Harley Drew, a towering figure in Augusta radio known as “Handsome Harley,” passed away Thursday at 82, leaving behind a legacy that shaped the region’s airwaves for decades.
Drew began his radio career at age 15 with WBRO in Waynesboro, Ga. He mopped floors, burned trash and picked up some occasional weekend airtime. Before long, he was on the air before and after school.
While working at WBRO, Drew would read about new radio stations getting their FCC licenses in Broadcasting Magazine. One was WFNL 1600 AM in North Augusta, and he applied for a job. In 1963, Drew was the first voice heard as WFNL went live.
“I was in the booth, and everyone else was in the parking lot, listening on their car stereos to see how the station sounded. The first song I played was Number One Man by Bruce Channel. That was appropriate since I was the Number One Man on that station!”
It turns out, he was Number 1 in another way. At the time, everybody in radio paid a lot of attention to the Pulse ratings, which measured a radio station’s listening audience. “Well, when we got the first Pulse ratings in, I was No. 1 right out of the box for my afternoon show.”
That caught the attention of WBBQ General Manager Ed Dunbar and Owner George Weiss. “They said they wanted me to come work for them. I told them I just got here and didn’t want to turn around and leave. They said, ‘Well, if you ever want to leave, drive on up the hill, and we’ll put you to work!”
Around the spring of 1964, Drew decided to drive on up the hill. He joined WBBQ 1340 AM and after a few weeks in the mobile news department and filling in on-air, Drew was made a full-time DJ. Many on-air personalities had a cool nickname, so Drew decided to pick one for himself. And so was “Handsome” Harley Drew.
Drew was quickly promoted to WBBQ’s program director, a position he held for the next 25 years. During that time, WBBQ became one of the top 10 highest rated radio stations in America by share of audience.
From 1995 to 2017, Drew served as operations director for WGAC and Beasley Broadcasting affiliates, earning a 2011 induction into the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame. In 2013, WGAC was named “Radio Station of the Year” by the Georgia Association of Broadcasters in the largest market category, marking its 12th such honor.
Colleagues praised Drew’s versatility as a beloved on-air personality, skilled manager, and technician. WGAC host Austin Rhodes called him a “cultural touchstone” who replaced the legendary George Fisher as morning show host in 1992, excelling as the “perfect host for his generation’s music” while mentoring talent and mastering new technology like computers and smartphones into his 70s.
WGAC News Director Mary Liz Nolan described Drew as “great fun” and a community favorite, recalling his hiring her at Sunny-105 over the phone and later bringing her to Beasley when she was a new mother. “His greatest legacy was his love for the community and his audience,” she said, noting his “Golden Hour” broadcasts resonated deeply.
Augusta Press writer Scott Hudson, who worked with Drew for five years, remembered him as a “perfectionist” and “fair-minded boss” who mentored new talent with warmth. “I really just adored him,” Hudson said. Drew’s ability to connect, entertain, and innovate left an indelible mark on Augusta’s radio landscape.
