Like many career broadcasters, John Malone knew what he wanted to do at a very young age. He went from pretending to be on the radio, to becoming an on-air personality to owning two radio stations. He was successful in the large, corporate broadcasting arena and spent time as a well-known television anchor but chose to focus on local radio. For his many contributions to the broadcasting industry and the communities he served, the ABA is most proud to honor John Malone with an induction into the Hall of Fame.

“He always loved radio and according to my grandmother, he always had a ‘microphone’,” says Malone’s daughter, Mandy Kate. “He was just a teenager when he started in broadcasting.”

“Yeah, my grandparents knew from the beginning that he wanted to be a broadcaster,” says his son Jacob Malone. “He used to sit in a closet with a box and a hairbrush and act like he was a TV anchor. The second he was old enough, he went out to WEKR in Fayetteville, Tennessee.”

“He always just loved music and broadcasting and television and just the entire broadcasting kind of sphere,” says Mandy. “I think that just always really made him happy, so he went and got a job, and he was good at it.”

“There was nothing he thought that was more cool than broadcasting,” smiles Jacob.  “That was the crème de la crème to dad. He just had a massive love and passion for it.”

Both Mandy and Jacob believe that their father would have been thrilled to know he was going into the Hall of Fame.

“He would have been so excited,” says Mandy. “ He absolutely loved the foundation. He  loved everything about the ABA. He was proud to be a part of it and to grow the state of Alabama’s broadcasting  association. He always had just a really tender spot for the ABA.”

“I think he would have been very proud and excited … and his head would be massive,” laughs Jacob. “ This would have been special to him – 100%. He was extremely involved.”

At one point in his career, Malone was Program Director at WSM Radio, home of the Grand Ole Opry. And he was the Market President of iHeart Radio in Huntsville. But his true love was local radio, so in 2020, he left iHeart and purchased WYTM and WEKR. radio stations in his hometown of Fayetteville.

John’s induction was conducted by former WAAY-TV chief meteorologist and Baron Services founder Bob Baron.  Bob shared that John will be remembered for many reasons, “We are certainly aware of John Malone’s service to broadcasting, on air at multiple stations, program Director WSM, and station owner, but what endears him to us who loved him was his tireless service to community.  So many charitable operations owe their success to John’s personal attention and support.”

“Serving the community – that was our main focus,” explains Jacob. “He had a vision to make the stations as successful and relevant as possible in this day and age. Carrying local programming is the only way you can do that. And I think that’s why the small market stations like the ones we have are so valuable. We’re a massive asset to the community still.”

Clearly, Malone was a busy man, but his career never interfered with his devotion to family.

“He was always around,” says Jacob. “That was always his number one thing. We still all get together every Sunday and do dinner. All three of his children, live within three miles of each other, and we’re all still very close and are together constantly. That’s what he always wanted and dreamed of.”

“Dad was always just very present in our lives,” says Mandy. “ He did so much to provide for us. He was the best dad you could ever ask for.”