West Virginia Broadcasting Hall of Fame celebrates 20 years with Class of 2025 induction

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WOWK) – The West Virginia Broadcasting Hall of Fame is inducting its Class of 2025 on Tuesday night.

The ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. at the West Virginia Museum of Radio and Technology. The Class of 2025 will also mark the 20th Anniversary of the West Virginia Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

A livestream of the ceremony will be available in this article shortly before it begins.

This year, seven broadcasting professionals who have made a lasting impact on the industry and the Mountain State will be honored. Among this year’s inductees are two current and former employees of Nexstar Media Group, Inc. – Larry Cottrill and Mark Curtis, respectively.

The full list of those joining the Hall of Fame Tuesday night includes:

• Larry Cottrill is the current WCMH-Columbus vice president and general manager, whose career has taken him through West Virginia, Virginia and Ohio.
• Mark Curtis served as political correspondent for West Virginia’s Nexstar stations until his retirement in December 2024 after 38 years in broadcasting around the country.
• Bill Cornwell is a veteran reporter and radio personality known for his work at Kindred Communications, WDGG, WXBW and many other stations.
• Williard Earle is being honored after 65 years in broadcasting. He is the current owner and operator of WELD AM and FM in Fisher, West Virginia.
• Richard “Dick” Martin is the owner and operator of several radio stations in the Huntington area.
• Al Martine is the former general manager and owner of WWNR in Beckley.
• Jim Little is a former deejay at WCAW and WKAZ in Charleston.

The West Virginia Broadcasting Hall of Fame was created to recognize exceptional broadcasters throughout the Mountain State who have “brought great honor to the state or contributed to its cultural heritage by entertaining, informing or otherwise enhancing the means of broadcasting.”

Those inducted will join the likes of WOWK 13 News’ Spencer Adkins, Rick Johnson and the late Jack Kane. Some famous names also in the HOF include such as Bob Denver, Don Knotts, Little Jimmy Dickens, Peter Marshall and Chuck Woolery.

To see a full list of previous inductees, click here, and if you want to check out the Hall of Fame exhibit, you can go to the Museum of Radio and Technology at 1640 Florence Avenue in Huntington.