Two KHAK Alumni In Country Radio Hall of Fame

It's a proud week for us here at KHAK. It's the second straight year a former programming leader for the station has been named to the Country Radio Hall of Fame.

Tim Closson, who was KHAK's Program Director in the late 1980's through 1990 was named to the Country Radio Hall of Fame. Tim, who went by T.C. during his on-air days at KHAK, was recognized Wednesday at the Country Radio Seminar in Nashville. His upcoming induction this spring was announced by Lady Antebellum.

Tim is pictured below right with my KHAK predecessor, Jeff Winfield.

Closson, who I can't thank enough for hiring me at KHAK in the spring of 1990, went on to Cincinnati, Ohio after leading KHAK to Country Music Association Small Market Station of the Year in 1990. I still remember the day he offered me a full-time position on overnights and said if I was going to do it he'd like me to quit a part-time job delivering for Godfather's Pizza. The station would need me for evening events and my availability would be important. For a 21-year-old kid, it was somewhat eye-opening. However, I knew this is what I wanted to do so I quit that pizza gig. It's one of the best decisions I've ever made. Tim will take his place in the Country Radio Hall of Fame, officially, on June 21.

Last year the man who succeeded Closson, Tim Roberts, was inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame. Roberts led KHAK through the mid-1990's before leaving for bigger cities. He eventually ended up in Detroit, Michigan, where he still is today. He's pictured below with his wife, Lori.

Tim had a plan for everything and his communication was unbelievable. We always knew exactly what was going on and how we were expected to execute it. The i's were always dotted and the t's were always crossed. That's not to say that we didn't have a blast when Tim was here, though, because we did.

Country music started an explosion of success with the Class of '89, as it's known. Clint Black, Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks and others helped lead the way musically but it takes much more to make a successful station. Both Tim's knew that. I used to jokingly say, "Garth is God and we thank him for the food," but without the leadership of these two men KHAK would've never become what it did. It's a lofty standard to live up to, but we try hard to do it every day.

Today, the station, and me personally, thank these two "god's of radio," for everything they did for us and listeners in eastern Iowa. We're all lucky we were part of their path to the Hall. Congrats, fellas!

[via All Access & All Access]