Long-time radio broadcaster Roger D. LeBrecht, known as “Don” to his friends, has passed away at age 80. He spent more than four decades in broadcasting and retired 14 years ago to his home with his wife, Thelma, in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. Although he was born in Kansas City, Missouri, his heart belonged to Texas where he graduated from high school and attended college at Texas Western College in El Paso. He was a proud veteran who served with the U. S. Army from 1956-to-1959.
His first job was at KHMS-FM in El Paso, before moving on to KNDX-FM in Yakima, Washington, KFRE-FM, in Fresno, California, WSPA-FM in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and WBT-FM in Charlotte, North Carolina.
He went on to hold various management posts at CHFI-FM in Toronto, WPAT AM-FM in New York, WDVR in Philadelphia, and EZ Communications in Washington DC. He later became executive director of the Broadcast Industry Council, from 1982 until his retirement in 1999, working with the National Association of Broadcasters on various projects to improve American productivity and literacy.
LeBrecht is survived by his wife, Thelma, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Jessica and Alan Craig of Atlanta, and niece and nephew Sherry and Dan Cochran in Bradenton, Florida.
