(Robert Zerwekh – Archive.org)
(Listening time- 21:07)
What’s called Franko Friday – The Mike Franko program on 1180 KLAY, is LOCAL talk with interviews from Tacoma-Lakewood and Pierce County. This was recorded on 9-16-16. The last 30 minutes of the Friday show is usually co-hosted by Bill Ogden. (17:50)
Mike Lonergan, Assessor–Treasurer, Pierce County, Wa and was also a Tacoma City Councilman (January 2002-December 2009). During that time he served as Deputy Mayor, Chair of Pierce County Regional Council, Chair of Government Performance and Finance Committee, Chair of Growth Management Policy Board, Chair of Pierce Transit Board, Vice Chair of Public Safety and Human Services Committee, member of Appointments Committee and Workforce Central Board. Mike was also Executive Director of the Tacoma Rescue Mission (January 1993 – Jun 2005).
Mike graduated from the University of Washington with a BA in History and Business Administration (1980).
Mike Lonergan graduated high school and went on to the University of Chicago. There, they had a carrier-current AM radio station, WUCB. Just going on the air was a real FM station for the University. The antenna was on top of Lonergan’s dorm. Mike went to work there as News Director. His second year there, he took over the Station Manager position.
Lonergan took his radio station work seriously and took offense to comments by economist Milton Friedman, that the University radio station was not objective, an attack that took place as the station became more influential in the community. Bursting into Friedman’s office, tape recorder and microphone in hand, Lonergan proceeded to question Friedman’s position regarding the perceived bias of the radio station. Lonergan says Friedman was taken aback and backed down somewhat from his position. Lonergan, recalls this confrontation as just part of the passion he has had for the radio business and his work in it.
Lonergan moved back to the Pacific Northwest and became General Manager of 1510 KURB. A group of investors had recently purchased the limited power, daytime only station. Lonergan was 21 when hired as GM of KURB.
The Boss Jock inside Mike Lonergan coexisted with the consicientious, serious-minded Lonergan, and so, “Shorty Long” came just THIS CLOSE to being the next Real Don Steele…
After a couple years at the Lynnwood Enterprise and Marysville Globe newspapers, Lonergan got the “bug”. It was 1977, Mike moved back into radio – this time, KBRO/Bremerton.
After finishing his college degree at the University of Washington, Lonergan worked for Motorola in the “wireless” division – selling 2-way radios. This was a time before smart phones, when portable telephones cost about $2500.
Then in the 80s, Mike returned to radio, this time, KTNT Tacoma.
His position with Tacoma City Council offered him satisfaction in seeing positive change for Tacoma, after a time when city government and the police department had come under fire for some backroom shenanigans and the tragic incident involving Police Chief David Brame.
Mike hosted KLAY’s morning program, 7am – 9am at the time of our visit to KLAY. The Clay Huntington station has a long history of serving Tacoma with music, news, sports and talk.
In this interview from 2011, from the Studios of KLAY 1180 Lakewood, Mike discusses his radio broadcasting career. Lonergan spun the wax for all the Jills and Jacks at great radio stations such as KURB, KTNT, KQ92 and KLAY. The interview (from our old SeaTacRadio.com website) starts with some still shots taken at KLAY. The Dennis Miller program is on the air in the control room…
(For more about this event read: KLAY covers Freedom Fair for South Sound listeners
July 4, 2016 – Broadcasting live from 10 a.m. through most of the day and late into the evening (for a music presentation synchronized with the Freedom Fair fireworks show) was 1180 KLAY. A huge supporter of many Tacoma events, KLAY remains as one of the few family-owned and operated radio stations in a major market, Seattle-Tacoma. (see AM RADIO for more about KLAY)
Here are the first three hours of the KLAY broadcast, with Bill Ogden, Mike Franco and Bob McCluskey.
Freedom Fair Hour 1 (56:42)
The Tacoma Freedom Fair Celebrates the 4th of July with fireworks and an airshow – and no entry fee. The fun takes place along Tacoma’s Ruston Way waterfront, Marine Park and Les Davis Pier, from the Harbor Lights restaurant all the way down to the Lobster Shop. [if you are a local you will know that is a huge area along Tacoma’s Commencement Bay]
Freedom Fair Hour 2 (56:46)
Freedom Fair 2016 Hour 3 (56:44)
Carl Lambert & Ron Crowe/KLAY sports remote (00:50)
