"I would like to thank all his fans, friends, family and co-workers for all the prayers, love and support that they've given him throughout the years and especially during this last week. Mark believed in Jesus Christ and he is now at home with his Father in Heaven."Mike provides a detailed history of Mark's radio career, including his time on KRXO, KJ103, a station in Nashville and his post as the afternoon drive guru at Oklahoma City's KTOK.
Mark and I worked together at WKY - he handled the morning duties with Larry Stein and later solo. I also had the honor of filling in for him on the morning show and let me tell you, Mark had one hell of a system. His show-prep abilities were phenomenal, virtually unmatched. The way he put together a show caused it to basically run on its own, as though it was self-aware.
There are many who absolutely despised Mark Shannon and I have already received comments from some and I must say that I find them wickedly inappropriate and offensive. When asked by KOKH Fox 25 about some of the comments about him, Mark replied wryly from his hospital bed, "I would have said the same about them." Even from the hospital, Mark was a fighter.
As far as I am concerned, it is time for us to mourn his loss - to appreciate the great things that Mark Shannon accomplished and his amazing on-air talent.
Mark was, as Tiffany Titsworth of the Brogdon campaign said, "the voice of Oklahoma's conservative movement." A year ago, Mark helped in getting the Tea Party movement going, providing them with air time on his show and KTOK did wonders to get out their message. Mark became a firebrand for conservatives - a man who once considered Charlie Meadows and the OCPAC crowd to be "out there," spent time with conservatives and became one of them.
Shannon was without question a polarizing figure on the air. But off the air, he was a man who really did not lack the courage of his convictions. Today, the radio industry in Oklahoma is weaker without him.
My prayers go out to his wife, Kris, and their family as they navigate through the grieving process. Truly a sad day for Oklahoma radio.
Newson6.com story.
