Dr. Larry R. Meiller began one of the most remarkable careers in the history of broadcasting in 1967, when he took a summer job at WHA Radio in Madison…and never left. Now, as WHA celebrates 100 years on the air, Meiller marks his 50th year of hosting live, daily programming.
Meiller earned his Ph.D. in Mass Communications from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and served for 40 years as a much-admired professor in the UW College of Agricultural Life Sciences; in 2007 he became an emeritus professor. As a broadcaster and a teacher, Meiller mentored, inspired and served as an invaluable resource for thousands of college students in Wisconsin. He also developed student training programs in countries throughout the world that continue to set a standard of excellence in community-based radio broadcasting.
Meiller pioneered Wisconsin Public Radio’s call-in format in 1978, when he began hosting “The Larry Meiller Show,” which is now the longest-running call-in show in Wisconsin. He was instrumental in founding WPR’s Ideas Network in 1988. Meiller’s work has included a variety of daily programming, the nationally distributed “Calling All Pets,” and has earned him numerous broadcasting, teaching and community service awards.
What a tribute to a dedicated human being. He is the epitome of what wended all over. He seems so well adjusted in still learning something new and good for all mankind.. I wish him well.
Larry is one of the greatest Wisconsinites to walk the earth and speak the truth. I hope to someday develop a love of our state as righteous as Larry has.
When I first started to listen to Public Radio, Larry Meiller’s program was one of the reasons I kept returning and became an avid fan/listener. I can truthfully say his program is my favorite.
CONGRATULATIONS to a MOST deserving fellow!! Like ‘Krista’ above, when my husband turned me onto WPR in 2004, Larry’s show was immediately one of my favorites and easily soared to tie my top two! Can we keep him for another 20 years or so? 🙂 Larry is simply one-of-a-kind and a HUGE inspiration to everyone around him. His positivity and easy-going laughter are infectious. His mastery of radio talk-show-host makes for a completely comfortable on-air experience. I had the great pleasure of meeting Larry in person, along with Kathleen Dunn (another listener’s delight!) at a Listener Appreciation Dinner 3 or 4 years ago. I don’t know where he gets all of his energy, but God bless him, because he is the most gregarious individual, with the most wholesome disposition I have ever met. I think it is tremendous that a human being can be so honestly interested in ideas, people and things every single day of their life, having enjoyed innumerable experiences and gained such a wealth of knowledge in one lifetime, all of which he then turns around and shares with a world-wide listening audience as comfortably and engagingly as sitting at the kitchen table with a life-long, closest friend. Larry was MADE for teaching and broadcasting, there is no doubt! Applause on your 50-year achievement, Larry, and BLESSINGS on your health, life, family and continuing years on WPR. You are an absolute TREASURE. THANK YOU for OPENLY EMBRACING all that God obviously sent you to this world to do, thereby gifting all of us! Your legacy will be cherished as much as your listeners currently cherish you!!
Since I began listening to WPR I have become a master gardener volunteer. I listen to Larry’s Show as often as I can for the great variety of topics, especially those related to the outdoors, nature, etc. His enthusiasm for his topics is contagious! I have bought a number of books related to topics he has introduced. Recently I attended an author’s talk about her new book. She had been on Larry’s show a few days before and said that he is just as nice in person as he sounds on the air. I too have a 50 year career at my workplace so I have that in common with him as well! Hopefully I will see him at Garden Expo!
Larry is one of the best people you’ll ever know. He was my advisor at the University of Wisconsin and I can’t say enough nice things about it him.
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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.
$5,000 Level
Gray Television Midwest Communications Mid-West Family Broadcasting Dick Record Wisconsin Stations of Quincy Media
$3,500 Level
Hearst WITI-TV, Milwaukee
$2,500 Level
Morgan Murphy Media
$2,000 Level
Armada Media CBS58 Milwaukee Koser Radio Group Scripps/WTMJ-TV Terry and Sandy Shockley WTMJ & ESPN Milwaukee/Good Karma Brands
$1,000 Level
Bliss Communications Magnum Communications Woodward Communications
$500 Level
Bill Hurwitz
