told him he would "still be drawn to the microphone if given the chance."
"When I announced I would be the severe weather anchor for Eagle, he sent me a short message: 'told ya,'" Picking said.
Ray has a special place in the heart of Eagle's Sam Pridey, who credits Ray with his working for Eagle Radio. Pridey said he had stopped by the station in 1997 to see Ray and Ray pointed to the secretary and said, "Give him an application." Pridey has worked for Eagle Radio since.
Dave Foor, left, and Bill Ray, right, with Brenda Gutierrez, program director for the Salina Area United Way, on Oct. 12, 2019. Photo courtesy Gutierrez
The kansapedia entry noted Ray's commitment to Salina. That commitment continued though his time with Foor on Saturdays with Bill and Dave. The Saturday morning duo made a point each week of keeping the citizens of Salina informed about events, programs, and helpful information. It wasn't unusual for representatives of local non-profit organizations to be on the show to talk about their events or the programs they were sponsoring to help others.
In addition to being inducted into the KAB Hall of Fame in 2017, Ray was recipient of the KAB Sonny Slater Award for Service to Community and Station in 2008. He also served on the KAB board.
Bill, thank you for all you did to make radio and Salina a better place. Your Eagle Radio family already misses you.