To Be Honored at IBA2024 Luncheon, October 8, in Normal, IL
IBA’s Board of Directors has selected John Hoscheidt, recently retired Aledo, Illinois radio station owner as IBA’s 2024 “W. Russell Withers Jr. Downstate Broadcast Pioneer.”
Named in honor of the late W. Russell Withers Jr, the “Broadcast Pioneer” award was created to recognize those, like Withers, who have devoted years to bringing local programming to their audiences While serving as a pillar in the community, exemplifying the true meaning of “Localism” before it became popular. In 2023 the award was changed to allow for two Pioneers per year, one for the Chicago market, and another for downstate Illinois (Jennifer Graves, recently retired VP-News at WLS-TV Chicago is being awarded the “Chicago” award.)
Hoscheidt recently retired as the owner and General Manager of WRMJ, one of the Midwest’s most successful small-market radio stations, where he served as GM since he helped put the station on the air 45 years ago in June of 1979. John and his wife, JoAnn, had been the sole owners since 1993. He’s worn multiple hats throughout his broadcasting career from sales manager to sports and news broadcaster and even commercial production, but he might be best known by listeners across the state as the long-time voice of Aledo and Mercer County football thanks to the excitement he showed during high school football broadcasts along with his signature phrase, “Touch Down Aledo, Touch Down Green Dragons!”
The term “local radio” and the name “John Hoscheidt” are often considered synonymous in the Western Illinois Broadcasting community and among the station’s loyal listeners. As a business owner and manager for more than 40 years, Holscheidt implemented sales strategies and programming that led to the station’s profitability and sustainable growth since purchasing the station in 1984. Under his leadership, WRMJ has become the exception in local broadcasting – known for its longevity, consistency, and success in serving listeners. The Illinois Broadcasters Association named WRMJ the Small Station of the Year in 2020.
A recipient of multiple state, regional, and community awards for business, leadership and community service – most notably the 2018 Small Business Advocate of the Year Award, 2019 Aledo Hall of Fame Broadcasting Inductee and 2013 Entrepreneurial Lifetime Achievement Award, Hoscheidt has been a Blackhawk Bank and Trust Board Member for the past 12 years and was formerly a board member for SVEA Mutual Insurance for 25 years.
A 1976 graduate of Southern Illinois University-Carbondale with a Bachelor of Science degree in Radio-Television, Hoscheidt also played baseball at SIU, playing on the 1974 College World Series team, earning him second team All-American honors. He was inducted into the SIU Hall of Fame in 2011and holds the SIU career record for triples. Hoscheidt is scheduled to accept the award during IBA’s IBA2024 conference luncheon, October 8, 2024 at Illinois State University’s Bone Center.
Hoscheidt is scheduled to accept the award during IBA’s IBA2024 conference luncheon, October 8, 2024 at Illinois State University’s Bone Center. More details available here.
***Courtesy of the Illinois Broadcasters Association***
