Condolences: Becky Palmer
• Becky Palmer, best known and loved for her two decades as morning co-host on iHeartMedia Country WBBS (B104.7)/Syracuse, NY, died Sunday, May 14 at the age of 68 after a battle with cancer.
Palmer was originally paired with the late Ron Bee on B104.7 from 1996 until his retirement 2007, winning a CMA Award for Best Medium Market Radio Personality in 2004, followed by 11 years teamed up with Tom Owens until their retirement in 2019. (Owens is currently doing part-time on B104.7). Palmer and Owens were also nominated for additional CMA Awards, and were instrumental in B104.7 winning the 2014 ACM Award for Radio Station of the Year. B104.7 posted a nice tribute to Palmer on its Facebook page.
The news of Palmer’s passing initially appeared in a story on Syracuse.com (behind paywall), as Palmer’s daughter Alana Hirt confirmed that her mother died Sunday at a hospital near her family’s camp in Upstate New York. Palmer had recently been diagnosed with cancer, years after a previous battle with breast cancer in 2014. “She had that vibrant personality and smile that made everyone feel welcome,” Hirt said of her mother.
“Becky loved B104.7 and its listeners,” said Rich Lauber, former SVP of Programming for iHeart Syracuse and a longtime Syracuse personality. “I’d bet that Becky shook hands with every one of her listeners over her 25 years at the station. She was a wonderful coworker and a great friend.” Palmer’s former co-host Tom Owens commented, “My co-host and friend was one of a kind. A unique talent who woke up everyday hoping to make people laugh and smile. Becky was my broadcast partner for 11 years, loved her family and lived every moment out loud. Her public battle with cancer touched the community. You can rest in peace now Becky, but there will be an empty place here on earth.”
“My heart is broken,” said Justin Miller, who served as Tom & Becky’s Executive Producer for three years through their 2019 retirement. In a Facebook post, Miller said of Palmer, “To say she was one of my all-time favorites to work with would be an understatement. Becky was better than the best. Her genuine personality and simple appreciation for everything in life was something to behold, let alone her inspiring public battle with breast cancer… To become your friend through our work is something I will always cherish no matter where life takes me. More so, the legacy you’ve left on an entire community is something no one else will ever match. Rest in Peace.”
In addition to her daughter, Palmer is survived by her mother, Betty, two sons and several grandchildren.
