R.I.P.: KUAR, KLRE GM Ben Fry Passes At 54

Ben Fry

Ben Fry, a longtime manager of KUAR 89.1 FM and Classical KLRE 90.5 FM in Little Rock, died in his sleep early Thursday.

He was 54, according to KUAR.

Fry served as general manager of UALR Public Radio since 1995. He joined the stations in 1988, first as news and information director, then served as program director for one year before becoming general manager.

Fry's broadcasting career began in his hometown of Wynne, Ark., where he worked weekends at the local radio station while still in high school. In 1980, he moved to central Arkansas to attend the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and got a part-time job with commercial radio station KARN as an announcer. By 1983, he had been promoted to a full-time position as the station's creative director, writing and producing commercials.

William Wagner was working as a part-time board operator at KUAR and KLRE when Fry was hired by the stations. Today Wagner is operations manager and says Fry's calm leadership ability was key in getting the best out of employees.

"In radio, you have a lot of different types of personalities and different types of people. Ben had this ability to bring people together and have them work as a unit," Wagner says. "He was a unique person who knew every inch of the station, he knew every bolt and wire that was out of place when something went wrong and there was no way we could have made it this far without his talent."
Fry was beloved by staffers as being a kind, understanding boss, but one who still held his employees to high standards.