104.5 WOKV Director of Branding and Programming Jim Graci has announced that after more than five decades in radio, he’s retiring.

In addition to leading the Jacksonville news/talk brand for the past two years, Graci also spent nearly a decade as the Brand Manager of both KDKA Newsradio and 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh. He also previously served as the Program Director of Dallas news/talk station 570 KLIF.

Additionally, Jim Graci served as the Public Address Announcer for a pair of NBA franchises during his career, working for both the Seattle Supersonics and the Atlanta Hawks.

“After 50 years in the most spectacular communications medium there is, it’s time to call it a career,” Graci wrote in a post to social media. “I have too many people to thank who have helped me, coached me, took me under their wing, and guided me. Their tutelage allowed me to work at some of the greatest radio stations in the country. I have tried to ‘pay it forward’ by coaching and programming for the last 20 years, working with incredibly talented communicators, who continue to positively affect our lives whenever you turn the radio on.”

Graci concluded that radio has opened many doors for him, like his work as an NBA public address announcer, and joked that his career led him to a guest spot on the TV sitcom Frazier.

“It’s been a wonderful life. Now, it’s time for the next chapter!,” the longtime radio leader said.

Longtime radio industry veteran Steve Lapa has died at the age of 72.

Lapa became a General Manager of WGRQ in Buffalo at the age of 25, before later serving as the leader of 850 WFTL and founding Lapcom Communications, among other accomplishments in the radio and television business.

Additionally, he served as a consultant for Newsmax and Newsmax Radio as it built its roster and technologies. He also recently built a sales tool featuring three-minute videos to educate sellers focused on selling local radio commercials.

“He was a brilliant general manager, he knew that his strength was sales due to his background, he did not poke into programming, he did not surround himself with yes men, and he always had time for others,” WRVA host Jeff Katz wrote in a post on Facebook. “He was a humble man. Every time he spoke it was to talk about others not himself. A true gentleman who put others first.”

In recent years, Lapa served as a columnist for Talkers, which first reported the news of his death Friday.

Former 620 WTMJ morning show host Robb Edwards died Thursday at the age of 79.

He hosted mornings at WTMJ from 1985 until 2000.

Edwards was a Milwaukee media staple, working at several stations in the market before helming mornings on the venerable news/talk station. He held positions at WOKY-AM and WRIT-AM in addition to his work at WTMJ during his long career in the market.

In 1999, Edwards became the Public Address announcer for the Milwaukee Brewers before retiring in 2019. The scoreboard control room at American Family Field in Milwaukee is named in his honor for his long service to the Major League Baseball franchise.

Many former colleagues and Milwaukee media members took to social media to remember the longtime host. Several mentioned his extreme kindness as a quality they’ll miss about Robb Edwards.