dale eichor - Inducted 2001

Dale Eichor had chalked up 40 years in broadcasting with 33 years of that exclusively in country radio at the time of his induction into the Country Music DJ Hall of Fame in 2001. He had worked at stations in Iowa prior to serving as DJ/Music Director at KBUC in San Antonio, TX from 1967-1968 and moving on to WXCL in Peoria, IL from 1968 - 1972. In 1972, he joined KWMT in Fort Dodge, IA as DJ/Music Director, where he remains today.

Born Feb. 5, 1939 in Casey, IA, Dale graduated from Casey High School in 1956. He moved to Omaha, NE and worked at US National Bank while attending Radio Engineering Institute at night where he earned a 1st Class FCC License. He's self-taught on the guitar and bass, first playing in high school and later in country bands. He's promoted live concerts in Shenandoah, San Antonio, Peoria and Fort Dodge; promoted listener bus trips to Nashville and Branson on behalf of KWMT; and served as a longtime reporter to the Gavin Report, Billboard and Radio & Records Magazines. Dale has worked with many charities, including the Salvation Army Tree of Lights radiothon, raising nearly $10,000 a year for 10 years.

He was named the CMA DJ of the Year: Small Markets in 1974; served on the CMA Board of Directors 1977-1978: named CashBox Programmer of the Year for Small Markets in 1983; nominated as Gavin Report's Music Director of the Year in 1983; elected Billboard's Program Director of the Year: Small Markets in 1989 and inducted into the National Traditional Country Music Association's Hall of Fame in Anita, IA in 1998. Dale was on the original board of Directors of FICAP. He's highly respected for always being there for the new artists, many of whom are the super stars of today.