Bob Shipley

[John-Summers]

Former WSBA announcer and program director Bob Shipley has died. He was 87. Bob was one of the air personalities who made the transition when WSBA flipped to Top 40, one of the original "Sensational Seven," as they were called. Rock 'n' Roll certainly wasn't Bob's music of choice but he prospered in Susquehanna's corporate world, working with air personalities throughout the chain to improve their presentation. Those of us who worked at Susquehanna attended "Shipley School" at least once. Bob's obit can be found at the link below:

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/york/obituary.aspx?n=robert-b-shipley&pid=142902289

 

[JOCKSTAR]

[Those of us who worked at Susquehanna attended "Shipley School" at least once.]

Never attended "Shipley School." I guess they figured I either didn't need it or was beyond help. It's extremely saddening to hear of Bob's passing. I had the pleasure of working in the same newsroom with Bob before his retirement.

 

[loeper]

was a solid "C' student at the "Shipley school" in 1977. He was a great announcer and a real pro. the sound of the susquhanna stations were in at least some part a reflection of Bobs work. I was sorry to hear of his passing.

 

[jimbradley]

I was just thinking about him recently. A real gentleman and a class act. So sorry to hear about his passing, my condolences to his family.

 

[bl40modulimiter2]

I remember he came to a career day at Dallastown Middle School when I was in eighth grade. He pretty much spent the time extolling the virtues of Susquehanna Radio (remember this is 34 years ago---I got some missing brain cells)--but came off as a pro. Never worked with him, but never heard anything bad either. And in this business....

 

[Bubba Bob]

Bob Shipley was a class act. He and I would always talk sports, especially Penn State football and baseball. He will be sorely missed. My condolences to the family.

 

[gpassmore]

I don't remember much about Bob Shipley, Sad to hear he has passed. Was reminiscing to a buddy from work about the engineer who rode the Super-Duper-Looper 200 times. Do you remember who that was?
Saw an old post of yours from December. Yes, Marshall (Dad) would be appalled at the current trends and state of radio. Maybe I'm old school but I believe the saying was "Shut up and play the music." G

 

[John-Summers]

G: Your dad was one of the most unique individuals I ever encountered in the radio biz. I only worked for him briefly, doing a Saturday evening shift on “Bright and Beautiful” WSBA-FM for about six months in 1980. He had an obtuse way of looking at the world that was refreshing, a great sense of humor and of the ridiculous. I was doing part-time on WSBA and despite my Top 40 background, Marshall thought I could pull off doing easy listening too. He was great fun to work for.

I remember being in the FM production room one night in the early 80s. Marshall came in and said he was there to produce a spec tape for a new format idea he had for WSBA-FM, whose numbers were rapidly eroding. I asked what he had in mind. He threw some LPs on the counter from the Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Bob Seger and others. Mind you, at that time, those were pretty hip artists. I was amazed. The soft rock format Marshall put together - and somehow got the Susquehanna brass to agree to - became WARM 103. It was a pretty radical idea. You really had to be there to appreciate how radical it was, to flip an established easy listening station to pop music. Marshall was ahead of the curve. Soon everyone was doing it.

I’ve met several people over the years who worked with Marshall here and there and he was liked and respected by all who knew him. Just thought you’d like to know.

 

[gpassmore]

Thanks John, I remember the days of "The Sounds of Your Life" and really as a youngster I could understand why the stations numbers were starting to tank, hearing the Suquehanna Strings play "The Long And Winding Road" was truely painful. The song was a hit why not just play the song by the original artist? That was sort of Dad's thinking.
It was nice, one year out of the blue, I recieved a copy of Philip K. Eberly's "Susquehanna Radio, The First 50 Years", and a nice letter explaining the section that talked about Dad's involvement. Somehow when I listen to WARM 103 now I think they have lost that personal touch that actual live radio programming can achieve. This link shows that book. http://www.yorkblog.com/yorktownsquare/2009/08/stationtrivia.html

 

[loeper]

Gerry, I still think about your dad almost every day. never thought I would EVER see a "Susquhanna strings" refrence. As far as I am concerned, your dad never really got the recognition he was do from Susquhanna broadcasting for what he did taking the format to warm 103. I know how much work he put into that and I also know how disapointed he was with the lack of appreciation he recived from management when it was all finished. may he RIP>>

 

[loeper]

gerry passmore......I forget to mention , the guy who rode the rollercoaster at Hershey park was a fellow named Ron Chub. he was a promotions guy for the "mighty 910".

 

[gpassmore]

Loeper, Thank you sir, Ahh the lengths they went to for promotions. I was on that thing twice and was sick to my stomach.

 

[bl40modulimiter2]

Yes it was Ron Chubb---I heard it live and somewhere on a very old Scotch cassette that likely won't play anymore I have some snippets of his breaks. He later became a very good salesman for WSBA---went up against him on sales pitches 4 times when I was at either Q106 or WGTY and felt fortunate to come away with 2 of them!

 

[grandoleopry]

Ah yes BL remember those days well hearing Ron Chubb cruising
around town in the 910 mobile.
I think Ron is selling phone systems these days.
I used to always bump into him when I was calling on Lynn
Romberger at Rombergers appliance.

 

[loeper]

A Lynn Romberger reference?!!!! WOW. that's a name from the past. I think I am correct in posting that Lynn Romberger first used radio advertising on WORK in York in the very early 1970s when he was located near queansgate shopping center and his main competitor was Mailmans. His sales rep from WORK was the late Ed Munchel and I was the guy who wrote and produced his spots on WORK. we sold "service after the sale" instead of the " low price" that Mailmans offered. It worked very well for Rombergers as I recall. wow...that was when local radio adversiting actually worked when it was done well. as I remember, it was one of WORKs success storys at the time. WSBA later took the account away and made tens of thousands of dollars off of it in later years...but it was Ed Munchel and I who got Lynn started with radio adverstising. would like to talk to Mr. Romberger again sometime.

 

[bl40modulimiter2]

I live not far from Lynn's store on Reynolds Mill Rd--he's there most days AFAIK. Same old store, same Lynn. He owns the property behind me as well and we used to chat while mowing occasionally---his grandkids live there now. I remember he was the sponsor of Ben Hayden on WNOW when I was the Sunday morning God squad op " brought to you by Lynn and Millie Romberger of Romberger Appliance", and he now sponsors a show on Ch 49 as well.