Bill Lacy has announced he will end a 50 year radio career mostly in his native Buffalo NY, when he retires from mornings at Cumulus Media’s “Classic Hits 104.1” WHTT-FM Buffalo on May 27.
Lacy has been with WHTT since 2002, which followed a twenty-one year run at 930 WBEN Buffalo including hosting mornings from 1984 to 2001. He began his radio career in 1970 at 92.9 WBUF and then 96.1 WBNY. He would make stops at WESB Bradford PA, WWSE-FM Jamestown, WWYN and WRIE Erie, and WHAM Rochester prior to joining WBEN as 10am-12pm host in 1980.
Cumulus Buffalo’s Classic Hits 104.1 radio host Bill Lacy, one of Buffalo’s longest running morning personalities, has announced his retirement from radio after a 50-year career. Lacy has anchored the Classic Hits 104.1 morning show since joining the station in April 2002. As host for the past 20 years, Bill has achieved consistent ratings success, entertained thousands of Western New Yorkers daily, hosted countless events and has been an integral part of Classic Hits 104.1.
Lacy’s radio career spans more than 50 years starting in Buffalo at WBUF in 1970, with early stops in Rochester, Bradford and Jamestown, PA, and then an extended morning run at WRIE in Erie, PA. He returned to his hometown in 1980, when he arrived at WBEN. Lacy made the move to mornings in 1984, taking over the WBEN morning show from Jeff Kaye, and launching a celebrated 16-year run that would be followed by another 20 years at WHTT, making him one of Buffalo’s longest-running morning hosts. During his five decades of broadcasting, there isn’t much that Lacy hasn’t done — live shows from Super Bowls, hosting an on-air wedding, serving as emcee for charity events like The Ride for Roswell and interviewing everyone from governors to Buffalo Bills stars to music icons like Aretha Franklin — all with his trademark easygoing style and subtle wit.
Lacy remarked: “Radio gave me the opportunity to meet and talk with some people I ordinarily would never have had the opportunity to meet, and to take part in some great adventures. Thanks for allowing me into your homes, cars, and workplaces over all these years. I hope I was good company. I must confess, I am a bit worried about the financial aspects of retirement… apparently Tom Brady ran out of money after six weeks.”
In 2014, his many achievements were recognized with his induction into the Buffalo Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Off the air, he is an avid golfer and has been involved with the Boy Scouts of America for over 25 years.
Jim Riley, Vice President/Market Manager, Cumulus Buffalo, commented: “Hosting a morning show on a major station is a tough job and Bill has done it really well. There are a rare few broadcasters with the talent to stay at the top of the game for almost 40 years and I feel very fortunate that I got to work with one of them. Bill really is a Hall of Famer.”
Joe Siragusa, Operations Manager, Cumulus Buffalo, added: “It’s been an absolute pleasure to work with Bill for the last two decades. His professionalism and integrity are second to none. We’ve achieved some great things together and had a ton of laughs along the way.”
Bill Lacy’s final show is scheduled for May 27th and a talent search is currently underway for new local morning host on Classic Hits 104.1.
This story first appeared on radioinsight.com