Just weeks after retiring from his Westwood One syndicated show, longtime Talk personality Jim Bohannon has passed away at the age of 78.
Bohannon stepped down from his show in October after being off the air for most of the summer for unnamed health reasons. He began his radio career in 1960 at KLWT in his hometown of Lebanon, Missouri. Following college and military service during the Vietnam War, he returned to radio in the Washington DC market as a newscaster at 980 WRC, 1050 WGAY and 1500 WTOP. He later worked as a morning anchor at WCFL Chicago and as a freelance reporter for CNN. In 1983 he joined Mutual Broadcasting Network as a newscaster and then became Larry King’s primary fill-in host.
Bohannon would begin hosting a Saturday evening show in 1984 before taking over the late night talk show from King in 1993. He would also host “America In The Morning” until 2015 and anchored Mutual and Westwood One’s political convention and election night coverage. He is a member of the NAB Hall of Fame, National Radio Hall of Fame, and Missouri Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame.
He is survived by his wife, Annabelle Bohannon and daughter, Elizabeth Smith.
Veteran talk radio host Jim Bohannon has died at age 78, at the Prisma Health Cottingham Hospice House. He was born January 7, 1944 in Corvallis, OR, where his father was stationed in the U.S. Army during WWII. After the war, the family moved back to their home town to Lebanon, MO, where Jim great up and graduated from Lebanon High School in 1962. He attended Missouri State University in Springfield, MO, before joining the military. His service in the U.S. Army Security Agency with the 199th Light Infantry Brigade included a tour of duty in Vietnam in 1967-68. Jim’s radio career began in high school working at KLWT, and in college at KICK, and KWTO.
After his return stateside, Jim was stationed at Vint Hill Farms Station, VA, and worked at radio stations WGAY, WTOP, and WRC in the Washington, DC market. He joined the Mutual Network in 1983, which later became Westwood One Radio. He began anchoring America in the Morning news magazine, hosting the Saturday nigh Jim Bohannon Show, and filling in on the Larry King Show. In 1993, Larry King moved to CNN, and the radio show became the Jim Bohannon Show, which Jim hosted until his death. His distinctive voice, wit and wisdom was aired on some 500 radio stations nationwide. Jim has been honored to be the recipient of numerous awards in recognition of his talent and contributions to the radio industry. This includes his induction into the National Broadcasting Hall of Fame by the National Association of Broadcasters, the Missouri Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame, the National Radio Hall of Fame of the Museum of Broadcast Communication, and the Society of Professional Journalists, DC Chapter Hall of Fame. He also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Talkers Magazine, and the First Amendment Award from the Radio and Television Digital News Foundation. He was especially pleased to receive the Gold Award from the International Radio Festival of New York for his documentary, “Pain and Pride- Remembering Vietnam,” and to be a 2003 inductee to the Wall of Honor in his hometown of Lebanon, MO. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Vietnam Veterans of America. Jim is survived by his wife, Annabelle Bohannon, of Westminster, SC, and daughter, Elizabeth Smith of Janesville, WI. Per Jim’s wishes no formal services will be held at this time.
The family is at their respective homes. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jim’s memory are suggested to any organization of your choice that serves to support the needs of veterans. A message of condolence may be written to the family by visiting www.sandiferfuneralhome.com.
