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Friends of Georgia Radio
Class of 2026 Hall of Fame Honorees Announced
Friends of Georgia Radio marks its fifth Hall of Fame year with a record number of nominees and one of its strongest classes yet.
This year’s honorees — Dallas McCade, Greg Street, Joel Williams, Loran Smith and Marcy Williams — will be honored at the big Hall of Fame Celebration on August 22.
The event will feature stories, tributes and reunions from across the state’s radio community; scroll down for early‑bird pricing, ticket details, and a special commemorative 5th Anniversary T-shirt, only available when you buy your tickets.
Now meet the Class of 2026!
Dallas McCade’s love affair with radio started early. She earned her broadcast license at 14 and was on the air in her Alabama hometown all through high school, proof that country radio was never just a job but a calling. After moving to Atlanta, she became one of the city’s best‑known country voices, co‑hosting mornings on Kicks 101.5 and helping guide the station through some of its most competitive years. In 2017, Cumulus promoted her to Music Director for WKHX, trusting her instincts to shape the sound of a heritage country brand.
Today listeners know her as half of the “Kincaid & Dallas” team and as the down‑to‑earth voice of New Country 101.FIVE, often broadcasting stories from life on her Paulding County farm. Along the way she has championed new artists, supported countless community causes, and mentored younger broadcasters coming up behind her.
Dallas McCade embodies everything people love about Georgia country radio: authenticity, humor, heart, and a genuine connection with the audience that can’t be faked.
Greg Street is one of the architects of modern Southern hip‑hop radio and one of Atlanta’s most recognizable voices. He began his career as a teen in Mississippi, then moved through influential gigs in Mobile, Houston, and Dallas, sharpening the blend of music, personality and community that defines his work.
In the 1990s he landed at Atlanta’s V‑103, where his “6 O’clock Jump Off” became appointment listening and a launchpad for a generation of Southern artists including OutKast, T.I. and Ludacris. Street has always seen his role as bigger than playing records. He’s a connector and activist, using his platform to support schools, scholarships and neighborhood events, and launching literacy projects such as his “We Need 2 Read” initiative.
Even as the industry shifted from CDs to streaming, Greg Street remained a trusted tastemaker and community presence, breaking new music at night and showing up in classrooms and community centers by day. His Hall of Fame induction honors a career spent shaping the sound of Atlanta.
For generations of Georgia fans, the sound of autumn Saturdays included two voices: Larry Munson in the booth and Loran Smith on the sideline. Smith became the University of Georgia’s first sideline reporter, turning that vantage point into a storytelling platform long before it was standard in college football broadcasts.
A Wrightsville native and former Bulldog track captain, he joined UGA’s athletic department and went on to serve as assistant sports information director, business manager, executive director of the Bulldog Club and producer of coach’s shows and documentaries. His “Whaddaya got, Loran?” exchanges with Munson became part of Bulldog lore, but his impact stretches further through newspaper columns and more than a dozen books chronicling Georgia athletics.
A past chairman and 1997 inductee of the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, Smith continues to share stories as co‑host of the Bulldog Radio Network’s “Tailgate Show” and as a columnist. His Hall of Fame recognition honors a lifetime spent giving voice to Georgia’s sports traditions.
Joel Williams is the kind of morning host who makes North Georgia feel a little smaller and a lot more connected before the workday even starts. Over the years, Williams has earned a reputation for being prepared, empathetic and fair‑minded on the air, whether during his 17 years at WDUN in Gainesville, or his time at Atlanta’s Y-106/WYAY. Now a key voice on WCON FM, he brings that same conversational, community‑first style to a new audience, blending news, interviews and local color in a way that feels more like a neighborly catch‑up than a broadcast.
As co‑host of WCON’s morning show, he guides listeners through everything from state politics and local schools to Friday‑night football and weekend events, always with an easygoing delivery and a clear sense of what matters most to his audience. His background as a creative director and art director gives him a storyteller’s eye and a producer’s sense of pacing, helping him shape segments that are informative without feeling heavy.
Over the years, Williams has earned a reputation for being prepared, empathetic and fair‑minded on the air, giving guests room to talk and listeners reasons to trust what they’re hearing.
Marcy Williams has been one of Atlanta’s most trusted news voices, guiding listeners through decades of breaking stories with calm authority and a journalist’s eye for what truly matters. Williams joined WSB in the late 1980s after sharpening her skills in earlier reporting and anchoring roles, quickly earning a reputation for clear, concise delivery and meticulous preparation.
Best known for her 30 year run as a morning news anchor on 95.5 WSB, she became a daily companion for commuters across North Georgia, helping them navigate traffic, weather and major events before sunrise. On air, she balanced serious coverage of politics and public safety with a warmth that kept listeners engaged day after day. Colleagues have described her as a newsroom leader and mentor, someone who set high standards for accuracy and fairness while generously sharing her experience with younger reporters.
For listeners, Marcy Williams represented stability in a rapidly changing media landscape; someone you could rely on every morning to get the facts right and the tone just right. Her induction honors a career of trusted service to Atlanta and beyond.
Be Part of the 2026
Friends of Georgia Radio Hall of Fame
Celebration
Friends of Georgia Radio will honor the Class of 2026 at its Hall of Fame Celebration on Saturday, August 22 at City Springs in Sandy Springs,
with festivities beginning at 5 p.m.
Tickets are on sale now, and fans of Georgia radio
are invited to join broadcasters, friends and family
for an evening of stories, memories and recognition.
Our host: Neil "Hondo" Williamson
Neil “Hondo” Williamson has been one of the enduring voices of Georgia football for more than three decades. A UGA graduate and veteran of more than 35 years in Georgia broadcasting, he joined the Georgia Bulldog Sports Network in the early 1990s and became the energetic host of the pregame “Tailgate Show,” halftime features and postgame coverage that frame every Bulldogs broadcast.
Off the field, Hondo served for years as Director of Marketing for Cox Media Group’s Atlanta radio stations, but it’s his game‑day presence: joking with co‑hosts, interviewing Bulldog legends and rallying fans, that made him a beloved part of autumn Saturdays in Georgia.
Don't forget to order your
limited edition Georgia Radio T-shirt!
Available only where you purchase tickets and for a limited time. We'll have them ready for pickup at the celebration on August 22.
If you need weekend accommodations at a lovely nearby hotel, The Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Atlanta Perimeter Center on Hammond Drive, just drop a request to Trina Kinjo at TKinjo@dhmhotels.com for our special Friends of Georgia Radio “Friends and Family” rate.
Mid June 2026
All the news we know about Georgia Radio Mid-June 2026
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- FoGR 2026 Hall of Fame inductees announced June 26
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- Dyron Ducati Gone From 104.1 WALR. Ramona DeBreaux in middays. Monie Love to PM drive
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- Ashley Layfield New PD at 94.9 The Bull/Corey Calhoun to PM Drive
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Keeping up with Jackson Heaton, Rickey Smiley, Lauren Smith, and John Kincade​
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-New "Dead Air & Tall Tales" from 97.1 The River's Kaedy Kiely
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​Media Calendar:​
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-2026 Hall of Fame Banquet, August 22, City Springs Performing Arts Center, Sandy Springs
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-GABCon 2026 September 25-26, Gas South District, Duluth
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Wavelengths # 34-Bob Klomp-Regional Digital Sales Manager-Cumulus Savannah
With 30 years of experience across radio, print, and cable, Bob Klomp now serves as Regional Sales Manager for Cumulus Savannah and Charleston. There, he leverages Cumulus’s vast digital division and local assets to provide clients with a sophisticated "toolbox" of marketing solutions. By accessing a database of 300 million segmented consumers, Bob delivers hyper-targeted campaigns across web, social media, text, and TV—minimizing waste in ways once considered impossible. In Wavelength #34, Bob joins Dennis Winslow to discuss this digital evolution and offer strategic advice for broadcasters.
Wavelengths # 33-Ken Johnson Talks Podcasting
Ken Johnson has a long history as a smart programmer, from his days in markets like New York, Philadelphia, and DC-- just to name a few. He's also the former VP for Urban Radio formats for Cumulus, iHeart, and the ABC Radio Networks. Now, he runs his own company, Mean Ole Lion Media, a podcast production company and content distribution network. Ken knows how to create compelling podcasts, and he shared his knowledge in February, 2026, is a special webinar hosted by Friends of Georgia Radio's Wendy Williams. This is the recording of that session.
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Star 94.1's Kevin and Taylor
104.7 The Fish's Beth Bacall
Rome Radio Partner's Howard Toole
99X PD and Midday Personality Steve Craig
Streetz 94.5 Owner Steve Hegwood
Jazz 91.9 WCLK's PD David Linton and GM Wendy Williams
Former Fox 97 morning duo-"Randy and Spiff"-Part 1 & Part 2
Former Cox Radio President Bob Neil
The WVLD Valdosta Story-with Ron O'Quinn, Kevin O'Connell, and Bob Raleigh
The Challenges of Small Market Radio-With KJ Allen, Jeff Batten, and Bill Maine
The Story of 94Q's Jazz Flavours with Russ Davis, Fleetwood Gruver, and Don Benson
The GAB Radio Talent Institute 2023 with Madison Gott, Justin Harris, and Massimo Bellow
V-103's 80's & 90s morning stars Mike Roberts and Carol Blackmon
Voiceover stars George Robinson, Randy Reeves, & Jeff Winterson
Long time WKHX PD Neil McGinley & Morning Man Moby in the Morning
Brian Philips, Chief Content Officer/Cumulus-99X, Then & Now
John Asante/Gail Harris-The WRAS Album 88 Story-Pt. 2
Drew Murray/ Jeff Walker-The WRAS Album 88 Story, Pt. 1
Jerry Rogers: Savannah radio icon, owner Quality Rock 105.3
Dwight Douglas: Burkhart/Douglas & Associates
Laura Starling: Mornings WDEN Macon
Kaedy Kiely: 96 Rock, Z93, 97.1 The River (Atlanta)
Bear O'Brian: WCGQ, Kiss, Kissin' 99.3 (Columbus)
Don Benson: WQXI AM/FM, Lincoln Financial (Atlanta)
Mara Davis: WZGC, Dave FM (Atlanta)
Mike Roberts: WVEE V103 (Atlanta)
John Lauer: WGST, WPCH, Georgia Radio News Service (Atlanta)
Click to enlarge any photo.
Audio is changing.
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We've witnessed the dominance of AM radio,
the growth of FM...
and the emergence of streaming and podcasts.
But one thing hasn't changed:
the opportunity for talented people
to serve listeners with great content.
​Click to watch a great video produced by George Montiel about Georgia broadcasting and the birth of Friends of Georgia Radio:
Join in to help develop the next generation
of innovators in audio through scholarships and mentoring,
and to celebrate those Georgia radio legends
who've accomplished so much.