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Obit: Don Mozley, 90

RIP Don. Great life, well lived.

I've never been a big fan of commercial news radio, but I used to listen in the 80s - mostly because I had a long commute in a car with a crappy radio whose only strong Am signal was KCBS. I used to hear Don's reports often. I know we can't reproduce entire articles here (copyright considerations), but here's a short quote from the obit:

"Mozley was a recent graduate of the University of Missouri when CBS News hired him in 1942 and sent him to San Francisco to help cover World War II. At 21 years old, he was the network’s youngest correspondent and was the first reporter to break the news of Japan’s unconditional surrender in 1945."

He was an adult professional, delivering the news at KQW in 1940 - 12 years before I was born. Amazing.
 
I remember Don Mozley doing the evening weekend news for KCBS since October 2010 around 9pm on 106.9fm. The last radio legend in San Francisco has left us. I had no idea until now that he spent 70 years at KQW/KCBS and CBS News that is a World record for a great radio broadcaster. Heck I remember the longest record for a tv broadcaster was 63 years that was for Stan Chambers at KTLA from 1947 to 2010.
 
I remember Don Mozley doing the evening weekend news for KCBS since October 2010 around 9pm on 106.9fm. The last radio legend in San Francisco has left us.
Click to expand...

Really? Since October 2010? I don't recall that at all.

And to call Mr. Mozley "the last radio legend in San Francisco" tells me you've never heard of Al Hart, Ken Ackerman, Bob Fouts, Lon Simmons, Frank Dill, Mike Cleary, Ron Reynolds, Hilly Rose, Gene Nelson, Dan Sorkin and Don Klein -- and about a hundred others -- all of whom are still around.

Of course, they are all "old radio guys." Not one of them can play a button accordion or troubleshoot computers (freelance or on a full-time basis). All they could do was entertain on the radio.
 
BossRadioDJ said:
I remember Don Mozley doing the evening weekend news for KCBS since October 2010 around 9pm on 106.9fm. The last radio legend in San Francisco has left us.
Click to expand...

Really? Since October 2010? I don't recall that at all.

And to call Mr. Mozley "the last radio legend in San Francisco" tells me you've never heard of Al Hart, Ken Ackerman, Bob Fouts, Lon Simmons, Frank Dill, Mike Cleary, Ron Reynolds, Hilly Rose, Gene Nelson, Dan Sorkin and Don Klein -- and about a hundred others -- all of whom are still around.

Of course, they are all "old radio guys." Not one of them can play a button accordion or troubleshoot computers (freelance or on a full-time basis). All they could do was entertain on the radio.
Click to expand...

I remember Don as well while in my days living in the Bay Area. Don't forget Bob Lazich too, an old time news man from KNBR for many years. Bob was the father of a friend of mine, and an influence for me to get into broadcasting.

May Don rest in peace.
 
BossRadioDJ said:
Of course, they are all "old radio guys." Not one of them can play a button accordion or troubleshoot computers (freelance or on a full-time basis). All they could do was entertain on the radio.
Click to expand...

Lay off of me, David. I haven't said a single word about Don Mozley, who was truly a giant in Bay Area news.
 
David's jab was well placed. Your comments elsewhere on the board were disrespectful of some very professional (and good, as in "nice") people.
 
darwood said:
David's jab was well placed. Your comments elsewhere on the board were disrespectful of some very professional (and good, as in "nice") people.
Click to expand...

Hardly. I was simply saying that I don't find it enjoyable to hear people wax nostalgic about "the old days", and I gave what I think was a cogent analysis of the situation. This has absolutely nothing to do with Don Mozley. I never mentioned him nor his good work as a reporter or news director.

Unfortunately, David F. Jackson seems to think that everything old is good. I don't agree. I also don't believe that showcasing old people in broadcasting simply because they are old does anybody any kind of service. Originally the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame was a recognition of people who contributed UNIQUE things to Bay Area Radio, people who ADVANCED the art form.

I have no problem honoring Evangeline Baker or Charles Herrold, Belva Davis or James Gabbert. Fine. Excellent choices. All four folks forged NEW paths where others had not gone before.

But, jeez, honoring Mel Venter? Doug Pledger? Russ Syracuse? These were folks who were well-liked, certainly, but hardly legends, hardly people who did new or remarkable things. Heck, I knew Mel Venter and I worked briefly for Doug Pledger at the old KOFY. They'd probably be the first to admit that they weren't terribly remarkable.
 
Wow... sad... just learning of his passing now. I first remember hearing Don Mozley doing "10-O'Clock Wire" - a 15-minute (I think) newscast, evenings on KCBS - sponsored by "Bond Clothiers." Then, for years, doing news, auto reports, special broadcasts, etc in that so-professional style of his. R.I.P.
 
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