Fifty years ago, in June 1976, radio personality Mark Larson and wife arrived as newlyweds in San Diego from Rockford, Ill. Larson had been hired by legendary radio general manager Paul Palmer to work at KFMB 760-AM.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe expected our stay in San Diego would last a couple of years before relocating to another market,\u201d Larson told Times of San Diego. \u201cI never imagined I would be celebrating this type of milestone anniversary.\u201d<\/p>\n
In June, Larson will officially earn San Diego\u2019s longevity record for 50 years of continuous on-air radio and TV presence on the local airwaves.<\/p>\n
A few others can claim of 40 years or more in San Diego broadcasting history, including TV anchor Hal Clement, radio host the late Sam Bass and radio engineer Mike McGregor. But, nobody can boast a continuous half-century.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, the years have gone by very quickly, but I\u2019m not finished yet,\u201d Larson said. \u201cIt\u2019s 50 years and counting, and I emphasize the word \u2018counting.\u2019 In my mind, I feel like I\u2019m 27.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy work here in San Diego is not done yet. I\u2019ve still got some gas left in the tank. I joke about planning to take my last breath while wearing headphones.\u201d<\/p>\n
Larson prefers not to disclose his age. \u201cJust say that I\u2019m in my middle-earlies, or I also count my age according to Celsius,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Currently, Larson hosts a weekday talk-show from 7 to 8 p.m. on KOGO AM-600, one of eight San Diego radio stations operated by iHeartMedia. In addition, he offers political commentary at 6:30 a.m. on Sundays on KUSI\u2019s \u201cGood Morning San Diego\u201d program.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the most appreciated compliments I hear is when someone comes up to me on the street or at the grocery store and says, \u2018You make things understandable. I don\u2019t agree with you all the time, but I love listening to you.’\u201d<\/p>\n
In recent years, Larson also has served as a fill-in weekday talk-show host for KFBK 1530-AM and 93.1-FM, an iHeart Media-owned Sacramento news-talk radio station.<\/p>\n
Larson also is active as an emcee and keynote speaker at numerous events across the country. He also and runs his own marketing company. El Cajon Ford one of his longtime clients.<\/p>\n
He serves on the board of directors of the San Diego Air & Space Museum, now in his 14th term as chairman. He\u2019s also on the board of governors of the Young America Foundation\u2019s Reagan Ranch, based in the Santa Barbara area.<\/p>\n
During his career, Larson has worked at roughly a half-dozen San Diego radio stations, primarily KFMB, KCBQ, KPRZ and KOGO.<\/p>\n
His recollection of career stops include: KFMB-AM, from 1976 to 1994 as program director and afternoon host: KPRZ-AM and KCBQ-AM, from 1994 to 2004, as general manager and talk-show host; KOGO starting in 2004; One year, 2008, with XEPE 1700-AM; Return to KCBQ from 2009 to 2017; Return to KFMB starting in 2017; Return to iHeart\u2019s KOGO since 2022.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve made at least about seven different station moves,\u201d Larson said. \u201cInstead of getting fired I prefer to say that sometimes my contract wasn\u2019t renewed or there have been \u2018changes in the work environment.’\u201d<\/p>\n
He listed his career high-points as: The San Diego Padres playing in the 1984 World Series and the huge community support from KFMB\u2018s broadcasts; interviewing former Soviet Union president Mikhail Gorbachev in October 2004; Emceeing two Ronald Reagan pre-election rallies in 1984 and 1988; Hosting talk shows from a warzone aboard the USS Ronald Reagan in 2006.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel fortunate that I\u2019ve been able to work all these years in San Diego,\u201d said Larson. \u201cI\u2019ve had offers to move to other markets, include WGN in Chicago. But San Diego is such a wonderful city to live in and raise your kids. I\u2019ve always said that San Diego is a small town in a big-town body.\u201d<\/p>\n
Over the years, Larson has become one of San Diego\u2019s most widely known media personalities. He says one of his keys to success has been a high level of involvement in the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not one of those jerks who sets his hair on fire just for ratings,\u201d he said. \u201cEarly in my career, one of my mentors told me the only way to make a difference in the community is to talk to people, listen and learn and be connected to the community by doing things that matter to people.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy first shift at KFMB was 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., which left me free in the daytime to be a tourist and visit all the attractions. I learned quickly what a special place San Diego is.\u201d<\/p>\n
To celebrate his 50-year anniversary, Larson is distributing a commemorative coin he had personally minted.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s similar to the tradition of the Challenge Coin in the military,\u201d said Larson. \u201cMilitary commanders and senior officials will have special coins made that represent their command or unit, and the coins are given to service members as tokens of recognition or appreciation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year, Larson had a health scare after a diagnosis of Non-Hodgkins lymphoma. He completed eight months of chemotherapy treatment and was rewarded with a clean bill of health. He said he missed only two weeks of broadcasts before returning to the studio.<\/p>\n
Larson said the cancer diagnosis resulted in a \u201clife-sorting.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough I wouldn\u2019t wish this disease on anyone, it certainly gave me a fresh perspective about life,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m enjoying more the little stuff and I don\u2019t get riled-up about things that used to bug me. It caused a life-sorting for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Larson also said his Christian faith has helped him cope with the cancer.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a believer, imperfect as I am, I have a number of questions on my list to ask God in Heaven, such as \u2018What were you thinking with this disease for me,’\u201d he said. \u201cI just need to remember that other people are dealing with much more difficult situations than me.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow the hair is coming back and I am in recovery, thank God. Of course, in life there are no guarantees, so we need to get the most out of every day and find joy wherever we can. I try to remember what that country song says: \u201cIf you\u2019re going through hell, keep going, don\u2019t stop.’\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2018Shotgun\u2019 Tom Kelly now a member of Radio Hall of Fame<\/p>\n
Well, he made it.<\/p>\n
San Diego native and legendary radio industry legend Tom Irwin, better known as \u201cShotgun\u201d Tom Kelly, is now officially a member of the National Radio Hall of Fame (HOF).<\/p>\n
Kelly, whose deep baritone voice has been heard over the air for more than 60 years, learned the news in a phone call with HOF officials from the Museum of Broadcast Communications.<\/p>\n
Irwin was one of 24 nominees<\/a> selected in April by the 2026 Radio Hall of Fame Nominating Committee based on input from radio industry leaders and listeners. Nearly 1,000 HOF members voted for inductees to the 2026 HOF class.<\/p>\n \u201cThis was a pleasant surprise that I didn\u2019t expect to happen,\u201d Irwin told Times of San Diego. \u201cI didn\u2019t campaign for it. Instead, I asked my listeners to nominate two other industry friends. But, it backfired on me and they also nominated my two friends and me.\u201d<\/p>\n The 2026 Radio Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held Thursday, Oct. 8, at the Fairmont Hotel Millennium Park in Chicago.<\/p>\n The HOF honor is the latest in a celebrated career for the San Diego native, who attended St. John of the Cross Catholic School in Lemon Grove and graduated from Mt. Miguel High School in Spring Valley in 1968. The 76-year-old Irwin is identifiable by his trademark Smokey Bear-style ranger hat. His signature sign-on is \u201cBrrr-yah, you better believe it baby.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be joining other radio personalities like Howard Stern, the Real Don Steele, Robert W. Morgan, Rick Dees, Wolfman Jack, Gary Owens and many others,\u201d said Irwin. \u201cI\u2019m looking forward to October 8th in Chicago for the induction ceremony.\u201d<\/p>\n Other career awards for Irwin have included California Music Hall of Fame 2023 inductee, Billboard Magazine Air Personality of the Year and Radio and Records 2020 Oldies Air Personality of the Year.<\/p>\n Also, in 2013, Irwin was honored with his own star on the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame and superstar Stevie Wonder was one of the presenters. His star is located at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and La Brea Avenue.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve had a wonderful career,\u201d Irwin said. \u201cWorking at some of the most historic radio stations like KCBQ-AM, 1360 KGB AM, KFMB B-100-FM and going to Hollywood and working for KRTH K Earth 101 for 20 years and now going nationwide for the last seven years working on satellite radio at SiriusXm 60s gold channel 73 five days a week Monday through Friday.<\/p>\n \u201cThen, the opportunity to write my book, \u2018All I Wanna Do Is Play the Hits!\u2019<\/a> And now this, being inducted into the National Radio Hall Of Fame. It\u2019s something that I will remember for the rest of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n In addition to Irwin, the 2026 HOF induction class includes Boomer Esiason, Dennis Green, Helen Little, Bob Pittman, Rickey Smiley, Charlie Van Dyke and Fred Winston.<\/p>\n Esiason, the former NFL quarterback and two-time Pro Bowl selection, has co-hosted mornings at WFAN in New York for more than a decade.<\/p>\n Green spent 22 years at Westwood One, rising to senior VP of affiliate sales and broadcast operations, and earlier served as head of multimedia syndication for Bloomberg.<\/p>\n Little worked her way through multiple markets before becoming the most listened-to non-syndicated radio personality in the country as midday host at iHeartMedia\u2019s 106.7 Lite FM (WLTW) in New York.<\/p>\n Pittman co-founded MTV in 1981 and held senior executive roles at AOL Time Warner before taking the helm at Clear Channel Communications, which he helped rebrand as iHeartMedia.<\/p>\n Smiley, comedian and actor, is host of \u201cThe Rickey Smiley Morning Show,\u201d syndicated nationally through Urban One Reach Media across more than 60 markets.<\/p>\n Van Dyke was working in major-market radio at Dallas\u2019s KLIF by the time he was 19. Programmer Bill Drake brought him to CKLW in Windsor, then KFRC in San Francisco and eventually to Drake\u2019s flagship KHJ in Los Angeles, where Van Dyke served as program director. Other stops included WLS Chicago and WRKO Boston. Throughout the 1980s, he was the primary fill-in for Casey Kasem on American Top 40.<\/p>\n Winston began his career as an afternoon DJ at WLS in Chicago in 1971 and spent the next several decades as one of the city\u2019s most recognized voices, with stops at WMAQ, WFYR, WCFL, WPNT, WJMK and WLUP.<\/p>\n HOF co-chair Kraig Kitchin said, \u201cOur congratulations to each of our 2026 inductees on this well-deserved recognition. Each of these inductees has performed at the highest levels for a sustained period of time to make our industry that much more impactful to listeners and advertisers as a result. I\u2019m thrilled to see them properly recognized by this announcement and the forthcoming induction ceremony this October. Thank you to our 2026 nominating committee and to the hundreds of voting panel participants for confirming our 2026 Class of Inductees.\u201d<\/p>\n InnoVision\u2019s Ric Militi launches video leadership series<\/p>\n Ric Militi, CEO of InnoVision Marketing Group<\/a> (IMG), a San Diego-based, full-service marketing agency, has launched a free video leadership series called \u201cThe Fundamentals of Success.\u201d<\/p>\n Created from companywide meetings that have helped shape InnoVision\u2019s culture for more than two decades, the company said its video series features leadership lessons in short-form digital content for professionals, entrepreneurs and aspiring leaders seeking practical guidance in today\u2019s evolving business landscape.<\/p>\n According to a statement, <\/p>\n The series explores dozens of soft-skill principles designed to support long-term growth in both business and life. Each video focuses on a specific fundamental, with broader themes, including leadership, communication, discipline, collaboration, consistency and personal development.<\/p>\n \u201cBy making this coaching content widely accessible, the series provides professionals with practical insights they can apply both personally and professionally. Through \u2018The Fundamentals of Success,\u2019 Militi aims to inspire the next generation of leaders while reinforcing the importance of integrity, accountability and character in achieving sustainable success.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201cMy family immigrated to the United States when I was 3 years old, and everything we owned fit inside an old ocean liner trunk. I still have it today as a reminder of where I came from,\u201d said Militi. \u201cFinancially, we struggled. I went out on my own at a young age and often had to scrape together enough money for my next meal.<\/p>\n \u201cIt took me too long to figure out that success is rarely built on talent alone. Most of the time, it comes down to human behaviors like trust, loyalty, respect, communication, attention to detail and consistently showing up. \u2018The Fundamentals of Success\u2019 is my way of sharing the many lessons I had to learn in a simplified, relatable, format. So even if it enriches only one person\u2019s life, then it was worth doing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Fundamentals of Success\u201d is available on LinkedIn,<\/a> YouTube,<\/a> Instagram,<\/a> Facebook<\/a> and TikTok.<\/a><\/p>\n\n