Chronicle: Veteran broadcaster John Pirkle passed Feb. 17. He was 86. Pirkle started as a Top 40 personality, first in Athens, TN and later in Knoxville. He moved into ownership when he signed on Top 40 WOKI/Knoxville in 1974. In 1993 he flipped the station to Country as the first major FM challenger to WIVK. He leased, and later sold, WOKI to WIVK's owners in 1997, though he retained ownership of other stations in the Knoxville area. Pirkle also served on the board of the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame. A graveside service will be held Feb. 24 at 3pm at Norris Memorial Gardens in Andersonville, TN.