ELIOT KELLER INDUCTED INTO IOWA BROADCASTERS HALL OF FAME

My good friend and long-time colleague, Eliot Keller, has been honored by the Iowa Broadcasters Association with induction into the organization's Hall of Fame. 

Keller, and his partner, Rob Norton, founded, constructed and operated for many years, KRNA-FM, Iowa City, Iowa.  They put KRNA on the air at a time when many in the industry questioned their sanity and whether a stand-along FM station in Iowa City would survive.  It did, and what happened at KRNA-FM helped many in the business to recognize that a well run, stand alone FM could be profitable.  Several years ago, an offer for KRNA-FM was made that could not be refused.  The station was sold and is now owned by Cumulus Media.

Today, Keller and Norton head KZIA,Inc., which owns and operates KZIA-FM and KGYM (AM) in Cedar Rapids.  Here is a news release from KZIA, Inc. about Keller's induction into the Iowa Broadcasters Hall of Fame:

KZIA, Inc. (KZIA Z102.9 and  KGYM-AM 1600 ESPN Radio, Cedar Rapids/Iowa City) President and General Manager Eliot A. Keller was inducted into the Iowa Broadcasters Association (IBA) Hall of Fame today at its Annual Summer Convention in West Des Moines. The award was presented by IBA President Rick Sellers from KMRY-AM and accepted by Rob Norton, executive vice president of KZIA, Inc. 

 

The IBA Hall of Fame Award is presented to an Iowan, not necessarily a broadcaster, who has made a lasting and significant contribution to his or her community, the state of Iowa and the broadcast industry. Keller and Norton have each previously been named Broadcaster of the Year by the IBA, in 2001 and 2004 respectively. 

 

Keller has been a radio broadcaster in Iowa for more than four decades. He was one of the founders of KRNA 94.1 and ran it from 1974 to 1998. He oversaw many of the precedent-setting activities of the operation, including a multitude of community service projects, and many trend-setting technical innovations and accomplishments. Keller has been general manager of Z102.9 and its predecessors since 1994.

 

Keller has been active in local chambers of commerce and community economic development organizations throughout his career. He has also been a long-time advocate for transportation infrastructure improvements, including enhanced passenger train service.

 

The IBA is comprised of radio and television stations working to promote, protect and enhance free, over-the-air broadcasting.

 

KZIA Z102.9, a 100,000-watt radio station in Cedar Rapids broadcasting Today’s Hits at 102.9 MHz to the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City area. Z102.9 was the first station in Iowa to broadcast HD Radio® (terrestrial digital radio). Z102.9 was also the first station in the state to broadcast HD Radio® multicasting, supplemental audio channels available free to listeners with a second-generation HD Radio® radio. These channels include 102.9-1 KZIA Z102.9 Today’s Hits, 102.9-2 HD-2 Classic Rock and 102.9-3 KGYM 1600 ESPN. KZIA is the only locally-owned commercial FM broadcast station in the Corridor and KGYM is one of only three locally-owned commercial AM stations in the Corridor. KZIA Z102.9 is at www.kzia.com on the Internet. KGYM-AM 1600 ESPN is a 5,000 watt AM radio station broadcasting sports talk. It is on the Internet at www.1600ESPN.com. Both are owned by KZIA, Inc. (an Iowa corporation).

In addition to his broadcasting acumen, Keller has actively supported and promoted development of a passenger train network in the state of Iowa, serving as excursion chair for the Iowa Association of Railroad Passengers (IARP).