KOA’s Zesbaugh Ready To Sleep In
• It’s almost the end of a quarter-century era at iHeartMedia News-Talk KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM/Denver, as April Zesbaugh, the longtime co-host of Colorado’s Morning News announced she will retire in the upcoming months, capping off a distinguished 30-year broadcast journalism career, the last 25 years with KOA. Zesbaugh has co-hosted Colorado’s Morning News on KOA since 1996, and is one of the longest-running news personalities in Colorado.
“Despite my 2:30am wake-up call for the last 30-years, I feel very fortunate for every second in front of the KOA microphone,” said Zesbaugh. “It’s time to hang-up my headphones to pursue more family time, play more tennis, travel in our RV and see what it feels like to sleep without an alarm clock.”
“April is one of the most-recognizable and popular voices in Colorado, and has set a professional standard which has contributed to the success of KOA,” said Greg Foster, iHeartMedia SVP of Talk Programming & Program Director of KOA. “While we will miss our friend and colleague, April has earned the opportunity to enjoy her retirement.”
Zesbaugh is the winner of one national and numerous regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for journalism excellence by the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA), as well as countless awards for Colorado’s Morning News from the Colorado Broadcasters Association and the Associated Press.
Zesbaugh remarked, “I’m grateful to Jerry Bell, former News Director of KOA, for hiring me — calling me during my honeymoon to offer me the job — and to the current News Director, Kathy Walker, and the KOA news team who have been with me every step of the way in helping to make me a better broadcaster and journalist. I’m leaving our listeners in good hands with my co-host, Marty Lenz. He has great news chops and asks really smart questions.”
