Toledo Radio: Health Forces Gary Shores Off Air

Gary Shores

Calling it the “most difficult decision of my life,” veteran radio broadcaster Gary Shores is leaving his long-running WKKO 99.9 FM, K-100, morning show on Thursday — at least for now — for health reasons.

According to The Toledo Blade, the drive-time team of Cliff and Lyn, who left Cumulus Radio Station Group's sister station WRQN-FM, 93.5, in December to partner with Shores, will serve as a duo on the top-rated morning show beginning Friday.

Shores was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease where lung tissues become progressively damaged and scarred, leading to shortness of breath.

“I’m going out on disability starting this Friday, because of my lung disease, pulmonary fibrosis,” he posted on the K-100’s Facebook page. “I get completely out of breath after talking for a minute or so, it’s very frustrating. I’ve struggled with this disease for about 3 years now. It’s a progressive disease, and there’s no cure except a lung transplant.”

Shores took time off from the show in March after he was diagnosed with kidney cancer and had half of a kidney removed.

It's been a tough ride for Shores in recent years. His wife of nearly 43 years, Joanie, died in November after a brief second battle with cancer, and his longtime radio partner, Harvey Steele, died in late December, 2017.

Radio, a constant in his life, was “not something I wanted to step away from,” he said.

“I wanted to retire and kick off my shoes and relax on my terms. But my lungs are really determining this is the time to do it.”