This year commemorates the 70th anniversary of when Beaver County’s first radio station, WBVP, was heard over the airwaves for the the first time on May 25, 1948.  To mark the historical event, each week, another “70th Anniversary Moment” will be showcased on the airwaves and published on the station’s online feeds.

Employers have many different reasons for deciding to go ahead and hire the new candidate applying for a job.  Sometimes it’s the resume. Sometimes it’s their experience, but on at least one occurrence, It was their three piece suit that made the difference.  This is the story of Guy Junker.

The following is an excerpt from the forthcoming book “Behind The Microphone –  The History of Radio in Beaver County,  PA” to be published in conjunction with the 70th anniversary celebration on May 25, 2018: “Guy Junker’s funny story begins with a station changing format and being geographically challenged.  Junker grew up in the Monongahela Valley on the other side of Pittsburgh and graduated from Baldwin High School.  His radio career got a good early start when he took a job at WEDO in McKeesport. After about a year at WEDO, the station switched to a religious format and Junker was out of a job.  He didn’t need to look far for advice on where his next career move in the media business would take him. In an April, 2018 discussion, Junker reported that one of the other players on the Penn State-McKeesport baseball team back then was Tim Herrera, and the two had become good friends because they were both journalism majors.  Following graduation, Herrera had begun working  for WMBA  and told Junker about an opening at the station.  Junker wasted no time in applying. Lucky for General Manager, Ruth Johnson at the time, Junker had no idea where Ambridge was, and didn’t realize how far away his new gig would be from his home. Otherwise, he may not have pursued an opening in Beaver County. Anyhow, he makes the journey through Pittsburgh and then North out route 65 one day in 1979 for his interview, and made quite an impression on the folks at WMBA. Bill Fontana was the Program Director and liked the way Junker sounded on his demo tape, but what sealed the deal was, as General Manager Ruth Johnson pointed out, according to Junker; “Nobody’s ever come in here in a three piece suit before”.  So, the combination of a smooth sounding, well prepared audition recording presented by a young lad sporting the latest fashion, perhaps from  Jos A. Bank and Company, was too much to resist and Junker was welcomed with open arms at WMBA. Guy Junker worked at WMBA until 1981, when he left to take on a job at WBZZ, B-94 in Pittsburgh.”

Guy Junker has had a very successful career in the media business, that in addition to the previously mentioned jobs, he excelled in  positions at The Sports News Network in Washington, D.C., KBL/Fox Sports net cable T.V. in Pittsburgh and as a sports columnist at The Pittsburgh Tribune Review before resurfacing as a radio show host in 2004 on ESPN radio in Pittsburgh.  In 2006, Junker started his current career at WTAE T.V. channel 4, in Pittsburgh, where he has served as the Sports Director until 2011 and continues to contribute as a sports anchor reporter. Junker also wrote and produced a nationally syndicated series entitled “The Penn State Football Story” from 1989 through 2011, for which he won 6 Emmy awards for “Best Sports Series”. Junker also travels with and reports on the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“70th Anniversary Moments” is presented by  Abbey Carpet and Floor,  Albert’s Heating, Cooling and Plumbing,  Aliquippa Giant Eagle, The Beaver Falls Municipal Authority, Beaver Valley Auto Mall, Beaver Valley Sheet Metal, Castlebrook Development, The Community College Of Beaver County,  Farmers Building and Savings bank, Freedom United Federal Credit Union, Hank’s Frozen Custard and Mexican food, The Health Huts, Kitchen City, Laughlin Insurance Agency,  Rochester Manor and Villa and Young’s Jewelry and Coins.

This year commemorates the 70th anniversary of when Beaver County’s first radio station, WBVP, was heard over the airwaves for the the first time on May 25, 1948.  To mark the historical event, each week, another “70th Anniversary Moment” will be showcased on the airwaves and published on the station’s online feeds

While there have been hundreds of  announcers that have worked for WBVP, WWKS and WMBA over the years, and dozens of them  that have called sports play by play,  Four men in particular have risen above the fray by their superior skills and dedication to the the radio stations and to Beaver County sports.  So revered are these for gentlemen, that they have been inducted into the Beaver County Sports Hall Of Fame.

The Annual Beaver County Sports Hall Of fame Induction Ceremony  and banquet will take place this year on April 29 at The Fez in Hopewell Township.  Click here for more details.

Chuck Wilson was a first for both organizations. Wilson was part of the first staff at WBVP, when the station went on the air in 1948.  The fact is, he spoke the first words ever aired on the station after it officially signed on the air on May 25 of that year.  He was also part of the first class of inductees into the Beaver County Sports Hall Of fame in 1981.  Chuck Wilson grew up in Stubenville, Ohio and spent a few years at WKST in New Castle before joining the upstart team being formed in Beaver Falls for the newly formed radio station. Wilson worked at WBVP from 1948 to 1975 and served as Program Director and Assistant General Manager at WBVP in addition to his renown play by play broadcasting abilities.  He also hosted a popular music program called “Wilson’s Wax Works ” on WBVP throughout his career.

Chris Shovlin became the second radio station announcer to receive the call from the Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame when he was inducted as part of the class of 2006.  Shovlin graduated from Midland High School in 1972 and then from Westminster College in 1976.  By June of the summer he came out of College, Chris was already on the air at WMBA and learning the craft of sports play by play as well as  hosting daily air shifts and news casts.  In 1979, Shovlin traveled north to WBVP and WWKS and began a stellar career that saw him rise to the position of General Manager, all while becoming established as “The Voice Of Beaver County High School Sports”.   Shovlin’s talents  in the press box were so great, that it wasn’t long before Robert Morris University hired him as the lead play by play announcer for basketball and later on football, after it was added to the sports program, where he continues to call the action to this day.  Shovlin went to WSHH and WJAS radio after leaving WBVP and WWKS in 1992 where he served as Morning show co host and Promotions Director.  These days Chris is back in his hometown of midland as the Community Engagement Manager for Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center.

Bob Pompeani grew up in Hopewell township and later on graduated from Point Park University.  In 2007, Pompeani became the third sportscaster from the Beaver County radio Stations to get inducted into the Beaver County Sports Hall Of Fame.    In the 1990’s Pompeani teamed up with other WMBA staffers at the time including Randy Cosgrove , Rob Matzie and Mike Vukovcan and hosted a Saturday Morning Sports Talk show called “More Sports”.  The show was immensely popular and was a staple of Saturday Morning radio in Beaver County for many years.  Pompeani also had great stage presence and made his mark in the media world in front of the television cameras as a sports caster at KDKA television for the past 35 years.

For the third year in a row, in 2008, a Beaver County Radio sportscaster was inducted in the Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame when Bob Barrickman was included in that

year’s class.  Barrckman spent his grade school years on the fields of Western Beaver School district where he preferred to be the announcer as much as play in the pick games.  he later graduated from Beaver Area High school and Slippery Rock University.  Barrickman first came to work at WMBA in 1980, and then joined the staff at WBVP in 1986.  he is the longest tenured announcer with this group of hall of fame inductees  at WBVP and WMBA.   He has been the lead play by play announcer and sports director at WBVP since 1992.  Barrickman  has also been the voice of the Geneva College Golden Tornadoes Football Network and received an honorary “G” letter man award from Geneva in 2012 for his many years of service and dedication.    But, it’s more than just radio with bob, he has also helped organize through the Beaver  Jaycees, and serve as the Master of Ceremonies for the annual Distinguished Young Woman scholarship program held at Beaver Area High School.

“70th Anniversary Moments” is presented by  Abbey Carpet and Floor,  Albert’s Heating, Cooling and Plumbing,  Aliquippa Giant Eagle, The Beaver Falls Municipal Authority, Beaver Valley Auto Mall, Beaver Valley Sheet Metal, Castlebrook Development, The Community College Of Beaver County,  Freedom United Federal Credit Union, Hank’s Frozen Custard and Mexican food, Laughlin Insurance Agency,  Rochester Manor and Villa and Young’s Jewelry and Coins.