Certainly one of the first FM broadcasters in the state of Wisconsin, Spheeris was a native of Milwaukee who actually began a law career only to have it interrupted twice: once by a World War II Army stint, and then again in 1948, by his appointment as a managing general partner for Milwaukee radio’s WEMP. The second interruption turned into a 37-year career in Milwaukee radio and television that has seen him commence, in 1953 when the Braves baseball franchise moved to Milwaukee, the first major league baseball radio network in Wisconsin. He was a pioneer FM broadcaster, putting WEMP-FM on the air in 1962. He was instrumental in putting Milwaukee’s second television station, WISN-TV, on the air in 1954 and served as its general manager until his retirement from broadcasting in 1985. Spheeris was one of the founding members of the WBA in 1951, and he served as its president for two years. In addition to his broadcasting endeavors, he was deeply involved in Milwaukee civic affairs throughout the years: President of the Milwaukee March of Dimes, President of Easter Seals, and Chief Barker of the Variety Club. In 1973, the Graphics Arts Club of Milwaukee honored him as Communicator of the Year.
Andrew Spheeris passed away on November 30, 2007.
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The Wisconsin Broadcasters Hall of Fame was created in 1989 to honor those broadcasters who have devoted their careers to broadcasting and its development in Wisconsin, to recognize their outstanding service to broadcasting, their communities, and their state, over at least a fifteen-year career in the industry, at least ten of which were served in Wisconsin.The first twelve members of the Hall of Fame were inducted during the 1989 WBA Summer Conference. Inductees are chosen each year from among nominations by WBA members. Broadcasters who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame include managers, personalities, engineers, reporters and those broadcasting pioneers who were at once all of the above.
In October, 1989, Alfred C. Sykes, then Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, came to Wisconsin to formally dedicate a Hall of Fame display, including plaques honoring the inductees, at the State Historical Society of Wisconsin Library in Madison. In 2010, due to remodeling of the SHSW facility, the display was removed. The Hall of Fame exhibit was relocated to the Hilton Milwaukee City Center in 2015 and enhanced with a touchscreen display featuring all inductee commemorative videos.
