It's not easy for the Townsquare staff to walk by Bill Heiderich's desk today knowing the man that spent so much of his life in our industry will no longer be around. Heiderich passed away at the age of 89 and he represented the radio indsutry well right up until the day he died. Townsquare Media CEO Steven Price says Heiderich was a wonderful man. "Consummate professional who loved WIBX and represented us so well for over 40 years. It was an honor and a privilege to work with him."
Heiderich was born in Utica in 1922. He was raised and educated in Utica and graduated from Utica Free
Academy. Heiderich was a WW II vet and worked for the Secret Service. Bill Heiderich's career in radio began in 1947 when he joined the sales department at WIBX as an account executive. He was named local sales manager in 1954, GSM in 1965, VP in charge of sales in 1982, and VP/GM in 1988. He remained with Townsquare Media as a public relations director until the day he died.
MaryJo Beach is the VP/GM for Townsquare in Utica. "Bill Heiderich was a wonderful ambassador of WIBX and all of Townsquare media. He showed up to work every day since 1947. He would come into the station smiling and whistling and always brought a smile to all of our faces. When I came to the stations in 1992 he took me under his wing and taught me the importance and the need of balance between job, family and community. Walking past Bill?s desk is hard for all of us at this moment, a desk filled with awards of honor and proclamations . We miss him immensely and we cherish our memories of the area?s most respected gentleman."
Dennis Ryan was close friends with Heiderich. "Bill Heiderich was the original Class Act. He loved radio, understood the value of locally-focused, live radio broadcasting and knew how to make it work for thousands of clients spanning his 60 year career in Radio Advertising Sales. Equally important, was his mentorship of hundreds of Radio Sales People, many of whom he groomed to move up to management and great careers of their own. He was so proud when one of "his people" landed a better opportunity in a bigger market, and he was always interested in how we were doing. I can tell you that, in addition to myself, VP / General Managers like Dan Farr of Backyard Broadcasting, Brian Delaney of Clear Channel and Mary Jo Beach of Town Square Media, just to name a few, all owe Bill our deepest gratitude for his guidance. We are all better people for having known Bill Heiderich. God Bless Him"
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