(Above) The worlds of public radio and major league baseball collide as retired newscaster Carl Kasell (left) signs an autograph Saturday night at the Museum of Broadcast Communications along with Johnny Bench, who played for the Cincinnati Reds from 1967 to 1983. (Click on image to view larger version.)

November 12, 2012 – To no one’s surprise, the self-described “king of all media,” Howard Stern, inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame, did not attend the ceremony Saturday evening at the Museum of Broadcast Communications on North State Street.

There was no shortage of big names, though. Reporter and talk show host Geraldo Rivera hosted the hour-long event, broadcast live to a national audience by Cumulus Media. “I heard Howard Stern was one of the honorees,” said Rivera, “and I thought I would add an air of quiet dignity.”

Inductees included Cincinnati broadcaster Gary Burbank, Art Laboe, who coined the phrase “oldies but goodies,” Dallas radio icon Ron Chapman, 90-year-old Luther Masingill, on the air for more than 70 years in Chattanooga, and Jack L. Cooper, who was radio’s first African-American disc jockey.

Among the presenters were National Baseball Hall of Famer Johnny Bench, former National Public Radio newscaster Carl Kasell, country music radio and television host Ralph Emery, and former WLS disc jockey Dick Biondi.

MBC founder Bruce DuMont, who spoke to the audience before the national broadcast, said radio is still relevant in the Internet age. “People not only talk on the radio but frequently listeners talk about what is said on the radio. Radio still has that powerful word into each and every home and each and every heart and each and every mind.”

When inductees were announced in June, it was far from certain that Stern would attend, as he is an outspoken critic of the National Radio Hall of Fame. Chicago Bears defensive tackle Amobi Okoye accepted the award on Stern’s behalf. Also not showing was Terry Gross, whose National Public Radio program Fresh Air was inducted.