• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

Preston Young Dies of Cancer

C

cceng1

I found out this week while at the NAB Radio Show that Preston Young (aka Young Preston Young....WPFM jock when WPFM was da bomb) died of pancratic cancer in the last 7-10 days. I don't have any further regarding a funeral and/or memorial service. I understand he was creamated and his ashes were spread over one of his favorite places. :'(

Charlie
 
Charlie, do you know were Preston was living, etc? Indeed horibble and sad news. I had heard rumors of him being
sick and no one had alot of info.

Truly one of the reasons WPFM WAS THE GREAT 108.

Class act, super nice. Man....just not right. You know what I mean. :-[
 
He was living in Panama City and had been working as a nurse for several years at a local hospital (not sure which one).
 
From the PC News-Hearld

LOCAL
PRESTON WALTER YOUNG
Sunday, September 17, 2006




Mr. Preston Walter Young, born to Charles W. and Jane H. Young in Augusta, Ga., passed away Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2006. He was preceded in death by his father. He is survived by his wife: Kathryn Edler Young; mother: Jane Young Bowsher; stepfather: Fred Bowsher of Evans, Ga.; brothers: Ray Young of Harlem, Ga. and Robert Young of Augusta, Ga.; stepbrother: Jimmy Bowsher of Durham, N.C.; step-sisters, Jenny Baden (Joe) of Roswell, Ga, and Janet Howser (Onley) of North Augusta, S.C,; father and mother-in-law, Col. and Mrs. William C. Edler of Panama City Beach, Fla.; brothers-in-law, Robert Edler (Sheila) of Prentiss, Miss., William Edler (Debbie) of Tampa, Fla., Karl Edler (Paula) of Mobile, Ala., and Kline Edler of Gurnee, Ill. Preston is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and special friends, Ken and Jane Newsome of Panama City, Fla. A ceremony honoring his memory will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Preston’s name to the American Cancer Society, 2012 A. Lisenby Ave., Panama City, FL 32405.

Kent-Forest Lawn

Funeral Home

Panama City, Fla. 32405

2403 Harrison Ave. 763-4694
 
If I hear of any plans for the memorial service, I will put it up on the list. I have been in communication with Skip Bishop and Mark Elmore (Jeff Davis) and they will let me know if they hear anything.....Tibbs, please contact me direct via [email protected]

Charlie
 
Charlie,

Thanks for posting the info. I don't live in PC anymore, but Preston's voice was a familiar one on the Great 108 when I was growing up.
Birdman, Young Preston Young, Mike Stone, Little John Walker...just a few of the names that can instantly take me back to the mid 80s.

His family will be in my prayers.

--JP
 
Preston was a TRUE pro.

I can rememeber being in the studio with him one morning and mentioning how he influenced my career as "Young Preston Young" on 59DLP. After laughing and shocked that anyone would remember the "Young", he started using it again in November '87 on PFM.

He took a snot nosed kid from Gulf Coast Community College, put me under his wing, challanged me, took me out drinking at 18, treated me like a friend, let me hang with the full timers, and convinced Jefferson Cat Davis to give me the overnight weekend shift on my dream station, WPFM, Panama City, The Great 108.

I was only a part timer, but it was an honor to work with the Dream Team- Young Preston Young, Mike Stone, Jeff Davis and Little John Walker.

Preston and the original PFM will ALWAYS hold a special place in my heart.

Todd "The Smash in Your Dash" Shannon----Clear Channel
 
What a great guy and what a great loss! I was lucky to work with him in the 80's. Had a ton of fun with Jeff, Mike, Little John, Boo Buddy and Preston...Dang...
 
There was, and never will be any radio station with the sound, style, umpf and team of THE
GREAT 108. Since 1985-86, roughly, I have looked for a benchmark to compare and I never
have found it. Big city or not. The dynamic was surreal. Panama City has changed to much
to have the feel again. But, I swear, after all I have ever done in and out of radio, and no
matter how much money I would make - or wouldn't - if I could redo my life...it would be
that. Carefree highway. As for Preston Young - his personality didn't allow him to become a
legend. He was to much of a kind, team player. It showed on the air, his laid back good
times persona. But, he made a huge difference to those who got WPFM and those who
worked with him. It's cool to see comments this late after Charlie sent out this sad post.

I have said that radio, was like a person (or a family) and today's radio has taken that aspect
away to a great degree. WPFM was, and will always be, MORE than a radio station.

I'd love to try to make something close to that happen on PCB again. I'd do it for free.
The good, positive energy of the original WPFM will never leave the Gulf Coast. It's in
peoples hearts ansd minds forever, You can't name a lot of radio stations that gave you that.

Preston was and will always be the best. Always. Thanks for letting me speak.
 
Tibbs2 hit it on the head! Can't say I would do it for free BUT the station was GREAT! I had a blast working with Preston. He WAS tops along with all of the on air talent!
 
I debate whether to post this on here, as this is a tribute to Preston, but I was browsing through
flickr.com and typed in Panama City Tower. There's four or five pictures of the old House of Pizza
Tower with various forms before and after the WPFM letters were on the top. The pictures are
pretty awesome, as was everything in the day along the Miracle Strip.

Todd, glad you're doing well. Dream teams on. I didn't say I'd do PFM free forever, but you know
what? It seems only right. That placed paid me back in many thousands in experience, memories
and attutide.

To great 108 memories and great friends!!!

http://flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=171066328&size=o (I think this is legal to post, thanks to the poster on flickr for taking some great pictures.)
 
This sad news got me thinking of the staff at WPFM from the 80's....Where are they now?
Mike Stone?
Jeff Davis?
Kent Bailey?
Little John?
Randy "Boo Buddy"?
What was the GM's name...? Tim?
Who was the Engineer?
Part time staff, Ray, Steve, others?
Who am I missing?
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom