 Tom Daren
Got dragged into radio while in college at
Bucknell U. ... Worked at the local 500 watt daytimer during summer
school that I had to attend because I almost flunked out my freshman
year because I spent too much time at the COLLEGE radio station!
Worked at a succession of small town outfits
until I got to the "big time" in Jacksonville, FL from
1973 to 1976 at a set of call letters that no longer exist there....WMBR.
Did afternoon drive, and eventually became PD. Got fired by Rounsaville
Radio (who owned the station) and got hired by WDAE shortly thereafter.
(ALSO owned by Rounsaville!) Was at 'DAE from 1976-1978. Ed Ripley
was PD right before I got there, and then "the boss"
became Chris Rathaus. We went thru a succession of morning men
including RJ Reynolds, and Bob Dearborn.
I was doing afternoons
and Bill Campbell was the midday guy, Don Beckman was overnights.
When the rumors started that 'DAE was up for sale, I went to work
for Mike Harvey (of "SuperGold" fame) at WFTL in Ft.
Lauderdale/Miami. Eventually became PD. Got canned after two years
and then went to work as Ops Manager for 3WS and WTKN in Pittsburgh.
By then the manager of that facility was... Mike Harvey! ("It's
a Small World After All")
After four and half years there the place was
sold and I got fired again. Went to Texas where I was group PD
for seven secondary market stations in Texas, Mississippi and
Louisiana. While there, got a call from Bob Neil, (who was at
WFLA when I was at 'DAE) offering me a job at WSB/Atlanta. Worked
there doing afternoons, one year to-the-day, and then was offered
the job at Walt Disney World in 1988. Also in the small world
department is the fact that the guy who hired me at WDW was the
group PD for Rounsaville Radio when I was at WMBR and WDAE...
Tom Kennington!
I am a Manager in Field Marketing, and I also
manage the Walt Disney World radio studios. I celebrate my 15th
anniversary with Disney this February 8th 2003.
Update: 5/22/2008
Tom retired as a Manager of Promotions and the Walt Disney World Radio Studios on February 29th 2008 after 20 years at "The Happiest Place on Earth."
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