In the 30 years since WHRV and WHRO FM have existed as two stations, a lot has changed. Radio programs have come and gone and technology has transformed traditional media in ways we could not have predicted. However, our stations have adapted and flourished over the years, thanks to the support of the community, to forward-thinking management and to those hard-working professionals at the microphones and behind the scenes. But in more than a quarter century, there are bound to be losses as well as gains, losses of friends and colleagues who were an integral part of our success. We acknowledge them here, all too briefly.

Vianne Webb was an eloquent and passionate spokeswoman for the arts and a mentor to those who worked for her. She got into radio rather by accident, forced to go in the air when an announcer didn’t show up. After that, her intelligence, love of classical music and luscious voice insured her career. She worked tirelessly with then-President John Morison to bring about the two-station scenario and her influence is still being felt in many ways.

Betty Luse programmed and produced programs on WHRV in the early days. She had wide-ranging interests, including politics, theater and opera. She was a trained singer and produced and sang in a local production of Menotti’s The Consul. Betty ably assisted Vianne in several capacities at the stations.

Taylor Green came to WHRO FM from WFLN in Philadelphia. He was the witty and engaging host of “Afternoon Delights“. Before embarking on a radio career, he worked for an advertising agency, coming up with the national slogan “Putt Putt for the Fun of It.” Despite his sometimes showy demeanor and outlandish puns, Taylor admitted to being somewhat shy - except, of course, on the air.

Bill Massie was with us only a short time in the two-station period, but he was an important part of our predecessor station, WTGM. Bill began his radio career at the University of Virginia and thereafter hosted classical music at several stations. He was much in demand for narrations due to his rich, elegant, old-school radio voice. Tall, reserved and cordial, Bill was very much a Virginia gentleman.

Carole Taylor initiated and co-hosted the Defenstration radio program on WHRV, an edgy, innovative mix of sly wit and alternative music. She was a true radio professional with an ear for what was good, exciting and entertaining in new music.

Rollie Bristol hosted programs on both WHRV and WHRO-FM. His long career in radio and his love of music allowed him to move easily from jazz to classical to alternative music. Rollie was perhaps the gentlest soul to ever sit behind a microphone and was a self-professed techno-geek. Would that he could play with the radio tools of today.

Herman Wood was our radio engineer, always ready to respond to requests to investigate technical problems. He was Texas to the core, with a soft twang, a laid-back attitude and a love for the Dallas Cowboys. His radio career encompassed more than antennas and circuit boards, as he was on the air on a local county station for a while. Herman never had an unkind word for anyone.

Tim Morton was a man of the arts, thoughtful and soft-spoken, with an inquiring mind. He served as an evening host on WHRO-FM, sharing more adventurous music with our listeners. He was involved in the effort to restore the historic Wells Theatre, appeared with Virginia Opera and, after he left us, went to New York to perform on stage.

Bill Hicok approached us with an idea for a program of guitar music. Such unsolicited offers rarely pan out, but Bill’s love of the guitar and its repertoire and his preparation won us over; his “Silver Moonbeams” became a staple of WHRO-FM. Bill was an Army veteran, a member of the Tidewater Classical Guitar Society and a friend to all.

Bob Calvert was a Hampton Roads radio legend, pure and simple. He started in radio in the Top 40, record hop days, when his evening program on station WGH would regularly garner enormous ratings, listener numbers unheard of today. He was amazing in his ability to create the magic of radio, whether live on the air or in producing commercials. We were privileged to have shared his talents and wry humor.

Edgar Loessin reviewed theater for us. He was thoroughly versed in life upon the stage, having directed plays in New York and elsewhere. Prior to coming to us, he taught theater arts at East Carolina University. Ed was a warm and convivial person, and his reviews were always informed, objective, honest and incisive.

Neal Murray was old-school radio, and not just because he played old music. Neal came to us after a stint on Armed Forces Radio while serving in the Air Force. One only had to listen to his relaxed , personable manner on the air to know that he was a friend, and that he really loved the big band music that he shared every Saturday evening. His Fish Fry was old-fashioned radio, in the very best sense.

Arthur Steinberg was by profession a rabbi, loved and respected by his congregation as well as religious leaders of other faiths. But there was much more to Arthur: he had an impish sense of humor, he entertained children with magic shows, he reveled in Gilbert and Sullivan, and he especially enjoyed sharing his love of music with the audience as a part-time announcer on WHRO FM.

Hope Mihalap was co-host of the listener request program on WHRO FM for several years, bringing her wit and love of opera to the program each Friday morning. In addition, she wrote for the Virginian Pilot and contributed to Opera News, but she was best known as a humorist, who spoke around the country, regaling audiences with achingly-funny stories from opera and about growing up Greek.

M.D. Ridge served as the arts reviewer for WHRO FM for several years. Del, as she was known to her friends, was a true critic; that is, her reviews were informed by a deep knowledge and love of the arts, whether she was discussing opera, chamber music or theater presentations. Unlike some critics, her comments were always meant to enlighten and to increase the audience’s understanding.

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See photos and learn more about the early days of WHRO and WHRV FM at whro.org/30.

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