Terry Havel

Terry-HavelAs a teacher of English, Drama and Broadcasting at small high schools first in New Salem and then Burlington, Wisconsin, he may have had the most lasting impact of any broadcast educator in Wisconsin history. During that same time he practiced as he taught, as a disk jockey and air talent at radio stations in Iowa, Illinois and southeastern Wisconsin, including WLIP, WIIL, WFNY and WJZQ, all in Kenosha, WMIR, Lake Geneva, WRJN, Racine, and WZUU, WEMP, WQFM and WLUM, all in Milwaukee. His crowning achievement was obtaining an FCC license and then building WBSD-FM, in Burlington, one of only two high school radio stations in Wisconsin. He managed WBSD from its first days in 1975 to well beyond his retirement from teaching in 2006. During his career at the small Burlington High School, his teaching and encouragement, along with his live “on-the-air” laboratory, astoundingly helped launch the successful broadcasting careers of over fifty of his students.

24 Comments

  1. Mike Dains is in this video.

  2. Mike (Michael) Adams

    Hello, Mr. Havel! Just wandered across this article and made the connection. Central High School, Paddock Lake, WI — around 1968. Forensics, drama … you were at WLIP at the time. Ever hear from any of the other folks of that period? I’m in Wausau now, retired from graphic arts, sold Wausau Studio of Typographic Arts a few years ago.

  3. Jim Stammers

    Hello Mr Havel. I have such fond memories of your class and that first year of WBSD going live back in the 70s. Best wishes always.

    • David Kincade

      hi Jim, your name sounds very familiar… I’m sure we’ve met this is David Kincade. I also took Terry Havel’s course like a lot of people… And got my third class radio operators license and worked at WBSD…. Dave Kingstad and I had the “dave and dave show” very early on… Glad I stumbled on this. I talked to Terry about 10 years ago when I went back to school and needed my high school transcripts… No idea why they want those but anyway Terry popped up and I think I needed a recommendation or something So I gave them a call. Anyway the memories 🙂

      • Jack Mueller

        Congratulations Terry, I enjoyed working with you at WMIR in Lake Geneva.

  4. Kurt Kamperschroer

    I loved Terry on late night radio, The Cutting Edge, New Rock Revolution, and Radio Chaos. I still have many tapes of songs from his shows. I learned there was another world besides commercial radio. Remember the Rock and Roll Grandmother?

  5. Rick Appleby

    Hello Terry, my name is Rick Appleby, and I am a very good friend of Stanley Wall (is). Every now and again he wonders if your still around and ; so, I looked you up and found out about you being induced into the radio Hal of Fame. Congratulations!

  6. susan pospisil

    Hi Terry – you used to rent upstairs from Laddis and Lorraine – my parents !
    how are you?

  7. bob labadie

    Hi Terry. congradulations on a well deserved award. The studio that you built with heard and soul is still thriving with Tom Gilding at the helm. it has become one of my favorites. Wishing you nothing but the best. Bob Labadie

    • David Kincade

      Hi Bob! This is David Kincade… BHS tennis player that played on the team with Ricky and Willie… coach Meinel, what always miss pronounce your name and tease WillyThat he always showered there because he didn’t have a shower at your house… I was too embarrassed to tell him we don’t have a shower either! LOL. Of course I took Terry’s class, it was the most interesting and coolest class Doc I got my third class radio operators license, and Dave King Kingstad and I had “the dave and dave show” On the high school radio station. Anyway hope all is well, the memories 🙂

  8. Brian Zwiebel

    Congratulations Terry Havel. This is well deserved.

  9. Jake Hanson

    Congrats Mr. Havel! Great to see!

  10. Jarrod Hanson

    Not only was he a great teacher, but a wonderful person. I worked at the radio station as well and was an experience I will always cherish. Thank you and congratulations Mr. Havel!

  11. Kim Klingbeil

    Congratulations Mr. Havel, Such an honor to have had you as a H.S.teacher. So well deserved!! You put Burlington on the map. LoL

  12. Molly (Smith) Glasoe

    Congratulations, Mr Havel!! You’ve been such a catalyst in my lifelong career in broadcasting. I’ve fondly thought of you many times along the way. ThankYou for your instruction, wisdom, counsel and giving me my start all those years ago. This is a well deserved award. xox

  13. Kathie (Rein) Ryback

    What a honor! Congratulations to you Mr. Havel. Looks like you had a great broadcasting career, but you were also a kind, fun drama teacher who created confidence and fond memories for me and many others. Forty six years ago, and I still have great memories from, You Cant Take It
    with You , South Pacific and Oklahoma! Thank you.

  14. Gerard Vail

    Congratulations Terry. You were a big influence in my life and I, along with countless others, are eternally grateful!

  15. Michael R. Steidl

    Terry, what’s up my man? Let’s do lunch

  16. Raegan (Reichart) Dexter

    Mr Havel. You touched so many lives and molded so many careers. Your reach goes so much further than you will ever know. Thank you for being a pillar in the Burlington Community! Congratulations!!!!!

  17. Julie Stone Busch

    Wo w Terry! Well deserved! I loved my time on WBSD! You were truly a great educator and all around swell guy! I would love to meet up sometime! Good for you!

  18. Sue Kozik

    Congratulations Mr. Havel. I just saw this what an honor that you deserve.
    Luv you
    Sue Kozik CHS

  19. Bill Berkholtz

    I can’t think of anyone more deserving. Congratulations, TH! I feel fortunate to have been a student of yours as well as a colleague.

  20. Steve Leffelman

    You were the quintessential broadcasting teacher. All of your hard work has paid off. Thanks for all that you have done.

  21. I thank Terry Have for the work he has done. It gave me a life long career. i am Joe Brashier a 1974 graduate of Burlington High School. i was one of the first to sign up when Terry began WBHS Radio which was heard only in the School building all day long. I remember helping work towards What is now WBSD FM and was proud when i hit the Air. Thanks Terry you gave me a life lone career. I graduated Brown Institute of broadcasting Minneapolis in 1977. I have worked in AM, FM and Shortwave all my life. I now own an Internet Radio Station, Spirit Country Radio, which is heard in 168 nations. Listen is us at spiritcountry.cc. Terry email me a joebrashier@yahoo.com I would love to talk.

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