While still in high school, he took a job at an AM radio station in Lebanon, Mo., that saw its owner surrender the station’s license to the FCC and go dark in 2016. By then, this well-liked individual had emerged as the heir to Larry King‘s late-night talk program, with 300 radio stations carrying the syndicated show.
On October 14, his final program aired; health reasons were cited as this host’s decision to retire. Indeed, Jim Bohannon was not well. On Saturday (11/12), it became known that Bohannon had passed away at the age of 78. The cause of death was cancer, the Washington Examiner newspaper reported.
Bohannon was at the Prisma Health Cottingham Hospice House, in Seneca, S.C.
Born on January 7, 1944, in Corvallis, Ore., Bohannon graduated from Lebanon High School in the Missouri town in 1962. He already had experience in Radio, thanks to his role at the former KLWT-AM. He’d attend Missouri State University, and work at such stations as KWTO-AM in Springfield, Mo., today owned by Zimmer Radio.
In 1967-1968, Bohannon found himself in Vietnam, as a U.S. Army serviceman. He returned to the U.S. and settled in Virginia. This opened the door to opportunities in Washington, D.C., where he would put WGAY, the former Beautiful Music giant; WTOP (from 1976-1978, with his ex-wife using the pseudonym “Laura Walters”; and WRC-AM 980 (where he and ex-wife Camille moved from middays to mornings to handle news in September 1978) on his resume. In 1983, he would join Mutual Network, becoming a colleague of King and his fill-in host.
In February 1993, King wanted to reduce his workload. With CNN on the horizon, King had become one of America’s most popular radio voices — in the overnight hours. King moved to afternoons, opening the door for Bohannon to take the slot.
As the years went by, The Jim Bohannon Show would continue to host a program airing between 10pm-1am Eastern, with Westwood One syndicating the show by May 2009, and by Dial Global by the end of 2012. He’d been inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame and was already a winner of the RTDNA First Amendment Award.
As 2021 came to a close, Cumulus Media-owned Westwood One was again the syndicator for Bohannon’s eponymous show, heard on some 300 radio stations. He was announced as a NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame 2022 radio inductee, with a ceremony held at the NAB Show in Las Vegas.
Then came the October 12 announcement that he would retire just two days later. While his health was cited as the reason, the gravity of Bohannon’s health would only become known with an obituary shared by Legacy.com on Saturday.
Industry reaction was swift. NAB President/CEO Curtis LeGeyt issued a statement over the weekend. “Our industry has lost a legend in the passing of Jim Bohannon, who embodied the spirit of broadcasting. His charismatic nature, distinct style and engaging programs have left an enduring mark on radio and the generations of audiences whose lives he touched.”
LeGeyt was particularly grateful for the opportunity to be a guest on his show. “I was honored to induct him into NAB’s Broadcasting Hall of Fame earlier this year. We offer our deepest condolences to Jim’s family, friends and fans,” he said.
Tim McCarthy, President of the Broadcasters Foundation of America, commented, “The [Foundation] honors Jim Bohannon for his amazing career in radio. A strong supporter of our charitable mission, Jim will be missed by his colleagues and his many radio listeners across the country. Our thoughts and sympathies go out to his family.”
Bohannon’s final show included special guests and the opportunity for listeners to call in and offer their thanks and best wishes. New York-area talk show host and Westwood One producer Rich Valdes was selected as the program’s guest host.
“Jim has been an invaluable member of our Westwood One family over these many years. He is truly an industry legend,” Suzanne Grimes, Executive Vice President of Corporate Marketing for Cumulus Media and President of Westwood One, said on October 12.
At 4pm Eastern on Sunday, Benztown distributed an audio tribute of Bohannon, accessible at the following link: https://soundcloud.com/
The audio tribute to Bohannon was written by Thomas Green and was voiced and produced by Royce Stevenson.
Jim Bohannon is survived by his wife, Annabelle Bohannon, of Westminster, S.C., and daughter, Elizabeth Smith of Janesville, WI. Per his wishes no formal services will be held at this time.
The family is at their respective homes, the obituary notes. “In lieu of flowers, donations in Jim’s memory are suggested to any organization of your choice that serves to support the needs of veterans,” it reads.
A message of condolence may be written to the family by visiting www.sandiferfuneralhome.com.
