Dave Hamer
CLASS OF 2009 Dave Hamer began his broadcast career at KVTV Sioux City gaining experience as a street reporter-photographer. Moving to Omaha he was brought aboard as Chief Photographer at KETV when it signed on in 1957. There he polished his skills as a reporter-photographer covering the Starkweather murder rampage as well as covering City […]
Lee Thomas
CLASS OF 2009 Lee Thomas went from DJ to Ph.D. At KLMS Lincoln for 27 years, Thomas served as music director, program director, operations manager, and general manager by 1974, and for listeners, a popular reviewer of movies. From there he went on to earn a doctorate and teach communications at Doane College in Crete. […]
Leta Powell Drake
CLASS OF 2010 Leta Powell Drake began her 46-year broadcasting career in Duluth, Minnesota at KDAL-TV (forerunner to KDLH TV). The station offered her a part-time job while she attended the University of Minnesota, Duluth. Leta began as talent on commercials and was the “Bingo Girl” on a live Bingo program. Leta’s UMD Theater mentor […]
Mike Garwood
CLASS OF 2010 Mike Garwood enjoyed a stellar career as a broadcaster for over three decades at KCOW Alliance, overcoming a physical disability in achieving it. Mike assisted in the town’s growth, was a supporter of high school sports, and was a popular air personality and mentor to his radio family. An Army vet who […]
Gary Sadlemyer
CLASS OF 2011 A Nebraska radio legend, Gary Sadlemyer has spent all but three years of his long radio career at KFAB. His work on Nebraska football broadcasts on the Nebraska Sports Network from 1980-1995 made his name and voice familiar to Husker fans across the country. He courageously and successfully hosted the first live […]
Cathy Blythe
CLASS OF 2011 With a warm personality and pleasant voice, Cathy Blythe became a Lincoln institution with a radio career spanning almost 40 years. Cathy was originally hired by Roger Larson as KFOR receptionist in 1972. She later became Stuart Broadcasting’s Music Director before leaving in 1981. The next year, Dick Chapin convinced Cathy she […]
Mark Ahmann
CLASS OF 2012 Mark Ahmann loved sports. He got as far as a spot with the New York Yankees farm club in McAlester, Oklahoma in 1953, but soon returned home following an injury. After a stint in the service, he decided if he couldn’t be a world-class athlete, he could certainly be a world-class sports […]
Peter Mayeux
CLASS OF 2012 Peter Mayeux taught broadcasting at Nebraska for 36 years, helping hundreds of graduates who have gone on to work in media. In 1985 he wrote, “Writing for the Broadcast Media,” which was adopted by universities in more than 100 countries. He also published short biographies, wrote for trade publications and contributed many […]
Ken Fearnow
CLASS OF 2013 Ken Fearnow began his radio career as a disc jockey and television weathercaster on Midway Island, while in the Navy. From there he evolved into station management guiding stations and clusters to success. After working through the ranks of programming, sales, and management at a small station in Oklahoma City, Fernow managed […]
Rod Bates
CLASS OF 2014 Rod Bates spent almost 40 years as a broadcaster in Nebraska. He joined Nebraska Educational Television as a producer/director in 1975, served in state government from 1983 to 1987 as Nebraska’s Director of Economic Development under Governor Bob Kerry, and ran his own video firm from 1988 until 1996 when he returned […]