Get Well, Gary Shores!
• UPDATED: We join the rest of the industry in sending our most positive thoughts to Toledo radio icon Gary Shores, longtime morning personality on Cumulus Country WKKO (K-100), who announced he is stepping away from his job this Friday and going on disability as he faces his latest serious health challenge — Pulmonary Fibrosis, and a possible lung transplant.
Shores, who has been waking up the market for nearly 44 years on K-100, has had to deal with more than his fair share of life challenges of late — in December 2017 his longtime on-air partner Harvey J. Steele died; in November 2018 Shores suffered the loss of Joanie, his beloved wife of 42 years, due to breast cancer, and in February Shores was diagnosed with kidney cancer.
Shores broke the news to his loyal listeners in a lengthy Facebook post that read, in part, “This is my last week at K-100, at least for now. I’m going out on disability starting this Friday, because of my lung disease, Pulmonary Fibrosis, which is scarring of the lungs, and makes it very difficult to breathe, and get oxygen in my blood stream. I get completely out of breath after talking for a minute or so, it’s very frustrating. I’ve struggled with this disease for about three years now, it’s a progressive disease, and there’s no cure, except a lung transplant. I was on track for that with the Cleveland Clinic, but my recent cancer episode has put that on hold for at least one year, maybe more.”
Looking ahead, Shores said, “Two my favorite people in the world, Lyn [Casye] and Cliff [Smithers], joined me for mornings on K-100, with me gone, you will be in great hands with these two fine broadcasters, and great friends. I can’t think of anyone in radio that could do better than these two, both born and raised right here in Toledo. I may show up occasionally on the air or on the K-100 Facebook page with updates, or just to say hi. Thanks for listening to K-100 all these years, I sure hope you continue!”
• RAMP reached out to Andy Stuart, RVP/Market Manager for Cumulus Media Toledo, who was nice enough to share his thoughts on Shores’ stellar career and the new battle he now faces, as he told us, “Gary Shores is one of the all time great program directors. He kept K-100 No. 1 for decades despite the dramatic changes in the media environment and how people use radio. If that wasn’t enough, Gary was also half of a brilliant morning show with the late Harvey Steele — Shores & Steele entertained and informed, and during tragic days consoled their listeners. The amazing chemistry between them was so strong they never show-prepped, as it wasn’t necessary. I’ve never seen or heard a show so great without any prepping. We’ll never see that again.”
In conclusion, Stuart said, “Everyone is sending Gary prayers and good wishes as he goes through his next round of therapy. We love him not only for his genius as a broadcaster but even more because he’s just such a great guy.”
