Radio great Chuck Collier dies at age 64
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
A Greenfield Native whose voice was a staple on radio waves for nearly 50 years has died.
WEWS News 5 in Cleveland is reporting that Chuck Collier, "the voice of WGAR" has died of a massive heart attack. He was 64 years old.
Collier got his start in broadcasting in Hillsboro at WSRW in 1963. He is a 2009 inductee to the Country Music DJ and Radio Hall of Fame.
According to WEWS, "He was also on the airwaves in Wilmington, Dayton, Cincinnati, New York before coming to WGAR some 40 years ago."
During the 2010 Festival of the Bells celebration, the Highland County commissioners proclaimed July 3, 2010 as Chuck Collier Day. Clear Channel Communications presented Collier with a plaque, recognizing his achievements in radio.
Upon accepting the award, Collier said that honors from his hometown mean the most.
"This is a wonderful honor and I really appreciate it," Collier said. "I've gotten honors in my career, but there's nothing like the honors that come from the home. My family are from Sinking Spring and Marshal, so I'm Highland County all the way through, I gotta tell you. I've worked in New York, but I love Marshal and Sinking Spring. That's who I am, and that's why I come back."
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Collier's page on the WGAR website described his Highland County roots, and his love of family and country music.
"I'm a small town Ohio boy at heart. I was born May 6 in Greenfield and raised in New Vienna. I had the early need to talk and there were only 800 people in my town ... so I had talked to all of them before I was 6. That love of getting to know people is one of the things that makes radio so much fun," according to the website.
"I was high school class president (don't ask me how) at New Kenton High. After graduation, (about 15 minutes after) I went to the big city for college. I'm a proud graduate of The University of Cincinnati. Following college, I worked in radio in Dayton, Cincinnati, and New York City. I've been lucky enough to call WGAR home for over 30 years. I live in Parma with my wife Joni, a dog named Riley, and a cat named Bernie. My daughter, Melanie, is in advertising and my son, Jason, is an accountant. They both work in the Cleveland area. I love music and food ... or FOOD and music, even better, listening to music while eating!! I love meeting WGAR Loyal Listeners and playing you the best Country Music I can find."
A New Vienna native whose voice was a staple on radio waves for nearly 50 years has died.
WEWS News 5 in Cleveland is reporting that Chuck Collier, "the voice of WGAR" has died of a heart attack. He was 64 years old.
Collier got his start in broadcasting in Hillsboro at WSRW in 1963. He is a 2009 inductee to the Country Music DJ and Radio Hall of Fame.
According to WEWS, "He was also on the airwaves in Wilmington, Dayton, Cincinnati, New York before coming to WGAR some 40 years ago."
During the 2010 Festival of the Bells celebration, the Highland County commissioners proclaimed July 3, 2010 as Chuck Collier Day. Clear Channel Communications presented Collier with a plaque, recognizing his achievements in radio.
Upon accepting the award, Collier said that honors from his hometown mean the most.
"This is a wonderful honor and I really appreciate it," Collier said. "I've gotten honors in my career, but there's nothing like the honors that come from the home. My family are from Sinking Spring and Marshal, so I'm Highland County all the way through, I gotta tell you. I've worked in New York, but I love Marshal and Sinking Spring. That's who I am, and that's why I come back."
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Collier's page on the WGAR website described his Highland County roots, and his love of family and country music.
"I'm a small town Ohio boy at heart. I was born May 6 in Greenfield and raised in New Vienna. I had the early need to talk and there were only 800 people in my town ... so I had talked to all of them before I was 6. That love of getting to know people is one of the things that makes radio so much fun," according to the website.
"I was high school class president (don't ask me how) at Simon Kenton High. After graduation, (about 15 minutes after) I went to the big city for college. I'm a proud graduate of The University of Cincinnati. Following college, I worked in radio in Dayton, Cincinnati, and New York City. I've been lucky enough to call WGAR home for over 30 years. I live in Parma with my wife Joni, a dog named Riley, and a cat named Bernie. My daughter, Melanie, is in advertising and my son, Jason, is an accountant. They both work in the Cleveland area. I love music and food ... or FOOD and music, even better, listening to music while eating!! I love meeting WGAR loyal listeners and playing you the best country music I can find."
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