Tributes to Don Martin and Mindy McNeil who passed away

Jeremy Levy back with you with some sad news to report. Don Martin who was on KIMN 950 for years and was also with KOA radio for years has passed away. He passed away last September and he was in his 80’s. Don first started on KIMN radio 950 doing traffic reports and he was also the news director at the station. Don’s first introduction into radio was when he started a radio station when he was in high school. Don had a deep and calming voice. His voice sounded like Jerry Bell’s voice. When Don started his own radio station the call letters were KDON radio based on his first name. Those of you in Colorado would remember him doing the Shane Company commercials. The tag line was “Now you have a friend in the diamond business." Then he would give the directions on how to find the Shane Company. I first heard one of those commercials back on news talk 630 KHOW during the Mr. Fix-It show with Paul Macgregor. Don worked on KOA radio as program director in the early 90’s. 1994- 1996. The reason why I know this is because Dave Logan and Scott Hastings mentioned on the "Zoo You Hear What I hear" CD that I have. Chris Olinger got trained by him. Chris went on to be another one of the great program directors of KOA radio. Lee Larson also knew Don and the wonderful work that he did for KOA radio. . After Colorado radio, Don moved to California to program 570 KLAC radio which is a sports station. I remember Dave Logan and Susie Wargin doing an interview during the 2016 Super Bowl. He sounded great during that interview.Peter Boyles said that Don Martin was a radio guy. I also found out that when ever there was a weather disaster that Don would be covering that on KIMN radio. Don had a studio in his basement which is very similar to what I’m going to do in my new home. Don also mentored Hal Moore. I remember listening to KHOW radio back in 1996 and 1997 and the term for the traffic person was called KHOW "radio sky spy." Don coined that term. In Colorado there is a road that connects I-70 and I-25. It is called it the mouse trap. Don also coined that phrase as well. The word pictures that he painted were really great. . Peter Boyles said on his show that Don was a radio maven. Whenever someone big in the radio industry passes away Peter likes to mention them and bring guests on to honor them. Every year Peter mentions the passing of Alan Berg in June. I really think that Peter is providing a great service by doing these tributes. Peter knew Don when he first was getting into radio. When Peter first got into radio and he was working with Bob Lee, Don was their traffic guy on KWBZ radio.RIP Don Martin. A lot of people will really miss you.In other very sad news, Mindy McNeil, one of the secretaries that worked at KUVO radio has passed away. She had asthma. I am not exactly sure if she passed away from Covid 19 or not. I was office mates with her when I was doing my internship at KUVO radio. She was a fun person to talk with. I really believe she really cared about making the station great One example is that she used to put together the food and wine events for the station. The reason why I knew this was because Rodney Franks, who is on from 3-6 p.m. on KUVO, mentioned this. Rodney and Mindy really enjoyed talking with each other. . When I was learning the route in the studio to intern with Andy O’Leary, the first couple of times she helped me into the studio. I feel I did a wonderful job showing her how to interact with a blind person by showing her what sighted guide was. During the KUVO pledge drives Mindy produced them. This meant that she really liked to tell people’s stories. She liked to hear people’s stories and to tell them back to the people that were listeners and the people who pledged money to the station. Mindy was also the current events reporter for the station. In my brief time there I shared a little bit of my story. I really wish that I shared more of my story with her. I also heard her on one of the pledge drives and she was a great host on the air. Her voice sounded interested in the jazz that they were playing that day This particular day she was working with Arturo Gomez. It was the last day of the fall pledge drive. They got to their goal at the end of the day. Mindy said when she first came on with Arturo that today was the first time that particular pledge drive that she worked on the air with Arturo. I found a tape of this that I had taped. I also remember her working with Steve Chavez, who works on Saturday mornings. Mindy was a very important part of what they did at KUVO radio and I'm sure she will be really missed there and by her friends and family.RIP Mindy McNeil.Thanks for tuning in.