Roger Russell, who died in 1989 at the age of 67, was an Army Air Corps pilot during World War II, whose first career was a pilot with Northwest Orient Airlines. In 1947 he became an announcer at his Worthington, Minnesota, hometown radio station. He began a 29-year career with Midcontinent Broadcasting in 1960, joining Madison’s WKOW Radio and TV as a staff announcer. He later served as a popular television news anchor, radio program director and host of a mid-day talk show. In 1971 he became the radio station’s general manager, and with Midcontinent’s acquisition of WMFM in 1976, he became general manager of both stations, now WTSO/WZEE. His leadership of Madison stations garnered many awards including recognition in 1987 for a “Don’t Drive Drunk” public service campaign which eventually found airplay on more than 100 radio stations nationwide. A dedicated community broadcaster, his 40-year career was honored by employees who lauded him for his “good counsel, good friendship and good broadcasting”.
This man was my grandfather and was truly a great man.
Roger was my cousin, though 17 years older than me and I only knew him as a little kid. My dad knew him well and always spoke very highly of 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
