Western Kentucky lost a broadcasting legend recently, as Wilburn “Willie” Wilson has passed away at the age of 95.
Wilson—along with his brother Leo Wilson—had a long career in radio, starting with obtaining his First Class Radio Telephone Operators License that allowed him to come back to Princeton after school and begin his work at WPKY in 1950. After that, he enlisted in the Navy in 1951, where he served as a First-Class Electronic Technician and continued his education in radio.
Then, he became known as “Uncle Willie” with his morning show “Wake Up with Willie” in Princeton, before starting the process of one day owning his own radio station in western Kentucky with his brother.
After being approached by a group in Cadiz, Wilson would get his wish—in 1966, Wilson would come to Cadiz and establish WKDZ AM 1110. He would stay on the air until the station was sold, and remained very active in the community even after that.
Willie Wilson is a member of the Kentucky Broadcasters Hall of Fame, and is widely considered a pioneer in local radio not just in western Kentucky, but across the state.