RADIO HALL OF FAME INDUCTION GALA RAISES OVER $300,00.00

Four hundred radio industry leaders, media executives and personalities and Chicagos business and social elite celebrated radios biggest night of the year at the 2003 Radio Hall of Fame Induction gala in Chicago on November 8, emceed by Larry King of CNN and Westwood One.

Four hundred radio industry leaders, media executives and personalities and Chicagos business and social elite celebrated radios biggest night of the year at the 2003 Radio Hall of Fame Induction gala in Chicago on November 8.

Americas only Radio Hall of Fame is located in Chicago and is part of the Museum of Broadcast Communications. Chicago broadcaster Bruce DuMont is President of the Radio Hall of Fame and Museum of Broadcast Communications. The sold-out benefit gala, underwritten by Angel (Mrs. Paul) Harvey, raised over $300,000.00, which will be used to help build a new Radio Hall of Fame when the Museum moves from its current location in Chicagos Cultural Center to its new 50,000 square foot home at State & Kinzie in downtown Chicago in 2005.

Larry King of CNN and Westwood One emceed the one-hour live induction ceremony, which was broadcast live coast-to-coast on 35 radio stations.

The 2003 Radio Hall of Fame inductees were the late Gene Autry, Westwood Radio network talk show host Jim Bohannon, Los Angeles talk radio icon Michael Jackson, legendary Viacom CEO Mel Karmazin and veteran farm broadcaster Orion Samuelson of WGN/Chicago. Those who inducted the RHOF Class of 2003" were Paul Harvey, Don Imus, Mancow Muller, country music legend Charley Pride and Los Angeles-based radio executive David G. Hall. The radio broadcast was produced by Charlie Cook of Westwood One. Chicago radio veteran Fred Winston of Oldies 104.3 (Chicago) was the announcer.

The sit-down dinner and live radio broadcast were in Yates Gallery of Chicagos Cultural Center. Prior to dinner, guests enjoyed drinks and hors douervers while exploring the exhibit galleries of the Radio Hall of Fame Gallery and the Jack Brickhouse Gallery.

Blue Plate Catering prepared the five-course dinner. Stanley Paul and his orchestra added to the evenings festivities. Travel and promotional considerations were provided by American Airlines, the official airline of The Radio Hall of Fame."

The Radio Hall of Fame was acquired in 1991 and became part of the Museum of Broadcast Communications, one of only three broadcast museums in America. The MBC opened to the public on June 13, 1987.

For more information on the Radio Hall of Fame and the Museum of Broadcast Communications, currently located in the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington, 312/629-6000 or visit the websites at radiohof.org and mbcnet.org.

11/23/03