Rick Stone

We are sad to pass along the news that former Northern Michigan radio broadcast entrepreneur Richard (Rick) Stone passed away June 6.  Born August 1, 1947, to Glenn and Doris Stone in Toledo, Ohio. Raised in Sylvania, Ohio. Stone graduated from the University of Michigan in electrical engineering in 1969. He then worked for Motorola as a design engineer.  He was a member of the design group who created Motorola’s first EMS telemetry unit.

In 1971, he married Barbara Dick in Toledo, Ohio. They made their home in suburban Chicago. Stone received his MBA from Northwestern University in 1976. After this he continued at Motorola as the product planning manager for two-way mobile radio design and cellular telephone products.

He owned and operated eight radio stations over the course of his 40-years radio career. His interest in broadcasting began with his favorite college summer job at WSPD radio in Toledo. He also did engineering for the U of M student radio and TV stations. In 1977, Rick formed Stone Broadcasting Co. and purchased his first radio station, WOXY in Oxford, Ohio.

In 1981, Rick and Barbara relocated to Petoskey. While waiting for FCC approval for a construction permit for a new FM station, Rick built and managed WMKC-FM (Indian River/St. Ignace/Mackinaw City). In 1988, the FCC finally approved the license for WAIR-FM (Atlanta) (now WFDX) on 92.5 FM with 100,000 watts, covering 23 counties with a “solid gold” format. About a year later the FCC also granted a new sister station, WTRV-FM (Leland/Traverse City)(now WCMV) on 94.3.

In 1992, Stone purchased WJML-AM (Petoskey)(now WWMN).  Other stations to follow included Traverse City stations WJNL-AM (Kingsley/Traverse City); its translator W266CS; WJML-FM (Petoskey)(now WAWM) and WWKK-AM (Petoskey)(now WOUF).  He managed the WJML news/talk group for over 25 years.

Some of his public service history include: former member of Rotary in Oxford, Ohio and in Petoskey. Also in Oxford, Rotarian of the Year, Founding Member of the Chamber of Commerce, and granted “Outstanding Service” by United Way. In Petoskey, WJML funded the Petoskey fireworks for two years, “sold” the Mackinaw Bridge in pieces as a fundraiser twice-once for the purchase of EMS equipment for Northern Michigan, and the second time for March of Dimes; recipient of Petoskey Chamber of Commerce Mission Award; Salvation Army Chairman of Advisory Board; Past President of Little Traverse Bay U of M Alumni Club.

Rick was a former member of the First Presbyterian Church in Harbor Springs and a current member of Church of the Straits in Mackinaw City.

He is survived by Barbara, his wife of 54 years; his daughters, Amy (Chris) Laidlaw of Concord, NC and Jennifer (Chris) Stone of Scappoose, OR; and by 3 grandchildren, Jackson, Aiden, and Emilia.

A celebration of life will be held at Church of the Straits, Mackinaw City, on Saturday, June 13 with visitation from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m., with the service beginning at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Petoskey. Contributions may be made to Church of the Straits.