Chronicle: Summit EVP/Programming Bill Tanner passed away last night (1/27) at his home in Birmingham, AL. He was 76. Tanner began his career at Top 40 WDJX/Jackson, MS rising to PD before moving to Top 40 WHYI/Miami for PD/mornings in 1974. Soon after, he was named VP/Programming for parent company Heftel. His programming career took him to Washington, D.C.; Los Angeles; Philadelphia; and Birmingham, AL before he launched his own Bill Tanner & Associates consulting firm in 1992. In 2013, Tanner joined Summit as SVP/Programming and was later elevated to his most recent post. His Country oversight included WZZK/Birmingham; WCYQ/Knoxville, TN; WQNU/Louisville, KY; WKK/Richmond, VA; KTTS/Springfield, MO; and KFDI & KFTI-AM/Wichita, KS. “I had the honor of working alongside Bill since the early ’90s from our days together at Heftel Broadcasting,” says CEO Carl Parmer. “His knowledge of the industry and loyalty as a friend continued as we worked to build SummitMedia together. All those who knew Bill came to respect his skills and watch in awe of how he connected with listeners. We will all truly miss him.” Tanner’s career history is available here. Complete obituary and services are pending.

Midwest/Knoxville VP/GM Randy Ross died Jan. 26. He joined then-South Central Communications in 2002 as GSM for the cluster and was named to his most recent post in 2014. Ross’ oversight included Country WDKW. “It would be hard pressed to find anyone who didn’t like Randy,” says Midwest Pres./CEO Duke Wright. “He had a tremendous sense of business, leadership and fairness. Randy was deeply loved by his team in Knoxville and throughout the Midwest Communications group. Words can’t express our sadness.” Ross' prior stops included then-Citadel/Tri Cities, TN; Bloomington/Chattanooga, TN; and more than two years as GSM of Country WUSY/Chattanooga. Local WBIR-TV/Knoxville news reported Ross’ passing last night (1/27) here. Additional details and service arrangements are pending.