Kennedy To Retire: As reported earlier via Twitter and Facebook, Country Radio Hall Of Famer, Steel City/Kansas City VP/Programming & Operations and KBEQ PD Mike Kennedy will retire at the end of 2016 after 40 years in radio, though he'll continue as a consultant to KBEQ. "I am very honored to call Mike a colleague, mentor and a friend and am very sad to see this change," VP/GM Marc Harrell tells Country Aircheck. "No one has earned or deserves this professional progression more than Mike. His dedication to his role, his team, this cluster and the country music industry as a whole is second to none, and his achievements and awards over his 40-year career have been endless. A 'thank you' is simply not enough to honor this legend in the music industry."

Adds Kennedy, "I could not have imagined back in 1976 that I'd be in radio today and having spent more than 25 years at KBEQ. What an honor to work with the talent I've been with – and most of them are still with me! We have prided ourselves on supporting and breaking new music and have never wavered from that. I would not have been here this long without the blessings of John Lynch, CBS Radio, Jeff Wilks and Steel City. Each let us do our thing and thank goodness it's worked  since 1993. Love to Steel City and my suit boss Marc for allowing me to be a part of this great team."

Kennedy began his career while still in high school in 1976 at KVOE/Emporia, KS, becoming a station owner in 1984 with the purchase of WFXI/Haines City, FL. He joined KBEQ in 1991 and led the station's flip to Country from Top 40 two years later. Until stepping down after 14 years last September, he also hosted mornings (CAT 9/4/15). Kennedy was inducted into the Country Radio Hall Of Fame last February (CAT 2/25/15) and can be reached here. He will assist in the search for his successor, which is underway here.