mike lynch - Inducted 2001

Mike Lynch was recognized as Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. first Radio Hall of Fame inductee. Mike began his broadcasting career in 1948 at KBYE, Oklahoma City. He later purchased radio station KFBI, Wichita and converted the station to a 10,000 watt powerhouse KFDI became known as Wichita's Radio Ranch covering practically all of Kansas and Northern Oklahoma. He teamed up with partner Mike Oatman to purchase several radio stations including KTTS, Springfield, MO, WOW, Omah, KWKH, Shreveport, KBRQ, Denver and KVOO, Tulsa, all of which were recognized as Great Empire stations for professionalism in broadcasting. He and his longtime partner in Great Empire Broadcasting, Michael Oatman sold their company to Milwaukee-based Journal Broadcast Group, a division of Journal Communications Inc., in 1998. Mike Lynch was inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame in 2001. He died of leukemia on July, 29, 2004. He was 74.