The Wisconsin Broadcasters Hall of Fame was created in 1989 to honor broadcasters that have devoted a minimum of 15 years to the broadcasting industry including a minimum of 10 years as a Wisconsin broadcaster. With this year’s inductees, the WBA Hall of Fame membership roll grows to 156 members.
As a part of the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association (WBA) summer conference, four new names were added to the WBA Hall of Fame.
The Wisconsin Broadcasters Hall of Fame was created in 1989 to honor broadcasters that have devoted a minimum of 15 years to the broadcasting industry including a minimum of 10 years as a Wisconsin broadcaster.
With this year’s inductees, the WBA Hall of Fame membership roll grows to 156 members.
Below are the four inductees along with a description of their accomplishments from the WBA website.
Joyce Garbaciak is a respected journalist with a long career in Milwaukee TV. Garbaciak started as a reporter and anchor at WSAW-TV in Wausau after earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Her skills and work ethic quickly launched her to a station in Nashville, Tennessee and, in 1988, Milwaukee, where she would spend most of her career, first anchoring and reporting for WITI-TV and later with WISN-TV.
She is praised for her anchoring, reporting, and writing. She has covered countless high-profile stories, including an investigative series that led to a change in Wisconsin state law regarding the posting of code violations at childcare centers. She has been the recipient of Peabody, Emmy, and Murrow awards, as well as state and local honors. She is also involved in local charities and is a mentor to young journalists.
Joyce’s passion for accurate, balanced journalism serves an audience that has benefited in both tangible and intangible ways from her skills, dedication, and warm heart.
Howard Gloede (1958-2019) spent his career in La Crosse inspiring broadcasters and making a difference for local residents through his leadership at a group of Mid-West Family stations.
Gloede spent his career at Mid-West Family, starting as an intern in 1979 while attending Western Wisconsin Technical College. By 1982, he was the top biller in the sales department. In 1991, he was one of the first to be recognized by Mid-West Family as a “Master Sales Performer” and promoted to local sales manager. He was subsequently named general sales manager in 1996, and in 2009, named president and GM of Mid-West Family La Crosse. He was recognized for his ability to identify talent.
During Gloede’s 40 years at the station, he was integral to United Way fundraising initiatives resulting in tens of thousands of dollars of airtime donated to promote the annual campaign while also inspiring all employees to support the campaign. He also oversaw numerous charitable campaigns and the establishment of the 95-7 Rock, Z-Cares and KQCares Foundations to support the community.
Gloede loved the radio businesses and was seen as a father figure to many he mentored. His community spirit was infectious, and he knew how to build relationships that brought out the best in everyone.
Chris Bernier is a station owner who leads by example, aided by his lifelong career in radio with experience in every facet of the business. His dedication and passion for radio has led to his role as the owner of 35 stations in five states and as an admired industry leader.
Bernier started his career in radio at age 19 as an on-air host and by age 21 he was a station manager and by age 22 he was part owner. He worked every job in radio including play-by-play, news, engineering, tower climbing, traffic, sales, marketing, management, and ownership. In 1990, he formed his own company to operate stations in Waupun, Fond du Lac, Mayville, and Ripon. In 2006 he joined Armada Media, a group he now leads as President and CEO with stations in Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
He was co-chair of the largest fundraising group in Fond du Lac, the Charity Open, that supports a local hospice provider and cancer center. He’s held leadership roles in Fond du Lac Rotary, a committee of the Milwaukee Diocese responsible for developing St. Mary’s Academy, the WBA Board, and has served as a golf coach.
Bernier has made a lasting impact on broadcasting in Wisconsin with his inspirational leadership, love of radio, and passion for service.
Gene Purcell (1960-2021) was a leader in public broadcasting in Wisconsin whose numerous accomplishments are accentuated by his humility and passion for journalism. As his career expanded into new leadership roles, he maintained his love for production and being on the air.
Purcell was instantly at home behind the microphone when he took his first step into broadcasting as a host on WLSU in La Crosse where he was a college student. After a short stint in commercial radio, he returned to WLSU as a journalist where he rose through the ranks to be news director, program director and station manager, later joining WPR as southwestern regional manager. From there he moved to Madison to accept a job as deputy director, and later, director of the Educational Communications Board. In 2018, he was named Director of Wisconsin Public Media.
During his career, Purcell led public media on many important initiatives, including addressing engineering issues, EAS and public alerting, fundraising, public access to government, an expansion of broadcast and digital services, and transitioning public media from UW-Extension to UW-Madison.
Purcell’s sensibility and mild temperament exemplified the spirit of public broadcasting in Wisconsin. He was admired for his leadership and those who met him always felt heard, valued, and befriended.
Comments (0)
Reader Interactions