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WITZ/Jasper owner Metzger dies

PTBoardOp94

PTBoardOp94

Earl Metzger passed away about 24 hours ago. He owned WITZ AM/FM and WQHK FM in Jasper. Visitation will be Monday at Becher-Kluesner funeral home with a Tuesday funeral at his parish.

In addition to his broadcasting work, Metzger was involved in numerous charities in Southwestern Indiana. I'm sure radio will miss him.

The obituary: http://www.funeralplan.com/becherkluesner/obits?id=226016
 
He was a nice man. I interviewed for a job there in the late 1980's and he had me read a list of German names for him. His employees were incredibly loyal to him. Thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.
 
Earl was a breed of guys who ran local radio like the 'center piece' of a community and region.. Metzger, Lankfords, Engelbrects built and stayed with it and success... WITZ-AM/FM is strickly for that land of German-Americans and they (audience) have been loyal back! Gene Kuntz (never worked anywhere else after Vincennecs U.) had me come up in about '81 to see if I wanted to come home and work there.. I passed to take that market 75 job, but if I had taken it, I would have loved it..... Over the years working for Green in Vincennes/Washington, while in seminary at Oakland City University (WRTB/WAOV) and when at Wabash Valley takin' R-T (WVJC), I loved hangin' with this group... PROFESSIONAL, but local to the needs of each little town around Jasper/Huntingburg...Gene, AND MY GOOD FRIEND WALT FERBER, you guys keep the legend going! I loved it when Earl invited me to sit with him a few years back at the Indiana Broadcasters Breakfast.. He was going into the Indiana Broadcasters Hall of Fame... We laughed and he said he wished I had joined them, but saw that 'big town' drive in my eyes.. He rememberd I was working at 'CIL-FM in Carbondale and going to SIU-C... Wow! That's the last time I talked with him...... That will be some funeral Mass... See you on the other side, BROADCASTER! I am now craving some Schnitzelbank buffet in Jasper.. A place where you spit on the street and it will blow back in your face! Ya!
 
My first radio gig was 45 years ago at Metzger's other AM up the Wabash, 980/WITY in Danville, Illinois. (Yes, WITY and WITZ. Always figured there was a WITX on the way, but not sure if it ever materialized). Could that have been his father at the helm back then? He would have only been about 24 or 25. Elzer Marx was the GM at the time and Gary Voss the sales manager, if I remember correctly. Whatever, they ran a very good ship. WITY was sold 20 or 30 years ago and is a shadow of its former self. But under Metzger it was very strong. Good outfit.
 
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