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Local broadcaster, Loy Engelhardt was recently awarded a place in the Arizona Broadcaster’s Hall of Fame. Engelhardt has been in the radio business for over 50 years, getting his start in a small station in Abilene, Kan. He has been at KINO radio in Winslow since 1977.
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“I started back in Kansas reading 15-minute newscast five days a week and working for the newspaper in my hometown,” he recalled.
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Engelhardt said he wasn’t always sure he wanted to be a broadcaster. He did listen to the great broadcasters of his day, including the late Harry Caray as he did play-by-play for the Saint Louis Cardinals. Engelhardt would often imitate Caray as he listened. “His ability to paint a picture with his words during a sports cast was an inspiration. I try to do that. I hope that I can put the listener in the gym or the park with their team, with their son or daughter.”
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He continued, “I always enjoyed sports and I was in the newspaper business and advertising sales. It wasn’t until I started reading the news on the air that broadcasting happened to me. Because it was a small station, I was doing board shifts putting records on as well as doing the news.”
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In 1977, he found KINO in Winslow for sale in an industry publication and along with business partner, his wife Pat and their two children, Loy Lyn and Ashley, Engelhardt moved to Winslow.
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“We got here in January of 1977. Interestingly enough, the next year in February, Winslow won a state boys basketball championship and state girls basketball championship in the same night. That was exciting. The boys finished and Pat and I raced down the street to see the girls under the direction of Don Petronovich get his first state title. I was announcing both of those games. It was crazy.”
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Engelhardt has many memories of Winslow sports and Winslow sports fans have many memories of Engelhardt. According to Winslow Mayor Tom McCauley, “Loy’s voice is synonymous with Winslow sports.”
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The fans that nominated Engelhardt for the hall of fame shared the sentiment. Kenneth Light said, “One of my favorite memories is going to Winslow High School football games and listening to Loy on the headphones. He really puts you in the game, he knows all the players and really gets you in there.”
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KINO Radio AM 1230 has been a staple for music, news, weather and of course, sports in Winslow since the mid 1960s. Since Engelhardt purchased the business, he has employed over 200 Winslow High School students. One of those students, Delphi Lander, had this to say about Engelhardt, “He was a great person to work for and he really gave me confidence in myself. Not only because he put me behind a microphone, but also because he allowed me, and every kid that worked for him, to take initiative and be responsible for major aspects of the station. He really respected us and we respected him. I wish every boss could be like him.”
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The Arizona Broadcaster’s Association is the latest in organizations to recognize Engelhardt’s contribution to broadcasting and the community. He was honored to be the Winslow High School Homecoming dedicatee twice. Once in 1987 and again in 2001. He was awarded the Oscar Stauffer Award for Excellence in Sportscasting in 1976 and served as the Grand Marshal of the Winslow Christmas Parade in 2006. However, according to a letter written by Light, “One of the most moving honors for Loy came days after his heart attack when the Winslow High School football team presented him with a signed football.”
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When his reaction to being inducted into the Arizona Broadcasters Hall of Fame, Engelhardt, true to character, humbly put his head down and said, “It was pretty staggering to get that phone call,” he said, “I feel very honored.”
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He will receive his plaque at a luncheon held in Phoenix this September. “Pat and I will be attending, and I have never been. We are looking forward to it.”
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Engelhardt said he would like to be remembered as someone who gave back to the community. “I believe there are takers and there are givers. I would like to be remembered as a giver.”
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He still works at the radio station every day, sometimes as the board operator, the announcer, the music director, the news anchor or the groundskeeper. Engelhardt has a work ethic and a humble character that shows no sign of slowing.
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“I enjoy watching the athletes play and grow,” said Engelhardt. “I enjoy coming to work, I enjoy what I do and I don’t believe I will ever stop.”
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