Remembering Pat McNally
• We’ve lost another legend — E. Patrick [Pat] McNally, veteran radio sales executive whose career included such prestigious call letters as WWWW (W4)/Detroit, WAVA/Washington, WAPP/New York and KITS (Live 105)/San Francisco, died Thursday, May 7.
A native of Detroit and graduate of Michigan State University (cutting his teeth at the campus radio station), McNally joined the legendary WWWW (W4)/Detroit, rising to General Sales Manager at a storied time in the station’s history, where the airstaff included such luminaries as Howard Stern, Steve Dahl, Sky Daniels, J.J. & the Morning Crew, and Mark McEwen, to name a few standouts.
McNally went on to become GM of Doubleday’s WAVA/Washington, DC, which lead to a similar role at sister WAPP/New York in May 1982, shortly before the station’s formal launch. In December 1986 McNally headed west as the newly named GM of Entercom Alternative KITS (Live 105)/San Francisco, later wrapping up his career in Phoenix before retiring to Florida, where he recently battled several health challenges.
Mirroring the thoughts of McNally’s many fellow colleagues over the years, Fred Jacobs described McNally as “a great guy, a wonderful broadcaster, and one of those true radio characters.” [Special thanks to three of those colleagues: Sky Daniels, Paula Creager (who provided the photo) and Christie Tilley]
