Eads named Broadcaster of Year  

At the 2004 Annual Fall Conference of the Oregon Association of Broadcasters held August 26 through 28 in Bend, Charlie Eads of  KGAL / KSHO in Albany/Lebanon was recognized as Oregon Broadcaster of the Year.   Previous Broadcasters of the Year include Bill Schonely, long-time Portland Trailblazers announcer and other prominent radio and television broadcasting pioneers, executives and advocates from around the state. 

  Charlie Eads has been the owner and general manager of Mid-Valley radio stations KGAL and KSHO since the purchase of KGAL by Eads Broadcasting Corporation in 1981.   Before that he was Sales Manager and General Manager for the previous owner.   Eads started in broadcasting in Oregon in 1976.    He also built and owned 102.3 FM and sold it to operators in Eugene.    He was part owner of a radio station in Portland for 2 years.   

Eads has lived in Albany for 26 years.    He has served on the United Way and Red Cross boards, is a charter member and past-president of the Greater Albany Rotary Club, first Chairman of the Albany Visitors Association (then called the Albany Convention & Visitors Commission), past president and member of the Albany Concert Band, past board member of the Lebanon Chamber of Commerce and continues to serve on numerous committees and non-profit and community organizations.    Eads and KGAL / KSHO Radio are heavily involved in supporting local charities, cultural activities and schools.  The stations are sponsors of both the River Rhythms and Mondays at Monteith concerts in Albany and the To Your Health Concert Series in Lebanon.    Eads does the booking of acts for Mondays at Monteith in conjunction with Albany Parks & Recreation.  

In spite of having some conflicts over the weekend that required him to rush back to Albany as the Bend conference was ending, Eads was convinced by his good friend and fellow broadcaster Mike Cheney to come play in the Oregon Association of Broadcasters  golf tournament on Thursday.   Their team won third place, which Eads considered was the highlight of the weekend.   Then came the banquet on Friday night.    He explained, “I was completely blown away.”   “My friends, my staff, my family were all involved and I didn’t have a clue.”  “They started showing a video announcing the Broadcaster of the Year and I was shocked to see pictures of me as a kid as my life story in a 4 ½ minute video began.” 

Eads credits the recognition to longevity and a strong and uncompromising commitment to localism on the part of the ownership, management and staff of  KGAL / KSHO.   “I’ve got the longevity, but without my dedicated staff we would never have survived; let alone be receiving such high honors.”    “As one of the few locally owned operations in the State, we are completely dependent on our local communities for our success.”  “We are in it with you.”   

KGAL AM 1580 is a News/Talk/Sports station featuring local news and talk and syndicated talk shows such as Bill O’Reilly, Michael Medved, Lars Larson, Sean Hannity, Larry King and others.    The “Valley Talk” daily local talk show features local government and events.    The station also carries Lebanon High School Sports and the Seattle Seahawks and Oregon Ducks.   

KSHO AM 920 went on the air in 1950 and now features an Adult Standards format with popular music from the 30’s to today.    In addition the station carries West Albany High School sports.

Since 1940 the Oregon Association of Broadcasters has been the official voice of the broadcasting industry in Oregon and presently represents over 225 members. 

Return to www.kgal.com  www.ksho.net

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