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Kuar radio station9/22/2023 When he came to anything that was going wrong, he knew exactly who to go to and make sure it was helped or rectified or something. "He wasn't intrusive, he didn't go hover and make you feel he was listening to what you were trying to do. "He had a very warm heart, was a bit of a pushover in a way," said Ann Nicholson, who has been an arts reporter with the radio operation for 34 years, during Ben's entire time there. He knew every bolt and wire that was out of place when something went wrong and there was no way we could have made it this far without his talent."įry was beloved by staffers as being a kind, understanding boss, but one who still held his employees to high standards. "He was a unique person who knew every inch of the station. Ben had this ability to bring people together and have them work as a unit," Wagner says. "In radio, you have a lot of different types of personalities and different types of people. Today Wagner is operations manager and says Fry's calm leadership was key in getting the best out of employees. William Wagner was working as a part-time board operator at KUAR and KLRE when Fry was hired by the stations. By 1983, he had been promoted to a full-time position as the station's creative director, writing and producing commercials. In 1980, he moved to central Arkansas to attend the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and got a part-time job with commercial radio station KARN as an announcer. KUAR News Ben Fry at the arrival of NPR's mobile Stor圜orps recording studio in Little Rock on March 29, 2012.įry's broadcasting career began in his hometown of Wynne, Ark., where he worked weekends at the local radio station while still in high school. In particular, you'd often find him on the floor doing laborious engineering work or updating computer software," Hibblen said. "What always amazed me was his calm demeanor no matter what was going on and how he could do any and every job in the radio station. News Director Michael Hibblen worked for Fry twice, first in the mid-1990s, and again beginning in 2009. He was also just a really wonderful colleague." "He was a dedicated radio professional who also loved to teach and to provide students with opportunities to learn through involvement with the public radio stations. "Ben was a fantastic example of the integration of the instructional mission of the university with the public service mission of the university," said Lisa Bond-Maupin, dean of the College of Social Sciences and Communication, which includes the radio stations. He joined the stations in 1988, first as news and information director, then served as program director for one year before becoming general manager. He managed all aspects of administration and operations of the stations, including finances, management, engineering, programming and fundraising. James United Methodist Church, 321 Pleasant Valley Drive in Little Rock.įry had served as general manager of UALR Public Radio since 1995. for longtime KUAR and KLRE General Manager Ben Fry who died in his sleep early Thursday. KUAR is also available internationally via online live streaming, a service provided to give people all over the world the opportunity to listen live to its informative, cultural, and musical programming.A memorial service is scheduled to begin Monday at 11 a.m. The nights are reserved for Jazz music, with KUAR broadcasting in simulcast with the radio channel Jazz 24. During the day, its daily schedule follows the news/talk format by broadcasting in-depth local, statewide, national and international news reports, as well as talk shows on culture, education, arts, and music. The station carries a news/talk and jazz music format. It is affiliated with NPR, American Public Media, Public Radio International, and Jazz 24. KUAR is a public radio station owned and operated by the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
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