Former radio station boss dies Thursday

RON OWENBY Well-known radio personality Ron Owenby of Gaffney died Thursday, Jan. 1.

A long-time radio broadcaster and civic leader, Owenby was the voice of the Cherokee County community for 42 years on WAGI-FM and WEAC-AM.

He was president and general manager of Gaffney Broadcasting until the station was sold to the Davidson Media Group, one of the largest multicultural radio groups in America.

Owenby was one of the initial supporters of Limestone College athletics and helped to organize the men's basketball team and served as first president of the Saints Club. He is best known as one of the hosts of the radio show "Carolina in the Morning."

Owenby was president of the Cherokee County Arts Council and a member of the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce and Gaffney Rotary Club. He has also been president of the South Carolina Jaycees, served on the Red Cross Board, the Bicentennial Board and the Cherokee County Development Board.

He was recently given the Cherokee County President's Award for Outstanding Service to the Chamber and Community

The AM station at the 1500 frequency has been on the air since 1962. WAGI 105.3 has been operating since 1971.

"The first of June I'll have been there for 42 years. It's like losing a member of your family," Owenby said after learning the station had been sold last year. "I hate it happened this way. It would have been nice to let the folks know ahead of time, but that's the way it happened."

Owenby also was the play-by-play announcer for Gaffney High football for many years.

He is survived by his wife, Sybil, and two daughters.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete.