This year's "Person of the Year" was our own Bill "Wee Willie" Webber, former President and Chairman of the Board of our organization. Also at this dinner, we inducted four outstanding broadcasters into our "Hall of Fame."
They are:

Bill Baldini, Reporter for WCAU, NBC-10
Monica Malpass, Anchor for WPVI, Channel 6
Larry Mendte, Anchor for KYW-TV, CBS 3
Allen Stone, longtime announcer & newsman for WFIL

We also inducted posthumously into our Hall of Fame six additional persons who contributed so much to Philadelphia broadcasting. They were:

Mike Douglas, TV talk host (show originated from KYW-TV)
Philo Farnsworth, father of TV whose work was done here in Philly
Bill Hart, the legendary WCAU host and announcer
Dr. Charles Lee, well-known news commentator
Jessica Savitch, former KYW-TV and NBC-TV News Anchor
Alan Scott, veteran newscaster, kids host and announcer

Here's audio of the posthumous inductees

Rock & Roll Legend Charlie Gracie (and a member of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia) was there and entertained us with a few songs. We all remember Charlie and his chart topping hits of "Butterfly," "99 Ways," and "Fabulous." (As a teenager, Charlie used to sing "Get the Best, Get Sealtest" on "The Big Top" which originated here in Philadelphia from WCAU-TV and was carried over the CBS Television Network.

Each year, we start off our program with the singing of "God Bless America." This time, it was sung by "Pretty Perky Peggy King," a pop singer from "The George Gobel Show," which aired Saturday evenings on NBC-TV for five seasons and one season on CBS-TV.

Usually our invocation is done by our own W. Carter Merbreier (Captain Noah). However, the rascally ol' captain is still recovering from heart surgery and wasn't able to make it this year. A comentator for WCAU-TV and Radio in the sixties, Donald Barnhouse, now an area minister, took his place.

For a little fun, Les Waas introduced Bill Webber with a roasting. It was quite funny. Everyone loved the fun.

This fundraiser benefited our scholarship program. Monies raised from last year's banquet underwrote five different $1,500.00 scholarships for area college students.

Photos of the Event

AUDIO OF THE EVENT

Donald Barnhouse gives the invocation
Larry Mendte
Monica Malpass
Bill Baldini
Allen Stone
Les Waas introduces Bill Webber
Bill Webber

VIDEO EXCERPTS OF THE EVENT

Larry Mendte
Monica Malpass
Bill Baldini
Allen Stone
Les Waas introduces Bill Webber
Bill Webber