Huron Broadcasting, 1978

I was recently forwarded a photocopy of an old program from 1978 that featured a number of advertisements promoting Huron Broadcasting, which was in existence as a Sault media powerhouse circa 1976 to 1990.

One of the Soo Pee Wee Hockey League tournament program ads was for Huron Broadcasting: Total Sports and it included photos of those who worked in sports for the company’s radio and television stations.

At the time, the venerable, quirky George Jonescu was the sports director for the Huron Broadcasting chain of stations. I was George’s full-time assistant back then and Peter Ruicci was a part-time assistant while attending school at Lake Superior State University.

The department also included morning radio sportscaster Paul Leonard as well as Harry Wolfe, Matt Thorp and Andy Mantha, who handled the Soo Greyhounds, Ontario Hockey League play-by-play broadcasts on CKCY 920 AM.

Back then, Huron Broadcasting sponsored a number of local events, including the Miss Bon Soo Pageant, which was a pet project headed by Frank Gardi with production assistance from the likes of Paul Zin, Bill Kernahan, Bert Luciani, Albert Jones, Randy Ravlich, Jerry McDermid, Joe Boyle, Karen MacDougall et al.

One of the other ads in the aforementioned, 1978 program also promoted and featured the Huron Broadcasting news department which was headed by Karl Sepkowski and boasted the likes of Jim Cronin, Marg Turner, Tony Tagliabracci and Steve Kirkland.

Huron Broadcasting was a cast of more than 100 employees back then led by general manager Russ Ramsay, other management types in various radio and TV departments such as Grace Pitt, Art Osborne, Jim Franz and Tony Deresti and talented music announcers a la Lou Turco, Paul Rhodes, Larry Michaels, John David Cameron, Bruce Krause, Judy Brescacin, Doug Greco, Steve Smith and so many other good souls.

There were several others who worked in various capacities for Huron Broadcasting back then and please forgive me for not mentioning all of the names in this column.

At any rate, the media landscape has certainly changed from then to now.

Radio and TV stations (as well as newspapers) don’t employ near the number of workers as they once did. But there remain some of us, at least, who were in the local industry then, and still are.

To be sure, it was a fun, special time back in those radio and TV days at Huron Broadcasting. And those particular program advertisements from 1978 certainly brought back a lot of memories for me.

Focusing on the good memories, working in the sports department for the aforementioned, very talented, George Jonescu provided its share of moments, I shall say.

Besides being quirky and somewhat formal — as one — George could also be funny, demanding and um, mind-bending.

I do know that the aforementioned Peter Ruicci and I shared quite a few laughs, giggles and head shakes as a result of working for George, who was the clear-cut king of the sports department.

Of note, George did not care much for pro sports. He was totally into promoting and broadcasting local sports to the point of being obsessive.

It did not matter the day of the week or whether it was the noon or 5 p.m. sports on radio or the supper or late night sports on television, we had to lead with a local item. And if Ruicci or me tried to sneak a pro sports story to the top of a particular sportscast, we would incur the wrath of George, who would profess his “disappointment” in us.

My goodness, those were glory days.

Total radio and TV sports coverage that included play-by-play of high school football, basketball and hockey.

Thorough, city-wide, radio and TV news coverage of virtually every single meeting, event and issue in town.

Public affairs and community programming on CJIC-TV.

Music and news and sports information 24 hours a day, seven days a week on CKCY Radio.

Good, old days. Good, hard-working, professional people. Good, good memories.

Of course, not all times were good times. But who wants to reminisce about bad times? Bad times only serve to retain negative thoughts, ideas and waves.

As for the photo copy of that old program and the Huron Broadcasting ads that are contained within it, oh my yes, guys like Ruicci and I sure did look young.

Born in October of 1952, I would have been 26 years old in January of 1978. And I am thinking that the baby-faced Ruicci would have been a boy of about 20 years old.

Interesting that both he and I are still in the local sports media business, albeit as rivals of sorts.

Many who we worked with and for, have passed on, including the unforgettable Mr. Jonescu.

But an old program ad from 1978 still has a way of keeping things alive.