Rick Kaempfer's 12 Chicago Suggestions for the Radio Hall of Fame
Posted by ABRockNJock on March 1, 2026, 9:03 pm
They're the men & women we've listened to for decades. Some of whom are in that radio studio in the sky.
While its location is located at 440 W. Randolph Street and features the likes of Harry Caray, Jonathon Brandmeier, Steve Dahl, John Records Landecker, Herb Kent, Bob Collins, Terri Hemmert & Larry Lujack to name a few, not every Chicago radio host who had a long shelf life in this city has gotten the "Call to the Hall".
Former Chicago radio producer Rick Kaempfer offered 12 names, past & present, who should be considered for the Radio Hall of Fame in a piece he wrote for the March issue of the Illinois Entertainer.
While the nominees themselves will be announced at a later date, check out the following link to see who Kaempfer would like to see get considered for Radio's top honor.
The public can make its suggestions now through April 1, and that's no foolin'. The link to Kaempfer's Illinois Entertainer story can be found here. It can also direct you to the Radio HOF Website for you to make your own suggestions.
Hard to believe Roy Leonard is not yet in the hall. Having listened to all listed, I would go with Clark Weber. I forgot he had worked at several stations.
Re: Rick Kaempfer's 12 Chicago Suggestions for the Radio Hall of Fame
Roy Leonard was a fixture on WGN 9 & 720 AM for about 3 decades. In addition to hosting a midday radio show, Leonard got lots of face time on Channel 9 with his own entertainment reports and succeeding the late, great Frazier Thomas on "Family Classics" in the late '80s and into the '90s.
Seems hard to believe Leonard died of complications from an esophageal infection in 2014 at age 83 in 2014.
on March 1, 2026, 9:03 pm