Jim Bohannon, whose popular radio show has aired on WDUN for years, died Saturday from esophageal cancer. He was 78.
Bohannon was born on Jan. 7, 1944, in Corvallis, Oregon, where his father was stationed in the U.S. Army during WWII, according to his obituary. Bohannon’s career began in the 1960s with a stint at his hometown station, KLWT-AM in Lebanon, Missouri.
He also served in the military in the U.S. Army Security Agency with the 199th Light Infantry Brigade including a tour of duty in Vietnam in 1967-1968.
In 1983, he joined the Mutual Network, which later became Westwood One Radio.
He anchored the America in the Morning news magazine show, as well as hosting the Saturday night Jim Bohannon Show. He was also the primary fill-in host for Larry King's national radio show. In 1993, King moved to CNN, and the show became the Jim Bohannon Show, which aired on WDUN and more than 300 other stations. Bohannon hosted the show until he retired last month, citing health concerns
Rich Valdes, a former staffer in ex-New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s administration, was named his replacement.
After Bohannon's military service, he would go on to produce a documentary on the war called Pain and Pride — Remembering Vietnam, earning a Gold Award from the International Radio Festival of New York.
The Radio Television Digital News Association previously awarded Bohannon its Special Recognition First Amendment Award. In 2013, Talker's magazine editorial board named him the recipient of its Lifetime Achievement Award. Bohannon was also inducted into the National Broadcasting Hall of Fame, the Radio Hall of Fame, Washington's chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists' Hall of Fame, and the Missouri Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame.
The family is requesting donations to veterans' organizations in lieu of flowers.
