BEDFORD – On Saturday, August 3rd, a heartfelt celebration of life was held for local radio pioneer Dean Spencer. The event drew a crowd of former employees and community members and was a testament to Spencer’s enduring impact on the local airwaves.
The focal point of the gathering was a tour of the renovated radio station, a place deeply intertwined with Spencer’s career. As the founder and driving force behind the station, its transformation was a fitting backdrop to honor his legacy. Former colleagues reminisced about shared experiences, laughter, and the countless hours dedicated to bringing entertainment and news to the community.
After the tours, the celebration guests headed to the tent and gathered for a ceremony.
“Dean was very helpful in the community. Actually, I started with Ford business here in Bedford in 1984 and he was there. We did a lot of business over the years, and he helped us out in many many ways,” remarked Richard Burton in a conversation with WBIW Intern Field Reporter Dylan Goller.
A former station employee, Darren Tandy, shared how much the station has changed. “The radio station has really evolved with technology over the years. It’s amazing how the current group that operates WBIW, WQRK, and LiteFM. They have been able to use technology to better serve the local community. You can use resources more efficiently, and the programming is hypermobile, which goes along with the spirit of what Dean Spencer always wanted. And I think it’s a lasting tribute to his legacy, that the emphasis on local radio – radio that cannot be duplicated by a lot of other digital platforms – is alive and well here in Bedford, Indiana.”
Dan Bortner, a man who worked for Dean and is well known for his broadcasting abilities, offered his thoughts to WBIW.
A poignant moment arrived as Spencer’s son, Scott, fulfilled his father’s final wishes. With a heavy heart yet profound respect, Scott spread his father’s ashes around the station tower. This symbolic gesture connected Spencer’s spirit forever with the place he loved and where he made his mark. Scott reflected on his father in his 10-minute speech to the people gathered to honor him. “He was just so well-liked by everybody. He had a crazy sense of humor; if you knew him, you would know what I was talking about. He was concerned about the radio, the community, everybody who worked here, and how it all fit together between the stations and the community supporting each other. My dad was a great guy, and he was the same great guy to his family that he was everywhere.”
Holly Davis, the CEO and President of the three stations that Dean built commented, “Dean Spencer was more than just a business partner to me; he was like a father, guiding me with wisdom and teaching me the true meaning of humility. His leadership in our community was matched only by the depth of his care for those around him. I’m forever grateful for the lessons he imparted, and his legacy will continue to inspire me and many others.”
Dean’s ‘life’s work’ came when he moved his family to Bedford, Indiana, in 1974, where he became general manager of radio station WBIW 1340 AM. In subsequent years, he was granted two additional FCC station licenses and launched WBIF FM and WWEG FM. Dean spent the next four decades as owner and manager of these three commercial radio stations in Lawrence County, IN. The two FM stations are WQRK, 105.5, Southern Indiana Classic Hits and Litefm 102.5, and the heritage station WBIW 1340 AM, The Voice of the Hoosier Hills. Due to Dean’s foundation, all 3 stations are still successfully operational. Dean Spencer’s contributions to the local radio landscape are immeasurable. His passion for broadcasting and his dedication to his community will continue to inspire those who knew him and those who benefited from his work.
