WGRE 91.5 FM -- WGRE Alumni

If you are a WGRE alum and would like to see your name on this page, email wgre@depauw.edu with your name, the year you graduated, and a sentence or two about what you are doing now!

Mark Johnson and John Dyer
in the News Room from 1986

WGRE Faculty Adviser Jeff McCall with student Jim Cerone in 1986

Class of 1959

Bob Westfall, the chief engineer in 1959 and remotely in 1960 from Purdue
He attended DePauw from 1956 to 1959, then transferred to Purdue University in 1959 and received an AB from DePauw and a BSEE from Purdue in 1961. He worked as an electrical engineer in the aerospace industry and retired from The Boeing Company at Kennedy Space Center in 2000.

Class of 1961

Mac Thorlton, former News Director and Vice President
He retired from DePauw in 2000 and built a home in a gated golf course communality in SW Florida (Bonita Springs). He regularly listens to the Tigers via WGRE's Internet offering and really appreciates being able to keep in touch.

Class of 1979

Tom Ellis, former DJ
Tom Ellis was an on air personality (DJ) his Junior year of 1978 hosting a show from 6 AM to 10 AM Monday through Friday. Thinking back, he says it's pretty impressive that he was able to get out of bed that early each day to host a show, since the majority of his fraternity brothers and friends weren't even up by 10 AM! He remembers having his own key to the station and having to come in early enough to "power up" [turn on the lights, transmitter, etc.] Tom's DJ name was Elbow-T of WGRE...(don't ask). He currently lives in Bloomington, IN where he is a Technical Program Manager for DiamlerChrysler, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW at Harman/Becker Automotive Systems.

Class of 1985

Stephen Walker, former Station Manager (1984-1985) and News Director (1983-1984)
Stephen worked in radio his first two years out of college as a Station Manager/Faculty Advisor at WDSO-FM at Chesterton High School, then as News Director at WLOI-AM/WCOE-FM in LaPorte, IN. He then lived in and around Bloomington, IL and worked in social services for approximately 13 years. Now he is the Certification Program Manager at Midwest Organic Services Association, and organic certifier in Viroqua, WI. Stephen says it would be great to hear from other WGRE Alums because he has "lots of fun memories from lots of time spent on the third floor studios at the student union building."

Class of 1986

Craig Smith, former Station Manager (1985-1986)
It was during Craig's tenure that WGRE started broadcasting 24 hours a day. Upon graduation in 1986, he worked for three years as a nightclub disc jockey both in Indianapolis, IN and San Diego, CA. After that, he started working in the publishing field in San Diego -- he was an editor for Aegis Publications and a database administrator and programmer for Harcourt Brace Jovanovich (now Harcourt Trade Publications). He eventually returned to Indianapolis where he now works as a systems analyst for Indianapolis Public Schools.

Class of 1989

Kristie Weimar Burke, former Station Manager and Program Director (1985-1989)
Since graduating, Kristie (known professionally as 'Kristie McIntyre') has worked on the air in radio in New Bedford, MA (WFHN), Boston (WZOU), Baltimore (WERQ, WXYV, WQSR) , New York City (WPLJ) and currently in Washington, DC (WRQX). She also hosted a syndicated show heard all over the country called "The All Night Cafe" and was heard all over the world on Voice of America Europe. In addition, she acted in several Cape Cod Radio Mystery Theater productions broadcast on NPR. Kristie runs her own Voice Over business called "KVoice" from her home studio in Baltimore, MD.

Class of 1990

Bill Wainwright, former Sports Director (1988-1990)
Since graduation, Bill has been working in sports for the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans, currently serving as Director of Suite & Club Sales. In this capacity, he oversees the team's corporate sales department of 176 suites and 12,000 club seats. He loves following DePauw sports, in particular the basketball & baseball teams that he served while at DePauw.

Class of 1992

Rhett N. Cochran, former Sports Director
Rhett currently works as a life insurance agent and investment rep for Mass Mutual. He also is the Director of Communications for the Indiana Tornados Football Club of the NAFL (www.indianatornados.org). His duties include writing the press releases, game stories, and calling the play by play. He and Dave Marzullo ’91 return every winter to do the Annual Christmas Alumni Radio Showgram.

Class of 1998

Patrick M. Kessler, former Station Manager and Program Director (1996-1998)
After spending two years as an editor at German national daily FAZ, Patrick established a media agency in Munich, Germany in 2002. The agency provides journalistic writing/ editing, translation and PR services for clients in the public and business sectors, while also developing English-language Web sites for German companies.

Class of 1999

Kenton Smith, former Program Director (1995-1999)
Last heard “in the air” on 102.3 FM WCBK as well as from various Indianapolis clubs
and events. Currently, Smith continues to spin tunes as DJ/KJ and owner of DJs Entertainment. You can also keep tabs on him through www.kentonbsmith.com – a shameless promotion of his life and ventures.

Bill Froehlich, former News Director & Station Manager
Currently working at the NBC affiliate in Traverse City, MI, WPBN-TV as a news reporter and the weekend news anchor.

Last updated October 11, 2006