Dick Pust shafted by KGY Inc.

From our archives – 2011/01/06

Olympian– After a career spanning 51 years with KGY Radio, local broadcasting legend Dick Pust’s career with the station ended suddenly Wednesday when he was let go as the station’s general manager.

He hosted his final early-morning radio show Wednesday at the iconic station that overlooks Budd Inlet, the last installment of a six-day-a-week broadcast that began at 5:30 a.m. and has run since 1967.

“I’m in shock,” said Pust about the sudden end to his connection to KGY, which broadcasts at 1240 on the AM dial and at 96.9 on FM.

1 Comment on Dick Pust shafted by KGY Inc.

Johnny Porknbeans says:
2011/01/09 at 4:21 pm
This is sad, unfortunate and yet it is not surprising. The business of radio in the “on air” sense began screwing itself years ago with a need and greed for more and more money, while at the same time not “keeping up with the Jonses,” meaning not coming up with a plan to deal with advancing technologies, i.e., internet and satellite radio, iPods, etc..

I have never met this man but I’m sure he’s a great guy, just like a lot of the great guys and gals I have known in the business at one level or another. It really sucks to see an industry so falling apart that it’s decision makers are causing the medium itself to self-destruct, while at the same time cannibalizing the very real people who have made the product so great over the years.

Sad to say, I think radio is a black hole in many ways. After losing my job some months ago, I was encouraged by a friend to apply for a radio position in the city where my friend lives. I laughed and said I would rather work at K-Mart. Last year I had the pleasure of meeting up with an associate whom I worked with in radio in the 1980′s. He is now working in a completely different industry, and as he put it: “Radio is a great business to get out of.” Well put..

And best of luck to Mr. Pust. People like him DO bounce back. I have no doubt that he will.

Jason Remington

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