Tuning into Huntley Community Radio may sound different than you remember. The station now features music from the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s provides news and weather reports, and shares information about local community organizations and businesses. Weekend programming includes live music shows, extended-form interview programs to spotlight local non-profit organizations, and many features of the Huntley community.
Eric Thomas is the new Executive Director of Huntley Community Radio. Thomas is a radio professional working for Salem Media (AM 560 The Answer and AM 1160 Hope for Your Life) and manages several stations. He has been involved with Huntley Community Radio for fourteen years, since the beginning, as Operations Manager.
Thomas grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago, citing his favorite childhood memory of always listening to Magic 104 in the garage with his dad. It is one of the main reasons he loves the music of the ‘60s and ‘70s. Thomas, his wife Danielle, and their two children, Reid, age 10, and Edie, age 13, have lived in Huntley for 13 years.
Thomas graduated from North Central College in Naperville in 1995.
“I took a college class because it seemed interesting, and I enjoyed it. I choose to stick with it.”
After graduation, Thomas interned at Magic 104. He has also worked at Magic 104, 101.9 The Mix, Rockford’s Oldies 96.7 WKMQ-FM, 102.3 XLC Waukegan, and 106.7 The Fish.
“In 1993, I got my first taste of radio work at Pure Rock FM 89 WONC-FM, North Central College Radio. I enjoyed being on the air and having my show a few days a week. Still, I enjoyed doing behind-the-scenes production, like writing and producing elements on a radio station that were not music. I spent so many weekend hours in the production studio creating that I wanted to stay behind the scenes.”
Thomas has been successful in his choice of working in the broadcast industry for over 30 years, all of that time with Chicago area radio stations.
His goal for HCR is “to evolve the original mission of the station that the Executive Director, Allen Pollack, started. He wanted to create an educational resource for our community that allowed people to learn about radio broadcasting and keep listeners informed and connected. While that worked for many years, that model has needed to be evolved recently for several reasons. Moving forward, we will continue to focus on our wonderful village of Huntley by sharing timely news and weather updates, spotlighting local organizations and businesses that impact and serve our community, as well as broadcasting local high school sports, all while playing ‘The Greatest Music Of All Time,’ the music of the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s. I hope the station becomes a true asset to the community.”
As Operations Manager, Thomas has already seen and enjoyed successes through HCR, his biggest was honoring the legacy of Dick Biondi and his contributions to Radio, rock-and-roll, as well as Chicago music over his 60-year broadcasting career.
“As I was one of three Oldies 104.3 WJMK studio operators to play his music while he was on a remote broadcast, Dick trusted me, and we became friends. As I grew in my radio career, Dick continued always to be supportive. After he passed away last year, I wanted to honor his legacy by playing some archive tapes I had in my audio collection of Dick doing his 1990 Christmas Eve show and relive those great memories we all have of Dick on the air. It also gave me a chance to reconnect with other great WJMK friends like John Records Landecker, Greg Brown, and Scott Miller, and connect with great music talent from The Buckinghams and Cryan Shames to allow them all to pay tribute to the ‘Wild I-Trailian’ as well. The broadcast was one of the many highlights of this past holiday season for me and 101.5 FM Huntley Community Radio.”
Station awareness is among the biggest challenges Thomas faces with HCR, which he’d like resolve under his leadership.
“It’s hard to believe that I meet people monthly who have lived in our community for years, and say, ‘I never even knew you guys were on the radio.’ We are committed to partnering with local businesses and spotlighting local community organizations. Please give us a listen, relive those great memories with the music, support those organizations that are helping us, and make sure to tell two friends. Give us a like on Facebook, too.
Another challenge is finding the finances to keep the station going. It’s run as an Illinois 501-C3 non-profit organization, so tax-deductible donations are always welcome at www.huntleyradio.com.”
There are many ways to listen to HCR: on your Radio at 101.5 FM, online at www.huntleyradio.com, or on your mobile phone by downloading the RadioMax app from your favorite app store.
