Veteran broadcaster Willard “Bill” Schroeder died Tuesday at his home in Michigan. He was 96.
Schroeder had owned WOOD-AM & FM Grand Rapids, MI for decades, along with stations in Toledo, OH, before selling them in the consolidation of the 1990s. He had been Chairman of the National Association of Broadcasters in 1964-’65 and was a member of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
According to his son-in-law Jim Duncan, Schroeder’s broadcasting career began in the 1930s at WINS-AM New York. He was hired by Time-Life after World War II to manage WOOD-AM & TV in Grand Rapids. The FM was later added and Schroeder bought WOOD-AM & FM in 1971 when Time-Life was divesting its broadcasting properties.
Schroeder’s daughter, Christine Woodward Duncan, also became a broadcaster and managed the Emmis stations in Indianapolis for many years.
A memorial service is set for Saturday, March 6th in Grand Rapids. Anyone wishing further information may contact Jim Duncan at 505-670-2823.
