R.I.P.: Mark Guy Findlay, 'The Voice' In Erie

Mark Guy Findley

Erie's radio community is mourning the passing of a pioneer in the world of local talk radio. Mark Guy Findlay has died at age 76.

Mark was born in Meadville and learned the radio trade while in the service. Over his career, Findlay has done most everything in Erie media, working for the newspaper and three local TV stations. He also partnered in a mobile DJ business and Spiral Stairs of America.

His career is probably best known for hosting talk radio shows for WLKK-AM, now WJET 1400 AM.

After a stint in the Army with AFVN in Saigon, Findlay spent a couple years working at radio stations in the South and the Northeast and arrived in Erie with WICU in 1966. It was that year that Findlay did his first “talk radio” call-in show, “Viewpoint” on WICU radio. In 1967 he went to a talk radio format station in Akron, then returned to WRIE radio in Erie later that year. He’s been here since, in the media, in business. As part of his advertising business, he’s run political campaigns. He was a partner in a used car lot. And he always kept his hand in broadcasting.

In 1989, Findlay returned to hosting a local talk show with “Nighttalk” on WLKK. When the station changed to an all-talk format 1990, Findlay moved to the daily morning slot, hosting his show from 6 to 10 a.m. He’s gained popularity with the show, as well as his share of controversy.

“He was his own man. He had opinions on a lot of things,” said another well-known Erie broadcaster, Brady Louis, 82, who was general manager at WRIE when Findlay hosted its morning talk show in 1969. “And I always loved that he used all three names. He was never ‘Mark Findlay.’ He was ‘Mark Guy Findlay.’”

Louis also recalled Findlay as “a hard worker” who was committed to talk radio.