Jim Gearhart Retires From WKXW (New Jersey 101.5)/Trenton

Gearhart

Longtime TOWNSQUARE MEDIA Talk WKXW (NEW JERSEY 101.5)/TRENTON morning host JIM GEARHART is retiring, the station announced on the air MONDAY morning (11/23).  BILL SPADEA, who has been filling in for GEARHART in recent months while GEARHART has been recovering from a serious accident that caused a concussion, will take over the morning show on a permanent basis; in the announcement, SPADEA, joined by News Director ERIC SCOTT, said that GEARHART's injuries are preventing him from returning to the show.

GEARHART has been the morning man on NEW JERSEY 101.5 since the FM talk format's inception on the station in 1990; he previously hosted at stations like WCBS-A/NEW YORK (as the station's final morning host before the flip to all-News), KQV-A/PITTSBURGH, and WPOP-A/HARTFORD.  His tenure at NEW JERSEY 101.5 made him one of the more influential media personalities in the state's political scene; the station's studio building was named the "JIM GEARHART BROADCASTING CENTER" in his honor in 2010.

SPADEA, a former Congressional candidate and host of the TV show "CHASING NEW JERSEY" on MY NETWORK TV affiliate WWOR-TV (MY 9)/SECAUCUS-NEW YORK and FOX O&O WTXF-TV (FOX 29)/PHILADELPHIA, is also a VP at WEICHERT REALTORS.

In a press release released simultaneously with the on-air announcement, Market Pres. FRED BENNETT said, “All of us at NEW JERSEY 101.5 and TOWNSQUARE will miss JIM.  JIM GEARHART is an extraordinary broadcaster and we thank him for his 25 years of service to NEW JERSEY 101.5 and the entire NEW JERSEY community.  JIM is in our thoughts and wish him a quick recovery.”

In the release, SPADEA said. "I love NEW JERSEY. The opportunity to join other New Jerseyans every morning in a conversation about our state is both exciting and rewarding.  The NJ 101.5 team is the best in the business and I'm proud to be a part of this successful family."  He added, “I’ve always looked up to JIM GEARHART as a legend in NEW JERSEY media. His shoes are too large for me to ever fill completely, but I am honored and humbled and will try my best to live up to his legacy of unequaled radio and service to the people of NEW JERSEY.”

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