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Ronald R. 'Ron' Nickell Virginia Beach, VA QCWA # 16121 |
Ronald Reed Nickell, age 69, passed away Sunday morning May 15, 2011 at 10:30 am, in Longmont Colorado of complications relating to several strokes.
Recently Ron served as General Manager of the Radio Colorado Network since 2005. Ron was a consummate radio broadcaster since his teen age years in Lexington Kentucky starting as a DJ. Over the years he was the manager of WHOO Orlando, Florida (1967) as well as VP of Bluegrass Broadcasting who owned several radio stations in Florida. Ron took the position of sales manager of Drake Chenault Enterprises Woodland Hills, California in the late 60's, in the 70's he moved to TM Productions in Dallas Texas in the same position. In the mid 70's Nickell took a year off from TM productions to become VP and General Manager of Gulfstream Broadcasting Companies' radio stations in Florida owned by his longtime friend Ron Crider. Following Ron Nickel's outstanding performance back at TM productions he was recruited by Kenny Rogers to head up a new company to produce national TV shows. The first Show produced by Nickell and Kenny Rogers was July 5TH 1981 and was part of a live simulcast on national television and radio entitled "The Spirit of America Spectacular". It originated from the site where the Queen Mary was permanently docked in Long Beach, CA. and was hosted by DJ's Wolfman Jack and Charlie Tuna. The show included performances by other bands, including Three Dog Night. The Beach Boys had performed in Washington, DC the day before and then flew back to California for this performance.
Ron was an active Ham Radio Operator since he was 15 with the call sign of K4DTI. Ron had communicated with thousands of fellow Hams worldwide including the late King Hussein of Jordan.
In the late 80's Ron returned to his radio broadcasting roots back in Virginia Beach to become VP and Operations Manager for all 40 of Willis Broadcasting's radio stations as well as producing TV shows for Bishop Willis. In the 90's Ron moved to Colorado where he managed radio stations in Steamboat Springs, Gunnison, Breckenridge and then Denver where he headed up the Radio Colorado Network with stations in Denver, Colorado Springs, Vail, Buena Vista and Gunnison.
(Source: Radio Colorado Network www.radioconetwork.com)
CREDITS
Photo #1: K4DTI QRZ.com page
