Remembering Wally Clark
• Legendary radio executive Wally Clark, best known as the Pres/GM of KIIS-FM/Los Angeles from 1982-86, died Monday, Nov. 14 at the age of 84. We understand he had suffered several strokes in recent years. The news of Clark’s passing was initially reported by Don Barrett‘s LARadio.com.
Clark was born and raised in DuQuoin, IL and landed his first radio show at the age of 16 at hometown station WDQN. He graduated from Southern Illinois University in 1960 with a degree in broadcasting. According to Radio Ink‘s coverage, while working at WWWW (W4)/Detroit, Clark hired a young Howard Stern to help produce the morning show, and later helped Stern get a job at WWDC/Washington, where his career took off.
On March 30, 1982, Clark arrived in Los Angeles from KSD/St. Louis as the new Pres./GM of KIIS-FM, along with new PD Gerry DeFrancesco. One of his biggest accomplishments while at KIIS-FM was helping morning personality Rick Dees launch the Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 into successful syndication. Clark continued to consult KIIS-FM after he left the station in 1986 and also operated his own consultancy.
In recent years were pleased to see Wally as a regular attendee at the annual Christmas holiday “Radio Dream Lunches” organized by Art Vuolo, as seen in this 2017 photo (front row, second from left, next to “Shotgun” Tom Kelly) that also includes the late, legendary Charlie Tuna (front row, right).
Clark’s many friends and former colleagues are leaving messages of condolence on his Facebook page.
