Former on-air personality and radio executive Johnny Andrews died Thursday after a difficult battle with cancer. Andrews had a very long and successful career on the air and as a programmer and manager of many successful stations.
Andrew’s early radio career began in Farrell, Pennsylvania, and Youngstown, Ohio on local stations, before becoming a top-rated radio DJ and Program Director in the 1960s and 1970s. He spent 12 years at Susquehanna Radio’s WHLO in Akron as one of the WHLO “Good Guys” radio personalities, and was inducted into the Akron Radio Hall of Fame.
Known for his exceptional on-air voice, he moved on to Washington DC to WRC 98, the “Rock of the Capitol,” as the midday personality over the station’s highly successful, three-year Top 40 run. Lee Sherwood, first Top-40 PD at WRC, was driving through Ohio, heard Andrews on the air, and knew immediately that Johnny was exactly the voice he was looking for, offering him the job.
After WRC’s Top-40 format was dropped in 1975 for News-Talk, Andrews rejoined Susquehanna Broadcasting as Operations Manager of WSBA in York, PA. He later became morning news host, program director, and finally VP & General Manager at KTAR Radio in Phoenix, as well as creating and managing FM Adult Contemporary station KKLT for Pulitzer Broadcasting from 1983 to 1986.
Andrews went on to manage Keymarket Communications of Austin in from 1986 to 1989, and Sinclair Radio of New Orleans from 1989 to 1999. In 2000, Andrews became the manager of Pinnacle Sports, the Nebraska Huskers Radio Network until 2004, before ending his career as General Manager of Salem Communications in Omaha from 2004 to 2007.
Originally from Farrell, Pennsylvania, he is survived by his wife of 40 years, Coleen Cook Klecic, two sons, Christopher and Kerry Klecic, and a grandson, Kyle Klecic.
Andrew’s funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, February 24 at Ronan Funeral Home in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, followed by a graveside service around 12 noon in Susquehanna Gardens in York, Pennsylvania.
When I was around 10 years old I saw some kids playing with helium balloons and it inspired my mischievous curiousity to try a prank. I wanted to see how far these balloons would actually fly. So I bought one and tied a note to it: “If you find this balloon I will give you $50” This was a lot of money back in the early 60’s. I signed the note to the biggest star I could imagine “WHLO Good Guy Johnny Andrews”. That way I knew I’d get an answer. Around a month later I got a letter in the mail and my father was furious! He paid the youngster the $50. He lived around 60 miles away. I lived in Stow at the time. Johnny Andrews was my hero!
I can never, ever forget Johnny. Upon his arrival at the then “Mighty 910” WSBA in York, Pa. in 1975, the station was “king of the market”, with a great signal and served all of the York, Lancaster, Harrisburg and Lebanon markets. I had been working for WSBA in the new’s department. My dream was to become an on air-personality. At that period in time Johnny took me under his wing…becoming my mentor, (along with other legends that evolved from WSBA.) Johnny brought me on with the promotion of full-time overnight personality having been only 19 years old. Wow, what a break! Ooh yea, I made some stupid mistakes, but Johnny, who I admired and respected very much, worked with me and tutored me because I truly believe that he wanted to teach his talent and my fellow team-members at WSBA on ways to succeed in a business that we so cherished, loved and adored. If it weren’t for Johnny , I could have never gone on with the “on-air, program director, operation’s manager, sales and new’s director” skills at several radio stations that I went on to covet! So much for the great era that we were blessed with. It’s all due to wonderful guys and the best professionals like “JOHNNY ANDREWS”. PLEASE REST IN PEACE BOSS! I prey for the best for Coleen and children. Ohh and Johnny,
God willing, I hope we can encounter the experiences you gave me in that great radio station in Heaven. I can only hope and wish that our lord and Jesus, our savior be in charge! GOD BLESS YOU!!! Brad Flick.
I am from New Castle, Pennsylvania but grew up during the 1960’s listening to WHLO in Akron-Canton, Ohio, which was as good as any rock and roll station in North America. Johnny Andrews was their evening disc jockey and was really outstanding. I grieve his death.
I have been a resident of New Castle, Pennsylvania my entire life but became a fanatical listener of then rock and roll station WHLO in Akron-Canton, Ohio. That had to be, alng with CKLW in Windser-Detroit and KQV in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, one of the three top rock stations in North America during the 1960’s. Their crew of disc jockeys was really outstanding. There was Jimmy Reese (early morning), Uncle Joe Cunningham (late morning to early afternoon, Warren Duffy (late afternoon), and Johnny Andrews (evening). Johnny Andrews was as good as any disc jockey in North America. I grieve his death.
He blessed Nebraskans in many ways as Vice President of Pinnacle Sports Network and was responsible for the Husker’s radio broadcasts for football, basketball, and baseball that all excelled during his tenure. Then on to Salem Radio the top Christian rsdio stations in eastern Nebraska (Omaha) while he was General Manager. He was an icon in tbe radio broadcasting industry in bringing the highest quality of ethics and standards his profession have encountered He was a servant to all and highly esteemed and respected by all who knew him. He will be missed but his legacy will live on through all who knew him to God be the glory! Philippians 1:21
He certainly was one of the Good Guys in Radio, I had the pleasure of meeting him in Austin, always a professional and a great human being. We continued the friendship when he went to my hometown of New Orleans to run the legendary WWL. He is still spoken highly of here by the staff members who worked with him. Our prayers to him, his wife Coleen and their family from all of us here at Entercom New Orleans.
Thank you Chris