KAB Hall of Fame
The KAB Hall of Fame Award is the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the Kansas Association of Broadcasters. Recipients of the KAB Hall of Fame Award are individuals who have attained positions of national prominence in the industry or its allied fields, have been major contributors to the growth and welfare of radio and television in Kansas or nationally, and have been exemplary stewards of broadcasting.
In 1969 the organization established the Distinguished Service Award (DSA) to honor an individual for exemplary service to the community, state, and broadcast industry. All DSAs prior to 2000 were automatically inducted into the KAB Hall of Fame when it was started that year. DSA honorees are included in our Hall of Fame library with an asterisk next to their names. The 2023 Distinguished Service Award honoree is Ian Punnett.
Congratulations to the Hall of Fame Class of 2023: Mike Manns, Dale Morrell, Randy Picking and Ian Punnett*.
Mike Manns, Topeka
Mike Manns took his first radio job in 1969 at KNBI in Norton, KS, where he covered the morning drive, teen time, and high school sports. In 1970 he entered the US Navy, attending Sonar School, and in 1972 (after honorable discharge) joined Midland Broadcasting in Topeka as their afternoon newsman. Four years later he became their news and sports director and continued in that capacity through the sale of Midland Broadcasting to Cumulus. During that 45‐year span, he served in numerous additional roles. He was a sports anchor at KSNT TV from 1979‐1981, a WIBW TV sports reporter from 1982‐1984, and hosted KTKA Television’s Post Game Scoreboard show from 1985‐1987. Mike retired from reporting the news in 2018.
Awards and recognition include receiving KAB’s Hod Humiston Award for Outstanding Contributions to Sports Broadcasting in 2010. He received the Kansas State High School Activities Association’s Oscar Stauffer play‐by‐play award in 2010 and 2012 and the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association best play-by‐play in 2009. He received awards from the University of Kansas for Women’s Basketball play‐by‐play in 1994, 1995, and 1996. Mike received the Recognition Award from Robinson Middle School in Topeka where he also coached football for 22 seasons. He holds the Guinness Book of World Records for Longest Running Morning Show in Radio: Hooker & Manns. They have been on air (107.7 KMAJ) for an incredible 33 years.
Mike and his wife, Vickie, have been married for 43 years and have two daughters, Lacie and Kaylee. His hobbies include riding his Harley and attending his granddaughter’s sporting events.
Dale Morrell, Wichita
The building and grounds upon which KAKE rests is dedicated to Dale Morrell, KAKE’s second Chief Engineer. A native of Winfield, Kansas, Dale began his career at KAKE as a master control operator on October 19, 1967, KAKE’s 13th anniversary. After serving his country in Vietnam, Dale returned to KAKE’s Engineering department. He served as Chief Engineer for 42 years from 1980-2022, skillfully leading the tradition of quality and reliability for which KAKE is known. For 55 years he cared for every inch of the KAKE campus and his fellow employees.
Randy Picking, Salina
Randy Picking began his radio career in January of 1976 when he kept stats and provided color commentary for KSAL sports. Randy spent so much time watching and learning from announcers at KSAL/KYEZ, that he was offered a paying part-time job as a tape changer and recorded weather updates for KYEZ to limit his hours at the station in 1977. Randy’s first full time job was the 6pm‐midnight announcer at KSAL in 1980 and became the operations manager at KYEZ in 1981. Randy has been an announcer, news reporter, news director, public service director, sales representative, storm chaser, and talk show co‐host. His career has taken him to the following stations, KSAL, KYEZ, KABI, KSAJ, KFRM, KSKG, and KINA. After retiring at the end of 2019, Randy returned to radio to co‐host KINA’s “Coffee Talk” with Jerry Hinrikus in November of 2022.
Ian Punnett, Manhattan*
Ian Punnett, MDiv, Ph.D., is professor of practice at Kansas State University where he specializes in researching and teaching media business and entrepreneurship, media history, podcasting, and serves as the chief operator/faculty advisor for Wildcat 91.9, recently voted the Best College Radio Station in the nation. While at K‐State, Ian has been honored more than three dozen times for his multi‐platform creative work in audio, video, digital, and print.
During his 35‐yearlong professional career, Ian was most successful in hard rock morning radio through the ‘90s before switching to talk radio first at WGN/Chicago and later legendary talker WGST in Atlanta. At the same time, he was picked up by 600‐affiliate overnight radio show Coast to Coast AM where he worked with the legendary Art Bell and later George Noory. Ian continues to perform two to five times a month on Coast to Coast from his home studio in Manhattan. Before coming to K‐State in 2018, Ian published his fifth book, Toward a Theory of True Crime for Routledge Press, which was based on his groundbreaking dissertation that sought the line between traditional crime journalism and the multi‐platform True Crime products. Ian is considered an expert in True Crime narratives, with his dissertation cited 60 times in other scholarly works and he speaks internationally at various symposia on the media phenomenon.
Ian has a wife of 38 years, Margery, and two sons.
Click the button above to see a complete history of KAB Hall of Fame recipients.
HOF Nomination Guidelines
Nomination forms must be received by email ([email protected]) by August 1.
The Kansas Broadcasting Hall of Fame nominees must have worked in the broadcasting business and will be recognized based on substantial contributions to broadcasting and the state/nation. Individual broadcasters may be Kansas natives and have made contributions in other states or at the national level.
Individuals who are NOT Kansas natives are eligible, but they must have worked in Kansas broadcasting. They may be recognized for major contributions in Kansas, in other states or on a national level.
To nominate an individual for the KAB Hall of Fame:
Hall of Fame nominees are selected based on the information submitted under the five categories listed below. The completeness and clarity of the information submitted is an important factor in the judging. Explicit information should be submitted in all the categories. The nomination packet should contain a cover page listing the nominee, their home address, e-mail address, and telephone number. The same information should be provided for the person preparing the nomination.
The judging categories are:
1. Contributions to the Profession
During their career, what contribution have they made that benefited the Broadcasting
profession through their work in local community, state, regional, or national industry
organizations or projects?
2. Broadcast Career
A brief resume of the nominee’s career with highlights emphasized.
3. Recognition and Awards
List major broadcast industry awards or recognition received.
4. Local, State, or National Activities
Exemplary participation in local, state or national organizations and any recognition received.
5. Reason Nominee Should be Selected
Your own personal views as to why this nominee should be in the KAB Hall of Fame.
Additional information or letters may be included in the nomination.
