Pittsburgh Radio: Salem GM Chuck Gratner To Retire

Chuck Gratner

Salem Communications Corporation has announced long time Pittsburgh General Manager Chuck Gratner is retiring effective July 1st, after 50 years in radio.

Gratner has worked for Salem Communications for the last 23 years, managing the company's cluster in Pittsburgh. He will be replaced by the stations' General Sales Manager Tom Lemmon who has been with Salem in Pittsburgh almost 12 years.

"We have been so fortunate to have Chuck's wisdom and expertise all these year's managing our stations in Pittsburgh," said Salem regional Operations VP Linnae Young, who oversees the Pittsburgh market. "While Chuck will be sorely missed we are pleased to have Tom in place in the market who has been working alongside Chuck all these years and is ready to take on this new responsibility."

Chuck has worked at some very big stations during his storied radio career including KRLD, KCBI, and KLTY in Dallas, KCRA TV/Radio and KROY in Sacramento, and was part owner of KCNO in Grass Valley, CA. His first job was on-air at KNJO in Thousand Oaks, CA. During his 50 years in radio, Chuck has been an air talent, seller, program director, GM and part owner of a radio station.

"Salem is blessed to have so many outstanding General Managers taking care of business in our markets around the country, and Chuck has been one of our strongest for all these years," said Salem Radio Division President David Santrella. "Chuck has earned his reward for a job well done, and we wish him many more years of success, only this time with a fishing rod instead of a radio tower."