On Wednesday, March 11, 2009 Bill passed on… I believe that we must never forget to be grateful for those that helped paved the path before us. Bill Elledge was one of the founding members of KUCR Radio, a radio station at the University of California, Riverside. The station started in the 1960’s and continues today to educate, entertain, and celebrate music, current affairs, and cultural events.
I will never forget Bill’s humor, encouragement and assistance at KUCR. A long time ago, I had asked Bill his advice about whether or not I should apply for Music Director, and he totally encouraged me to give it a try, without his words I may have never have done it. Although the music director position went to somebody else, I knew I had a friend in my corner.
In the early years of doing my show, I had broken a few needles on my turntable at home, and I needed help finding some new ones. Those were pre-internet days (at least for me) and Bill had his own super information highway that helped me find exactly what I needed.
Whenever Bill was doing his show I would pop-in, say hi, and talk a bit before he was getting on the air. I enjoyed our conversations, and I will miss Bill very much! Bill, may you rest in peace. We will miss you at KUCR! ~tina bold
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Below is written by Louis Vandenberg, General Manager, KUCR
It is with immense sadness that we at KUCR inform you of the passing of William Russell Elledge (December 30, 1946 to March 11, 2009) A KUCR Founder (1965), Chief Engineer (1966-2009), News Director (1968-1969), News Editor UCR Highlander (1968-69), Editor UCR Tartan (1970), UCR Public Affairs (1971-1975), Program Host of KUCR’s “7PM Show” (1971-2008) “Bll Elledge helped build KUCR from scratch and took possession of it as its Chief Engineer. With Bill, everything was done right, always. Every aspect of the station as it is today was built by him. Bill was, without a doubt, completely committed to KUCR. He was selfless with his time and boundless with love of the station, its mission and the UCR campus. He wasn’t simply a superb and resourceful broadcast engineer. He was a wonderful original, with an unforgettable personality, profound intelligence and a deep knowledge of music, history, culture and politics. Bill was extremely articulate and would discuss all this and more at length on the air in his unique deep radio voice. That voice, very sadly, is now silenced. We at KUCR are very grateful for the gift that was Bill Elledge and will never forget his unparalleled contribution to KUCR, the UCR campus and our lives. May he rest in peace.” –Louis Vandenberg, KUCR Director/General Manager 3/13/09
