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DAYTON AREA BROADCASTER’S HALL OF FAME

DABHOF 2005 Inductees

Gil Whitney  *  Ronita Hawes-Sanders *  Tom Hamlin *  Charlie Day
Carl Nichols *  Dale Huffman  *  Chuck Upthegrove  *  Johnny Walker
Virginia Bennett  *  Jim Bennett  *  Ted Ryan  *  James H. McGhee
Click on name to see Bio

Gil Whitney
Whitney was the popular, folksy weather forecaster noted for his homespun approach to the weather when he was calling the highs, lows and barometric pressures for WHIO-TV, Channel 7. His exemplary coverage of the 1974 Xenia tornado won him many accolades in the Miami Valley community. Whitney passed away in 1982.

Ronita Hawes-Sanders
Ronita began her career at WAVI/WDAO, but would work her way to the top of the broadcasting pyramid when she entered station ownership, launching WROU-FM/Dayton and WRNB-FM/Troy. Radio Ink magazine recognized her as one of America's top 25 African Americans in radio.

Tom Hamlin
Many a Dayton sports fan followed their teams as Tom called the play-by-play, for which he would receive many honors. He served many years as Sports Director for WHIO-TV, Channel 7 and would later handle sports assignments for WKEF-TV, Channel 22.

Charlie Day
Charlie came to Dayton broadcasting as a staff member at the former WLWD-TV (now WDTN-TV), Channel 2 as a News Videographer in the 1960's. He would go on to work many years for the syndicated Phil Donahue Show, which saw its' birth in the studios of Channel 2.

Carl Nichols
As Chief Meteorologist for WDTN-TV, Channel 2, many Dayton TV viewers have come to depend on Carl for forecasts. He has been a supporter of various local community service projects during his decades as a broadcaster.

Dale Huffman
A former producer, reporter and writer for WCPO-TV, Channel 9 in Cincinnati, Dale has worked part-time as a radio and cable TV interviewer in Dayton...and has been a popular columnist for the Dayton Daily News for decades.

Chuck Upthegrove
Over the years as a videographer for WHIO-TV, Channel 7, Chuck would photograph the likes of John F. Kennedy, Neil Armstrong and many other national and international news makers covering news both in Dayton and around the globe.

Johnny Walker
Johnny began his career in Dayton as a DJ for WING Radio in the 1960's. By the 70's, he had become a newscaster for WKEF-TV, Channel 22 and would eventually become News Director. But, what people remember him for the most: his commitment to and decades long tenure as host of Dayton's Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon, which each year, raised more money than the year previous for MDA.

Virginia Bennett
Virginia began her broadcasting career in the 1950's and was the first woman to be the General Manager of a radio station in Ohio. She also gave great encouragement to other women desiring to enter radio management, through her years with WIZE Radio in Springfield, WWSO/WAVI Radio and WING Radio in Dayton.

Jim Bennett
For 15 years, Jim was at the helm of WING Radio as General Manager during the stations' heyday as one of America's premier Top 40 AM rock stations. He receives a Lifetime Achievement Award for his innovative programming efforts.

Ted Ryan
Ted hosted travel programs, delivered weather forecasts and was a staff announcer for decades on WHIO Radio and Television. He also worked for a time at WING Radio, as well as Co-host the local Children's Miracle Network Telethon.

Community Service Award Winner

James H. McGee
Dayton's first black mayor and friend of the media.