R.I.P.: Jim Bohannon, Longtime Radio News Anchor

(1944-2022)

The radio industry is shocked and saddened to learn of the death of longtime Westwood One news anchor Jim Bohannon. He died in Hospice Care in Westminster, South Carolina. Death was from complications associated with esophageal cancer.

It was just a month ago when Bohannon announced his retirement. “It’s been a great 40 years with Westwood One, with the last 30 as host of the ‘Jim Bohannon Show.’ I’ve enjoyed every minute of our daily nighttime town hall with my guests, callers, and all of America,” said Bohannon.

He is best known for hosting the nationally syndicated late night radio talk show The Jim Bohannon Show on the Westwood One Network. For 31 years, he also hosted America in The Morning, a nationally syndicated radio news show, stepping down in December 2015.

He attended Missouri State University in Springfield, MO, before joining the military. His service in the U.S. Army Security Agency with the 199th Light Infantry Brigade included a tour of duty in Vietnam in 1967-68. Jim's radio career began in high school working at KLWT, and in college at KICK, and KWTO.

After his return stateside, Jim was stationed at Vint Hill Farms Station, VA, and worked at radio stations WGAY, WTOP, and WRC in the Washington, DC market. He joined the Mutual Network in 1983, which later became Westwood One Radio. He began anchoring America in the Morning news magazine, hosting the Saturday nigh Jim Bohannon Show, and filling in on the Larry King Show. In 1993, Larry King moved to CNN, and the radio show became the Jim Bohannon Show, which Jim hosted until his death.

Bohannon has been included numerous times in Talkers magazine's annual "Heavy 100" picks of "The 100 Most Important Radio Talk Show Hosts in America".

He was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2003, and in 2013 was the recipient of Talkers Lifetime Achievement Award. He has also been nominated for the National Association of Broadcasters Marconi Award for Network Syndicated Personality of the Year. In December 2021, Bohannon was announced as an inductee into the NAB's Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

He was 78-years-of age.