R.I.P.: Tom Kutza, Longtime Radio Personality At WISL Shamokin, PA

Tom Kutza

Shanokin radio personality Tom Kutza has died at age 82. For decades, his voice filled homes throughout the Shamokin and Northumberland County areas of Pennslyvania. During his 38 years as a radio DJ at WISL 1480 in Shamokin, Kutza became a staple in the Coal Region. 

"You couldn't believe how one person affects so many generations. It's like, oh my, how is this, not back in the time or back now? It's like throughout all these years," said Mike Raymond, Tom Kutza's son-in-law. 

Kutza started at WISL in October of 1960. Throughout his career, he hosted talk shows, kept everyone up to date on what was going on in Shamokin, and would wake up those listening in during the morning, getting the nickname "Morning Mayor." 

"Because of that radio station he made himself a personality in the area he loved talking to people, he loved making them feel like they were important, didn't matter if they were a ceo of a company of the janitor of that company."

Kutza enjoyed making people happy and learning their life stories. His daughter, Lorena, says radio wasn't his only passion.

"This was his pride and joy. It was just so much fun for him to be a little kid with it," said Kutza.

He also loved collecting trains. 

"He loved it; it was kind of the start of the Christmas season for us. He just had friends that had, oh, my husband passed away, and we have these houses here. Would you want it? Would you want this train and he really got a lot of it that way," said Kutza.