Weldon Grieg’s Retirement
Thank You for the 45+ years of service in Radio!
After 45+ years on the radio KGAL / KSHO News Director and Morning Update Co-Host Weldon Greig has retired.
His last newscast on KGAL aired at 3:04 pm on Thursday, August 26th, 2010. Weldon's final newscast on KSHO was with the midday update at 12:04pm.
However, that was not his last time, "on air", as we sent him off in style the next morning at the crack of dawn (he is used to working at 4am) in the basket of a Hot Air Balloon.
We added mp3 downloads of Airchecks of final newscasts up to his retirement, including his post-retirement broadcast from a Hot Air Balloon during the ATI-Wah Chang Northwest Art and Air Festival.
Download the radio broadcast of Weldon on the "other side of the Mic" as an interview guest on Radio Ray's Valley Talk.
We’ve also archived the newsmakers and community leaders tributes and pictures of the "Hardest Working Newsman".
Check back as we add more archive stuff about Weldon from the past.
KGAL/KSHO Owner/GM Charlie Eads and Weldon Greig (click on picture to enlarge)
Press Release:
Weldon's Retirement
For Immediate Release:
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
For Further Information:
Weldon Greig (541) 926-8683 or (541) 760-0155 news@kgal.com
Charlie Eads (541) 926-8683 charlie@kgal.com
It was announced this week on News/Talk KGAL AM 1580 that long-time News Director and Morning Personality Weldon Greig is retiring August
27th.
Greig has been News Director at KGAL for 16 years and has
been a radio professional on and off since 1962. In addition to his
many years in radio he studied at Western Oregon and OSU where he
majored in Political Science and minored in history. He was
drafted into the army in 1968 and spent two years in the Military
Police in Korea. Greig also worked for a short time as a State
Police Dispatcher.
Weldon Greig is very well known by news makers and media relations
folks all over the state. His daily routine includes arriving at
the radio station in the 2AM hour to prepare for that first 5:30AM
newscast. After signing off the Morning Update at 9AM he prepares
news material and records newscasts for both KGAL and sister station
KSHO AM 920. His long day usually ends by noon.
For most of Weldon's 16 years at KGAL his constant on-air companion
has been another radio veteran, Radio Ray Pietz. Radio Ray is the
one who gave Weldon the appropriate moniker, "The Hardest Working
Newsman in the Business." Weldon and Ray have a long-time
friendship, but maintain a competitive humor in their popular Morning
Update program on KGAL from 5:30AM to 9AM. Comments have been
heard about long vacations, coffee addiction, Weldon's famous Abraham Lincoln tattoo, inattention to the other's comments and many more
morning show staples. When asked what he's getting Weldon for his
retirement gift, Radio Ray lovingly answered....."Nothing."
special tribute together with some recordings from the Morning Update can be found at the KGAL web site: www.kgal.com
KGAL/KSHO General Manager Charlie Eads had this to say. "Weldon has
been a news icon in the Valley for so many years. There will be no
way to replace him. We'll just have to start over from
scratch. His shoes will be tough to fill." No replacement has
been named at this time and a talent search is underway.
What does the hardest working man in the news business plan to do
now? "I'm must thinking about getting a lot of sleep and taking it
easy for a while," says Greig who also plans to spend more time with family including young grandchildren.
Richard C. Eads
VP/General Manager
KGAL/KSHO Radio
PO Box 749 Albany, OR 97321
(541) 926-8683 FAX: (541) 451-5429
charlie@kgal.com
Part of KGAL/KSHO Staff (click on picture to enlarge)
Listen to Free MP3 Downloads
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Tributes to the
"Hardest Working Newsman"
Tribute by Charlie Eads (KGAL / KSHO President/GM)
Tribute by various news contacts
Tribute by Shelly Garrett
Tribute by Rick Rogers
Tribute by Kevin Martinez
Bill O'Reilly discuss about Weldon's Coffee
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Weldon Greig as Guest on Valley Talk with Radio Ray
Monday, August 23rd, 2010:
Host: Radio Ray.
Topic: Retirement of the Hardest Working Newsman
Guest: KGAL/KSHO News Director Weldon Greig
Listen to/ download:
[Standard Quality] (32kbps) or
[High Quality] (128Kbps, filesize = 52mb)
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Radio Ray and Weldon Greig (click on picture to enlarge)
Download / Listen To Weldon Greig from Hot Air Balloon on his first day of retirement
Morning Update with live reports from Weldon from a Hot Air Balloon Friday, August 27th, 2010 with Radio Ray and Bill Diamond.
Weldon's Tatoo of "Honest Abe" (click on picture to enlarge)
Download / Listen To Weldon Greig during Morning Updates
Weldon Grieg’s final KGAL Morning Update Thursday, August 26th, 2010 with Radio Ray.
Morning Update Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 with Weldon Greig and Radio Ray.
Morning Update Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 with Weldon Greig and Radio Ray.
Morning Update Monday, August 23rd, 2010 with Weldon Greig and Radio Ray.
Morning Update Thursday, August 12th, 2010 with Weldon Greig and Jim Willhight.
Morning Update Monday, August 9th, 2010 with Weldon Greig and Jim Willhight.
Ray Ray pointing out that Weldon is no longer welcome
Morning Update Thursday, August 5th, 2010 with Weldon and Radio Ray.
Morning Update Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010 with Weldon and Radio Ray.
Morning Update Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010 with Weldon and Radio Ray.
Ray Ray and Weldon discussing his retirement announcement on 8/2
Weldon and Radio Ray. Morning Update 7:30 am - 8:30 am, August 2, 2010.
Weldon and Jim Willhight. Morning Update 7/26/2010
Weldon and Jim Willhight. Morning Update 7/23/2010
Weldon and Radio Ray. Morning Update 7/19/2010
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