Seven To Country Radio Hall: Westwood One's Tim Closson, Beasley/Tampa's Charlie Ochs and Buck Owens Production's Mel Owens in the Radio category, and Local Radio Networks' Joe Wade Formicola, WYCD/Detroit's Linda Lee, WRNS/Greenville, NC's Jim Mantel, and KUAD/Ft. Collins, CO's Good Morning Guys – Brian Gary, Todd Harding and Susan Moore (On-Air category), are the next inductees into the Country Radio Hall of Fame. Recognized during CRS 2017 Opening Ceremonies this afternoon, these seven honorees will be celebrated and inducted later this year.

Closson is best known for a 15-year run at WUBE/Cincinnati, as well as serving as Chancellor VP/Programming. His programming and on-air stops also include KHAK/Cedar Rapids, IA and WAXX/Eau Claire, WI, helping both to CMA Station of the Year honors.

Ochs' career began in 1962 and his many stops have included on-air and programming at KNIX/Phoenix and KIKK/Houston, VP/GM positions at WQYK/Tampa and WMZQ/Washington, SVP for CBS/Radio Tampa and his own consultancy.

Owens started at KUZZ/Bakersfield as a sales executive in 1971 and went on to serve as Sales Manager, Station Manager and multiple roles at Buck Owens Production Company. He contributed to KUZZ's position as one of the most-honored stations in the format.

Formicola hosted mornings on WWWW/Detroit from 1987-1995 and was named CMA Personality of the Year in 1988. His show was syndicated by Westwood One from 2010-2015 and his career stops also included programming KENR/Houston and serving as OM/PD at WKIX/Raleigh.

Lee was named ACM Major Market Personality of the Year with partner Rob Stone this morning. Her 21-year career has been spent exclusively in Detroit Country radio, with one year at WWWW interspersed in a lengthy run at WYCD. The latter included on-air work with fellow inductee Formicola.

Mantel's 35 years in the format began in Texas at KNFM/Odessa and moving on to KRYS/Corpus Christi and KKBQ/Houston. He handled mornings at WGAR/Cleveland from 1992-2010, earning CMA Personality of the Year in 1993.

KUAD/Ft. Collins, CO's Good Morning Guys – Brian Gary, Todd Harding and Susan Moore – have won multiple CMA and NAB personality awards. Gary and Harding have anchored the show since 1988 with Moore joining in 2000. Their "28 Hours of Hope" fundraiser has collected more than $1 million for local charities.