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2003-2004 Inductees:
 | Ed Bench
Anyone who worked with Ed Bench describes him as the best radio engineer they've ever known.
He served as chief engineer for KSTL, KATZ and KCFM and as an independent contractor for Heritage Media and Clear Channel. Ed Bench was responsible for developing the market's first stereophonic broadcasts at KCFM, whose initial stereo broadcast was coordinated to begin at the same time as those at WSYR (Syracuse) and WEFM (Chicago), midnight, June 1, 1961.
He received the first Type Approval for a stereo broadcasting system issued by the FCC on January 2, 1961 and operated the first multi-station circular polarized panel antenna in the nation. During his work building KCFM, Bench developed many of the testing techniques that are still being used to test stereo broadcast systems.
He has been honored with lifetime memberships in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the Society of Broadcast Engineers.
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 | Ed Bonner
During his run as a dj in 1950s St. Louis, Ed Bonner owned the market.
He began on KXOK in 1951 when he was 28. From the studio in the Star-Times Building he would invite his teenage listeners to come down and watch him work. His first program, "St. Louis Ballroom" soon gave way to the station's afternoon drive slot, and his large audience encompassed teens and adults.
St. Louisans saw him everywhere, in personal appearances to benefit the Red Cross, Y.M.H.A., Cancer Fund, Heart Fund, March of Dimes, Catholic Youth Organization and many other groups.
A new record played on the "E.B." show was almost certain to become a local hit. He left KXOK in 1958, taking his listeners with him to the noon - 4 slot on WIL, and the little station at 1430, which had put together a huge stable of talent, overtook KXOK in the ratings.
The Hoopers in St. Louis in 1959 showed Bonner's audience the largest among all the area's disc jockeys. He left WIL for a job in Los Angeles in 1962.
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 | Don Burnes
Don Burnes spent 25 years as Public Relations Director of the Pulitzer broadcast operations in St. Louis, where he marketed the "classy" sound of KSD Radio in the '60's.
His image development for the station was seen throughout the Midwest in advertisements, newspaper articles and brochures that placed heavy emphasis on the station's personalities.
In its heyday, KSD specialized in middle-of-the-road, light classical and big band music, and Burnes' behind-the-scenes efforts helped propel the station to a solid market position.
In addition to his PR work, Burnes later put his vast musical knowledge to work when he hosted big band and dinner music programs on KCFM, was co-host of the "Muny Preview" show for two years on KMOX, and was heard as the announcer when Jim Bolen re-created the old Glenn Miller broadcasts
Don Burnes is the first graduate of the St. Louis University communications department to receive the school's Alumni Merit Award.
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Nick Charles
Nick Charles was a recording artist on the Stax label when he was a disc jockey in Memphis. He joined KXOK in St. Louis in 1962 and brought with him a knowledge of the record and concert business.
Many credit him with being an integral part of the promotion team that brought the Beatles to town August 21, 1966.
During his 21 year tenure as a KXOK jock, Charles stayed connected to the black music scene. He started his own label, Arch Records, and is remembered for his many personal appearances for "hops" at Club Imperial.
Nick had a large following in the Illinois part of the market because of his Shindig appearances at Belleville's Panarama Bowling Lanes.
His easygoing approach as a disc jockey made him a perfect fit for the KXOK overnight slot, which he held for many years, and he also served as the AFTRA shop steward at the station.
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 | Sheldon Grafman
Sheldon "Shelley" Grafman was the driving force behind the success of KSHE 95 from 1967 thru February 1984.
Hired in late 1967 in sales he eventually rose to the position of General Manager. At one time he was in charge of running stations for Century Broadcasting in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Detroit from his home base in Crestwood.
Known for his devotion to the Album Oriented Rock format of the 70's he was instrumental in creating the "free form" sound that made KSHE an institution not only in St. Louis but on a national level.
Throughout his 17 years at KSHE, Grafman was involved in all aspects of the station, operating out of his office, a 12x12 room in the cinder block building located at 9434 Watson Road.
Grafman also took an occasional air-shift using the on-air name of Shelley Grahm.
Hundreds of bands that went on to have superstar status were given their first break by playing a KSHE sponsored concert.
Eventually Shelley was promoted to national programming director and executive vice-president of Century Broadcasting, KSHE's parent company.
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 | Rod King
Rod King began in the radio business as "Touché the D.J. - the jock that never stops."
His first gig in the St. Louis area was on WESL, East St. Louis. His experience also included KATZ-AM and FM, St. Louis.
Many listeners remember his "roll call" segment each morning on WESL in which he invited his young audience to call in as part of his rap over a rhythmic music bed.
The famous musician George Clinton dubbed him "Dr. Jockenstein" after Rod emceed one of the Parliament-Funkadelic concerts in St. Louis.
Over the years King developed a large, loyal listenership.
Among his many awards: DJ of the Year from Black Radio Exclusive Magazine and the Black Achievement Award from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
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 | Ron Morgan
Ron Morgan came to St. Louis in 1973, taking an on-air position on Pulitzer powerhouse KSD. It was the beginning of a stay in St. Louis radio that would span nearly twenty years.
Known as "Morgan in the Morning," he peppered his programs with droll humor supplemented with an infectious laugh and gave his program team plenty of opportunities to share the spotlight.
He also did mornings at KSD-FM and KLOU, as well as other shifts at KMOX and KHTR.
Morgan was also program director at CBS-owned KLOU when it hit the air with an oldies format, giving the station a strong group of personalities to complement the music, and he served as operations director at KSD-FM.
Ron Morgan was visible in the community as a long-time supporter of the Easter Seals Society.
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 | Nance and Clif St. James
Clif and Nance St. James began their husband/wife radio show at WTMA in Charleston, SC, coming to St. Louis in 1952 when Clif landed a job at KWK.
After several months, he began concentrating on free-lance work while serving as KWK's movie reporter.
Within two years opportunity knocked when Laclede Gas bought sponsorship for the "Clif and Nancy" Show on KSD Radio and the married couple became a part of St. Louis radio history.
Theirs is believed to be the first regular local program featuring a married couple as co-hosts.
The program was eventually taken off the air in favor of the then wildly popular "Liberace" show from NBC, but Clif maintained a presence on KSD as a disc jockey in both the jazz and middle-of-the-road genres.
He also had a long career in television and Nance continued her presence in the media as talent in many local radio and television commercials.
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