Buffalo Broadcasters Association (BBA) announced their slate of 2022 Hall of Fame inductees via a press release on June 6. Big WECK owner Buddy Shula is one of 12 inductees chosen for the prestigious honor.
BBA president Katie Morse of WKBW-TV remarked, “This year’s induction class is second to none with incredible national and local talent. We are honored to recognize each inductee’s achievements and welcome them into the Hall of Fame.”
“I am pleased to have been selected for this award, especially with regard to the many professionals of local and national significance that are HOF honorees,” stated Shula, owner of Big WECK and Media One Buffalo. “It is humbling to now join the ranks of Buffalo Bob Smith, Wolf Blitzer, Tim Russert and this year’s superstar inductee, Lucille Ball!”
Shula has an extensive resume of radio stints starting as a 15-year-old intern under his mentor, John “JP” Piccillo (currently 97 Rock/WGRF midday DJ) at WPHD in 1983. His 39-year career saw him move through a list of Buffalo stations that range from WYRK to WNUC to WTSS as on-air personality. His career is underscored by a successful succession of sales achievements in radio sales including multiple Entercom (now Audacy) sales awards. He was honored by the national trade publication Radio Ink Magazine in February 1999 with the Radio Wayne Award for Street Fighter of the Year for excellence in broadcast sales.
He has transformed WECK from a lower-tier player in broadcast ratings and revenue to a top contender, recently scoring double-digit percentage increases in Nielsen surveys of Buffalo/Niagara Falls listeners.
Shula will receive the award at the gala dinner hosted by the Buffalo Broadcasters Association at Samuel’s Grand Manor in Williamsville at 7 p.m. Sept. 22. Please visit BuffaloBroadcasters.com for more information.
In addition to Shula and Lucille Ball, the 2022 class includes former CBS President Gene Jankowski, football analyst/reporter and talk show host Steve Tasker, writer/producer of numerous television dramas Tom Fontana, retired WKBW-TV reporter/photographer Ed Reilly, WBEN-AM morning show co-host Susan Rose, WUFO-AM president/CEO Sheila Brown, longtime Niagara Falls radio personality Tom Darro, former broadcast engineer Jackie Albarella, former WIVB- TV anchor/reporter Allen Costantini, and former WIVB-TV photographer Tom Vetter. The legendary TV icon and Jamestown native Lucille Ball will also be inducted for the many innovations she brought to television broadcasting.
Shula is a 1992 graduate of Canisius College. He and his wife Trina are residents of Lancaster.
