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.

If there was ever somebody who was well suited for furthering the mission of Beaver County Radio, it was Christopher Jerome Shovlin.  Better known as “Chris”, Shovlin grew up in Midland, PA.  In the 1960’s and 1970’s, MIdland was  a town rich in sports tradition, ethnic culture, a thriving Steel Industry and was a powerful center of political influence in Beaver County.  As a 1972 graduate of Midland High School, Shovlin soaked up the Midland heritage and experience and wore his “Leopard spots” proudly, referring to the school mascot.  The qualities instilled in him along the big curve in the Ohio River just before it crosses into Ohio and West Virginia would bode well for him throughout his broadcasting career.

After high school, Chris Shovlin graduated from Westminster College in 1976, where he studied broadcasting and communications.  About a month after college commencement, Shovlin trekked up the stairs with a demo tape and resume in hand to the second floor office and studio location of WMBA above Action Tire on Duss Avenue in Ambridge.  Bill Fontana was the program Director at WMBA and liked what he saw and heard. Fontana immediately hired Shovlin to host an afternoon radio program.  Not long afterwards, Shovlin was moved to the morning time slot and began to broadcast the morning news reports.  Fontana also began to have Shovlin tag along on local Beaver County high school sports broadcasts and thus launched on of the most successful and well known sports broadcasting careers of anyone from Beaver County.  Fontana had a very discerning eye for talent and Shovlin became another talented  player in an all star line up at WMBA in that era, that Fontana had recruited, which also included Jim Merkel, Guy Junker, Tim Herrera and Gene Romano, as well as others.  Many of which would go on to have very distinguished broadcasting careers.

In 1979, Chris Shovlin interviewed and was hired at WBVP and WWKS by Program Director Dennis Atkins (Atkinson).   According to Shovlin,  Atkins was already familiar with Shovlin’s broadcasting abilities from listening to him regularly on the competing station at the time, WMBA.  Much like his hiring a few years earlier at the Ambridge radio station, Shovlin was immediately brought aboard and began to make an impact at the Beaver Falls headquarters of WBVP A.M.  and WWKS F.M.  One of the areas where Shovlin was able to leverage his talents well, was in the local high school sports broadcasts of WBVP.  Legendary WBVP sports broadcaster, Chuck Wilson, had left in 1975 to work for the state, and following Wilson’s departure, WBVP had struggled a bit to find the right person to carry the mantle of its great sports coverage tradition.  It was a perfect doorway of opportunity for Shovlin, who made immediate improvements in the quality of the sports broadcasts on WBVP.  He introduced theme music, convinced station officials to invest in better broadcasting equipment, and  brought back the high quality and energy of a WBVP play by play broadcast that had become the standard with Chuck Wilson on WBVP years earlier.  The executives at Hall Communications, The company that owned WBVP and WWKS at that time, noticed Shovlin’s abilities too.  In 1983, Hall Communications Vice President, Dick Reed, appointed Shovlin General Manger of WBVP and WWKS.

Chris Shovlin was elevated to the title of Vice President after Ted Ruscitti bought WBVP and WWKS in 1985.  In the recently published book, “Behind The Microphone, The History Of Radio In Beaver County, PA”, Shovlin’s achievements are recorded as follows: “In addition to his management role, Shovlin also called the action on high school sports broadcasts and hosted various radio shows while at WBVP and WWKS.  In 1987, Shovlin became part of the Robert Morris Colonials radio network where he continues to call play by play for football and basketball. After leaving WBVP and WWKS in 1992, Shovlin became part of the morning show on WJAS and WSHH in Pittsburgh and also served as the stations’ Promotions Director up through 2015. Shovlin was elected to the Beaver County Sports Hall Of Fame in 2006.  These days, he lends his many talents as the Community Engagement Manager at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center in Midland.”

“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.