Kevin West has left us, suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 61. Like all of his friends, my reaction to the news of his passing was “This can’t be true.” (That’s not really what I said. I cleaned it up.) He was the picture of health. I immediately called his cell phone, hoping beyond hope he would pick up. “This has to be a misunderstanding,” I thought. Unfortunately it was true. Although I would not hear his distinctive voice this time, it will always be a part of my memory.
We have lost a true gem. Two words come to mind when I think of Kevin West: Rock Solid.
I first met Kevin on the softball field back in the KZ-106 Foul Tips days. When I worked there, we had a softball team, and we played all over the region every weekend.
By 1987, I had switched to TV, but I still played for the Foul Tips. Kevin began working at the radio station that year, and was a great addition to broadcasting, and to softball. I remember him being rock solid back then, and he remained that way for the rest of his life.
He was also a rock solid journalist, dad, husband, friend, and human being. Not to mention his “other life.” Kevin also served a military career in the United States Navy that spanned more than 24 years from his on-air enlistment in the Navy Reserve in the spring of 1997 to his retirement as a Navy Captain in the fall of 2021. He deployed to Afghanistan in 2016 and 2017 as the Deputy Director of Public Affairs at Resolute Support Headquarters in Kabul and also served as commanding officer of 6th Fleet Public Affairs, 7th Fleet Public Affairs, and Navy Public Affairs Support Element-Headquarters. His awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, 2 Navy Commendation Medals, a Joint Services Achievement Medal, a Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, and Sharpshooter ribbons in rifle and pistol. He took pride in doing his “Navy workouts” every day.
He started in 1979 as a disc jockey at WRCN, the campus radio station at the University of Michigan and got his first paying job in the summer of 1980 at WIBM in Jackson, Michigan.
He became news director and assignment editor at WIBM/WXCM in Jackson, then moved to WIBM-AM as a a morning host.
He came to Chattanooga in 1987 as the morning news anchor and street reporter for WGOW-AM.
He became program director of Talk FM 102.7 when it went on the air from Eastgate in the spring of 1994. That station later became Talk FM 102.3 on Pineville Road.
He took over as program director of the two WGOW talk stations – Talk Radio 102.3 FM and News Radio 1150 WGOW-AM in 2011.
Along the way, he worked with some unforgettable radio personalities, including Jim Reynolds, Garry Mac, Dale Deason, Jeff Styles, Parker Smith, Brian Joyce, Bill Lockhart, all of the Sport Talk guys, Scott Chase, Jammer Scott, and Kelly McCoy.
In his role as radio news director, he competed against local legends like Ed Buice, Earl Freudenberg, and Bob Cox among others. As a key component of the Talk Radio morning show, he was often a beacon of sanity and local knowledge, always with a smile in his voice.
Throughout his local radio journey, he was creative, energetic, cheerful, thorough and fair. I never knew of anyone to speak ill of Kevin West. He personified integrity.
In July of 2023, he retired from radio, and took on a new challenge as Public Affairs Director of the Chattanooga Police Department. He relished the assignment. Despite long hours and the demands of responding to media calls even on weekends, he rose to the occasion with his customary good cheer and enthusiasm. He would take extra time to make sure names were spelled and pronounced right, and that his officers were prepared for the demands of modern-day media.
Kevin West was a gift to Chattanooga radio listeners, police officers, and our nation, all of which he served with excellence. He loved his parents, Ken and Bertha West (who just celebrated 66 years of marriage), his wife Carlene, his five children, and his grandchildren.
I will miss our visits and lunches. Kevin would put a positive spin on everything. Although that’s hard for me to do just hours after his passing, I can say this: if Kevin touched your life in any way, as a friend, a co-worker, or a listener, he made you a better person. Job well done, Captain West. Fair winds and following seas.
(One final, personal note: during our last lunch together, I was preparing to write a story about his retirement from radio, and his move to the Chattanooga Police Department. He noted that two of the most recent stories I had written were tributes to a couple of our former co-workers Garry Mac and Ed Buice, both of whom had just passed away. He jokingly said, “When I heard you were writing about me, I was afraid you had talked to my doctor!” We had no idea….) DC
David – I am so sorry to see this. Kevin was a college radio friend with whom I reconnected probably a decade ago. He was always very kind and encouraging, and I now realize that one of his secrets was talking to everybody as if the next time was not guaranteed (very possibly a biproduct of those years in the military). Beyond saddened.
A Chattanooga icon and great person gone too soon.
First class, David!
I never met Kevin but felt like I knew him from all his days on the radio going to and from work with him always in the background like a friend that was always there …. He and Jeffe Styles were the best I still have thoughts of Jeffe too wish he’d come back to radio but I guess that ship has sailed … to soon I might add
He will be missed by all the knew him in person and on the radio
Roy Gadd
He made mornings easier to beat with his informative talk and friendly voice. I listened to him daily and he was always on point with all he said. A great man gone too soon
DC… didn’t Kevin anchor Trendz on 3 or Tell Us What You Think? for Channel 3? Seems like I remember that from my days there!!
I believe he did, Shane. Those were taped at night, and we would see each other as I was leaving and he was coming in.
Well said, David. From my years working alongside Kevin, I’ll remember him just like you said – relentlessly positive, dedicated and professional in his work, and a voice of sanity in an often chaotic world. He’s been taken from us far too soon.
Well said, David. Kevin was a great human. Loved playing with him and all the guys on the Foul Tips. Gone too soon.
Well said!!!!!
,Jed Mescon orchestrated a July lunch where Kevin talked about his new career, his plans and seemed so excited about it.
I think the city can’t even begin to understand the tremendous loss this is.
Kevin’s PIO knowledge from the military along with his institutional knowledge of this community after decades reporting the news and events off this community seemed like a perfect match to guide the Police Department in this challenging decade.
Now that opportunity is gone.
It is hard to believe Kevin is gone.
I was stationed with Kevin in the Navy and am mutual friends with Ed Buice, who recently passed. Kevin just helped with his tribute. This is just too much! Kevin was so much fun while always so professional. He was a true Navy man and all-around fantastic person. He is sorely missed. The world is not a better place without him. Thanks, David, for this wonderful tribute.
Well Said DC. Kevin was a jewel of a man! I first met him when I was in the PIO office for the Police Dept. He was always fair and respectful. Many years later, in my current role as Criminal Court Clerk, I asked him to help MC the retirement celebration for Gay Bolden. She was the widow of Tom Bolden or Wally Witkowski, as everyone knew him. Gay’s retirement celebration was extra special, as he was able to include some of the humor shared over the years. I will miss the “Stick Man!” He was a true friend.
We never realized the Golden Age of Chattanooga media was upon us until it was waning.
I called Stick “The Czar of Talk Radio” after a SportTalk event and he laughed to high heaven.
Heaven is where he is laughing now, I’d surmise.
Kevin (then a Lieutenant Commander) and I supported Exercise Saharan Express in Dakar, Senegal in 2013. He was instrumental in providing public affairs guidance and wrote a nice article about the event (quoting me, in fact) for Navy public affairs. I have a folder on my hard drive labeled “Photos from West” which are all great memories of that exercise. Because Kevin was the photographer, I have none of Kevin himself.
Many thanks to whomever suggested that donations support Sea Cadets. I’d love to know the connection as I now support that organization.
While it was many years ago, I remember Kevin as being super enthusiastic and energetic. So sorry for this tragic loss.