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AWC

KAWC Remembers Uncle Bob Hardy

KAWC Archive

On any given day KAWC listeners will hear us say, "Broadcasting from the Robert E. Hardy Radio Studio Complex..." 

That is part of a legal announcement we make at the top of each hour to identify the station and the community we serve.

Maybe you hear Hardy's name on our station IDs and have no idea who he is.  Or maybe you are a long-time Yuma resident and you are familiar with Uncle Bob, as he was known throughout his broadcasting and academic career.

Uncle Bob was the founder of KAWC, and it is safe to say that, but for him, the station you've listened to on 1320AM and later 88.9FM for the last 46 years, would not exist.

Robert Eugene Hardy died at his home in Yuma on January 5th at the age of 89.

KAWC's Lou Gum has more on the life and public radio legacy of Uncle Bob in this audio remembrance...

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Lou grew up in Tucson and has a long family history in the state of Arizona. He began his public radio career in 1988 at KNAU in Flagstaff as a classical music DJ and has been hooked on public radio since, transitioning to news after trying his hand at several other careers in publishing and commercial broadcasting. Lou has a degree in American Studies from Arizona State University and was KAWC's Morning Edition host for two and half years before becoming News and Operations Director.