Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters

The Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters will honor two of the state’s most influential radio personalities, Dave Murray and Dan Stroud, with induction into the OAB Hall of Fame.
The ceremony will take place Thursday, April 9, 2026, at the OKANA Resort in Oklahoma City.
Murray, whose real name was Terry Estes, began his radio career in 1963 in Norman, hosting afternoon drive and covering high school football while attending the University of Oklahoma, where he graduated in 1967. After earning a law degree from OU Law School, he served in the military and worked at radio stations on weekends in Indianapolis and Lexington.
In 1982, he returned to Oklahoma to join KXXY-FM in Oklahoma City, where he co-hosted the “Dave & Dan Morning Show” with Stroud. Dave was the ‘Straight Guy’ who drove the show and Dan was the whimsical and humorous sidekick who added the special sauce. From 1985 to 1997, the show consistently ranked as the highest-rated morning program in Oklahoma and achieved national recognition in 1992. Murray retired in 2005 and moved to Colorado with his wife, Janet. He died in January 2024.
Stroud began his broadcasting career in the mid-1970s at KOSU and KSPI in Stillwater while attending Oklahoma State University. After graduation, he reported news for KOCY-AM in Oklahoma City. In 1982, he joined KXXY-FM and teamed with Murray. Dan’s dry humor and quick wit were the perfect complement to Dave Murray’s folksy approach to announcing.
Under their partnership, the show became the No. 1 morning program in Oklahoma City by 1985 and ranked among the top five nationally. In 1992, they commanded the largest market share of any radio station in the U.S. Stroud also raised millions for charitable causes and was recognized by four Oklahoma governors for his community outreach. A lifelong aviation enthusiast, he flew helicopters and planes to events, taught students, and served as communications director for the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission. Stroud died in June 2014.

Photo courtesy of Mark Beutler, former KXY Air Personality

Will Payne named President of OAB
effective 4/1/26; Vance Harrison retiring

The Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters (OAB) Board of Directors recently named Will Payne to be the new OAB President replacing the retiring Vance Harrison effective at the OAB Annual Convention in April 2026. The Board announced that “Will Payne has the skills, the desire, the enthusiasm, and the institutional knowledge to continue the success of the OAB and take it to new heights.”

Will Payne is a third generation Oklahoma owner/broadcaster who has excelled in our ever-changing media landscape. Payne Media Group owns six FM stations in Southeastern Oklahoma and is a leader in advancing new technology for the industry. Payne’s company embraces new digital options, video streaming of numerous High School sports events, and a very robust Social Media platform. Vance Harrison says, "Will Payne is exactly who we need to lead the OAB right now. His unparalleled success as an innovative broadcaster will help all Oklahoma broadcasters now and going forward." Payne’s commitment to the industry includes being the current Chairman of the OAB Board of Directors and a member of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Board of Directors.

During Vance Harrison’s remarkable run of leadership of the OAB for the past 20 years, the OAB has enhanced its member services, won numerous legislative victories, and grown to a Top Ten position of financial strength among the 50 State Broadcasters Associations. Harrison’s dedication to local broadcasting earned him induction into the OAB Hall of Fame in 2019 and the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame in 2023.

The OAB represents all FCC licensed Radio and Television stations in Oklahoma with 18 television members and just over 125 radio station members. The mission of the OAB is to promote the value and growth of Free Over-The-Air Broadcasting and help its members deliver the greatest good for their local communities. The OAB was founded in 1948 with offices in Oklahoma City.

It’s contest time again! Entry packets for the 2025 OAB Outstanding Achievement Awards were mailed and e-mailed to member stations on November 7.
See the packet for full descriptions of categories, criteria, and eligibility. The entry deadline is January 7, 2026.
Click below for information and entry forms.

https://oabok.org/awards/

Happy September, Broadcasters! Now, go pay your FCC Regulatory Fees by the 25th. 😁

docs.fcc.gov

OAB joins the Oklahoma broadcasters and viewing public in remembering our friend and colleague Gary England. Gary touched countless lives and had a national impact on meteorology which continues to make everyone safer.

Gary England, longtime News 9 Chief Meteorologist, dies at 85 Legendary News 9 Chief Meteorologist Gary England, a pioneer in severe weather broadcasting and trusted voice for generations of Oklahomans, has died at 85.

OAB Members: Save the Date for 2026! The next OAB Convention will be April 9, 2026, at the beautiful and exciting OKANA Resort in Oklahoma City. Your room reservation will include comp tickets to the indoor waterpark and extended discount room nights, so bring the kids or grands and make it a family weekend!

And check out the 2025 Convention Photo Gallery!
https://oabok.org/conventionssemi.../2025-convention-photos/

Oklahoma broadcaster and OAB Hall of Fame member Russell M. Perry was honored today at the Oklahoma Capitol for his lifelong contributions to the State of Oklahoma and confirmed in past role as Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce. [left-right] Terry Monday, VP of Radio Programming, Perry Publishing & Broadcasting; Secretary Perry; Governor Frank Keating; OAB President Vance Harrison.

Dale Wehba, 1937-2025

Longtime Oklahoma City DJ and OAB Hall of Fame member Dale Wehba passed away on January 17.

The dawn of the Rock and Roll era in radio had a few great pioneers throughout the country, and one of the finest was Dale Wehba in Oklahoma. Dale’s instincts told him that rock would resonate with the listeners, and he had the ability to pick the right music and program it to be exciting—to make radio come alive.

Dale started his professional career at KOCY Oklahoma City in 1957, and later became Music Director and Program Director. He then moved to Wichita in the early 1960’s where he honed his on-air skills before returning to Oklahoma City at WKY, where his high-energy radio show flourished. In 1964, KOMA made him head of programming, a position he held until 1967. Dale then took his talents to larger markets such as Detroit (CKLW) and Boston (WMEX) and was number one at both stations as a programmer and personality. WKY knew Dale was a winner and rehired him in the early 1970’s to continue their dominance in the very competitive rock radio wars.

As Dale continued to compete at the highest levels of radio, he always knew that the right musical mix and the right personality was how a station reached number one. Long before computers and consultants, Dale was able to take every station he programmed to the top position, all the while using his signature phrase “VIVA LA WEHBA.”

In the rock and roll era, Dale was a pioneer and an artist, a programmer who understood the unique relationship of excellent radio and the music.

The Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters announces the selection of John Ferguson for the 2025 OAB Hall of Fame.

John Ferguson started his broadcasting journey in 1954 at Muskogee radio and television stations. His immediate success sent him to WKY TV 4 in Oklahoma City in 1958 where he started out as a staff announcer and grew into an invaluable resource for locally produced shows including the 3-D-Danny Show and others. By 1958 his signature was established as the producer, writer and exceptional talent for the character Count Gregore. For years, Count Gregore dominated late-night TV on the weekends with his iconic acting and production on Horror films.

John is the consummate broadcaster due to his on-air talent but also because of his business acumen. In addition to his tenure at WKY TV 4, John also worked at KOCO TV 5, KWTV TV 9, and KOKH TV 25, all in Oklahoma City, as a Marketing Executive and owned a broadcasting-centric advertising agency which flourished for years.

Early television was developed by pioneer risk takers, and John Ferguson was a guiding force in the success of local television. He set the standard for many future broadcasters and he did it with depth and energy. Today, thousands of Oklahomans fondly reminisce about John and his many successes.

Ferguson will be honored during the OAB Annual Convention on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at the River Spirit Casino Resort in Tulsa. Ticket information will be available in January. For more information you may contact the OAB at (405) 848-0771.

It’s contest time again! Entry packets for the 2024 OAB Outstanding Achievement Awards were emailed to member stations on November 8.

See the packet for full descriptions of categories, criteria, and eligibility. The entry deadline is January 8, 2025.

Go here for information and entry forms. https://oabok.org/awards/