Search results for

Willie Lofton, otherwise know as Bill Lee, did not have his mind set on radio when he first considered a career. A graduate of Struthers High School, he first studied accounting when he enrolled at Youngstown State University in the 1970s. He also wanted to be a news reporter. "It didn’t turn out that way!" he says. His goals changed when he joined the Black Broadcasting Coalition and got part-time employment as a rock and roll disc jockey at WFMJ. He's been in the business ever since.

limpose@wysu.org

anvallas@ysu.edu

jdbrandenstein@ysu.edu

sexton@wysu.org

moray@wysu.org

Dave began his radio career while a student at the University of Colorado in 1978. A year later, he began hosting "Swing Shift", a weekly big band and mainstream jazz program at KGNU, Boulder-Denver. Reflecting his long-term love and commitment to the music, he interviewed such jazz luminaries as Benny Goodman, Stan Kenton, Woody Herman and so many others, and featured live broadcasts of jazz on his program for forty years.

Gina Marinelli is a native of the Mahoning Valley and a graduate of Youngstown State University. She is best known for her 23-year career as a broadcast journalist, starting in the radio newsroom of WKBN 570 and quickly making the short move to reporter for WKBN 27 First News. From there, Gina transitioned to the anchor desk at WKBN, which she shared for many years with the legendary Tom Holden.

Tim Francisco is a professor of English at YSU and Director of The Center for Working Class Studies. He earned his Ph.D in English/Renaissance Studies from University of Alabama where he was awarded a Mellen fellowship in Critical Theory, a Hudson Strode research fellowship and a Centennial Scholars award. He has published scholarly books, chapters and articles on Shakespeare, early modern drama, and US politics. A former journalist, Francisco worked for newspapers and magazines and has published journalism pieces on a variety of topics. He is a member of the Board of Directors of The Community Foundation of The Mahoning Valley and is involved in several civic projects/organizations.

meberger@ysu.edu