Salem Communications announced today that long time Pittsburgh GM Chuck Gratner is retiring effective 7/1 after 50 years in radio. Chuck has worked for Salem Communications for the last 23 years, managing the company’s cluster in Pittsburgh which includes Christian Teaching and Talk formatted WORD 101.5 FM and Christian Teaching and Talk WPIT 73 AM. Chuck will be replaced by the stations’ GSM Tom Lemmon who has been with Salem in Pittsburgh almost 12 years.
“We have been so fortunate to have Chuck’s wisdom and expertise all these year’s managing our stations in Pittsburgh,” said Salem regional Operations VP Linnae Young, who oversees the Pittsburgh market. “While Chuck will be sorely missed we are pleased to have Tom in place in the market who has been working alongside Chuck all these years and is ready to take on this new responsibility.”
Chuck has worked at some very big stations during his storied radio career including KRLD, KCBI, and KLTY in Dallas, KCRA TV/Radio and KROY in Sacramento, and was part owner of KCNO in Grass Valley, CA. His first job was on-air at KNJO in Thousand Oaks, CA. During his 50 years in radio, Chuck has been an air talent, seller, program director, GM and part owner of a radio station.
Tom has never worked for another company other than Salem. He originally began as an account executive and moved up to GSM. He left for a time to pastor a church for a few years, but the call of radio brought him back to Salem where he has continued to excel.
“Salem is blessed to have so many outstanding General Managers taking care of business in our markets around the country, and Chuck has been one of our strongest for all these years,” said Salem Radio Division President David Santrella. “Chuck has earned his reward for a job well done, and we wish him many more years of success, only this time with a fishing rod instead of a radio tower.”
