Just about everyone in northern Alabama and southern Georgia knows Kay Vice and has heard about her dedication to broadcasting and her commitment to community. Sharon Tinsley, Alabama Broadcasting Association president, says Kay more than deserves to not only be inducted into the 2016 ABA Broadcaster Hall of Fame, but to be honored as this year’s Broadcaster of the Year.

“I met Kay nearly twenty years ago when I attended my first ABA conference. I’ve seen how she worked side-by-side with her husband as they built their business over the years and I’m glad we have the opportunity to recognize Kay for her contributions to our industry. She is a real broadcaster. “

“Kay and I were married in 1961” says her husband, Jim Vice, president of Eagle’s Nest Inc. and 2003 Alabama Broadcaster of the Year. “I started in television. She worked for a middle school doing bookkeeping. Then I moved into radio and in 1988 we bought a combo – WELR FM/AM in Roanoke. That’s when she came down here with me and she’s been with the corporation ever since.”

As Chief Operating Officer, Kay’s financial skills have played a major role in Eagle’s Nest’s success. The company now includes Country WELR-AM and Sport Talk WLWE-FM in Roanoke, Alabama and Sports Talk WLAG-AM in La Grange, Georgia. Both AM stations have simulcast FM translators that cover their communities featuring local news, sports and community information.

“We’ve done a lot of improving at each station over time and she’s been all into that,” says Vice. “Of course we built a new building in 1999 and not only did she keep us on track financially, she helped design the station … picked out the colors and everything!”

Not everyone knows that Kay is an artist. She enjoys painting people and animals most. In fact, some of the cows and deer on the Vice’s farm have been kind enough to sit for their portraits, which now decorate the interior of the farmhouse.

“She does extremely good artwork,” says Vice. “I always tell her that she’s better than most of the artists I see, but she doesn’t believe that,” he chuckles. The next time you happen to be in the WELR FM/WLWE AM studio, ask someone to point out her paintings and you, too, will see that Kay is quite gifted.

Kay also has a gift for helping others. The Randolph County Learning Center, a day-treatment center for individuals with intellectual disabilities, is one of the projects to which Kay is devoted. Working through the Rotary Club, Kay leads annual fund raising drives that are matched by federal and state funding. Last year’s efforts raised $100,000 for the center.

She was also a lead player in the Rotary’s restoration of the Martin Theater in Roanoke. The project proved to be an inspiration for other revitalization initiatives bringing new life to the downtown area. If that weren’t enough, Kay in very involved with the Randolph Pilot Club’s annual “Christmas for Kids” project which provides gifts to the area’s underprivileged children.

“Kay and the Eagle 102 family have always embraced our community,” says Vickie Cummings, Sales Supervisor at TEC. “In rural areas such as ours, the needs are often overwhelming. I have always appreciated her recognition of those needs along with her ability and willingness to have an impact.”

Mayor Mike Fisher agrees. “Kay’s willingness to always have the local radio station participate in fund raisers and charities that support local organizations is a huge reflection of her character.”

There’s no getting around that Kay shines when it comes to being an all-around nice person. “She’s always nice to everyone. None of our employees have ever said anything bad about her,” boasts her husband who starts to laugh. “Now, they’ve had something to say about me! But not her. She gets along with everyone.”