RON OWENBY For many, his voice was the first they heard in the morning and the last one they heard at night.

Though much of the day was spoken for prior to his first sip of coffee, longtime WAGI-FM and WEAC-AM radio announcer Ron Owenby wouldn't have it any other way.

Long beloved by all in Cherokee County and surrounding areas, the man known so much for his work in the community is now being mourned by those he served.

Owenby died Thursday at Upstate Carolina Medical Center after suffering a massive heart attack.

The longtime announcer was diagnosed a few years ago with cancer, causing him to take a step back in regard to the many activities and organizations in which he was active.

More recently however, many of Owenby's friends believed his health was on the upswing.

"After he fought and defeated cancer, we thought things were going to get better for him," said Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler, who spent a number of year with Owenby as part of the Gaffney Broadcasting radio family. "We definitely didn't expect him to die of a cardiac event, so his death comes as a shock to a lot of us."

The Marion, N.C., native joined the WEAC-AM radio staff shortly after moving to Gaffney in 1965. He served as the station's program director, station manager, general manager and president.

However, Owenby was primarily known for his work before sunrise as the voice of "Carolina in the Morning."

"So many people relied on that show ("Carolina in the Morning")," said Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce Director Gene Moorhead. "It was important not only in Cherokee County, but places like Shelby and Forest City up in North Carolina. They depended on hearing his voice each morning to get the news."

In addition to the morning news show, Owenby also spent more than 20 years as a sideline reporter for Gaffney High football broadcasts and play-by-play announcer for Limestone College baseball and basketball games.

While his work with the local radio station is well documented, Owenby devoted a lot of time to several other groups and organizations, including the Cherokee County Arts Council, the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce's Board of Directors and as chairman of the S.C. Society of Crippled Children and Adults.

"He was a top-flight person and a great man," former president of the South Carolina Broadcast Association Joe Sessoms said."He was as good a man as there ever was."

Owenby was also a professional musician, with the ability to play the piano, drums and guitar in addition to singing.

"A lot of people didn't know that about him," said longtime family friend Knox Blanton. "He had one of the most beautiful voices I ever heard, one that surprised me the first time I heard it."

"He lived life to the fullest," said Ernie Payne of Gaffney Broadcasting. "There were many times he kept us laughing with his jokes and other activities, something we'll all miss."