Bob Kevoian and Tom Griswold — from the syndicated Bob & Tom morning show — are among the five broadcasters going into the Indiana Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame in a ceremony slated for November 17. Brad Byrd, Ed Roehling, and Bill Shirk are the others. IBA Executive Director Dave Arland said, “We are honored to welcome these five legendary broadcasters into the Fairbanks Hall of Fame. Our Hall of Fame recipients represent the best in the business and have served as stewards of information and entertainment in our communities for many years.” Here are more details on all of these broadcasters…
Bob Kevoian and Tom Griswold began their on-air partnership in 1981, hosting mornings in Michigan at WJML, Petoskey. In 1983, they joined WFBQ-FM, Indianapolis, as the station’s morning team. Once there, The Bob & Tom Show became the city’s top-rated morning show. The Bob & Tom Show has offered an unpredictable blend of news from Kristi Lee, sports from Chick McGee, talk, celebrity guests, in-studio musical performances, sketch comedy, and topical, sometimes irreverent, humor. The show routinely features original comedy songs and a cast of recurring characters. The Bob & Tom Show is recognized for giving national exposure to young and developing comedians (including George Lopez, Brad Garrett, Tim Allen, and Rodney Carrington) and the show continues to promote the nation’s best comedians through the popular Friends of the Bob & Tom Show Comedy Tour.
In 1995, The Bob & Tom Show began national syndication. The show has been heard on more than 400 stations nationwide and the American Forces Radio Network. The show has won over 20 major industry awards, including five Marconi Awards from the National Association of Broadcasters, and has released more than 60 comedy albums. Bob retired from the show back in 2015.
Bill Shirk graduated from Ball State in 1967 with a degree in education and initially worked as a repairman and as an account executive for an advertising agency. He dipped his toe in the broadcaster waters for the first time in 1965 as a janitor for WERK Radio in Muncie. A year later he became a weekend DJ at WERK and by 1968 not only became WERK’s station manager, but also served as sales manager, program director, production manager, and remained as a DJ in the afternoons.
Throughout the next three decades, Shirk went on to own, general manage, and be a director of a half dozen stations in Indianapolis, Greenwood, and Lebanon. Bill currently serves as the Director and President of Hoosier Broadcasting Corporation, WIRE 91.1 FM in Lebanon. An active member of Zionsville United Methodist Church, Shirk has raised thousands of dollars for underprivileged and handicapped children and adults throughout Central Indiana. This work has been recognized with various awards, including the Crossroads Business Award, Variety Club of Indianapolis Human Achievement Award, and the Indianapolis Northwest Lions Club Special Award, among others.
Brad Byrd is lead anchor and managing editor for WEHT (ABC) and WTVW (CW) in Evansville. The first Tri-State broadcaster elected to the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame and the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Silver Circle Hall of Fame, Brad Byrd is now in his 39th year as Lead News Anchor for Eyewitness News. Among his honors are Emmy, Edward R. Murrow, AP, and SPJ awards.
