Remembering morning radio host Hank Brown, the 'dean of broadcasters'
Utica’s renowned morning radio host for coffee and toast passed away May 9th in Middlebury, Vt. Hank Brown graduated from a Philadelphia broadcast school in 1957 and headed for WLFH in Little Falls, NY. That was the start of over 55 years as Utica’s “Dean of Broadcasters”.
Later in his career, Hank bought and owned his three hour show. He sold commercials to local advertisers, wrote the copy and did the spots live, embellishing the messages with his gift of entertainment and sincerity. Clients got three minutes for the cost of a sixty second ad. His closing line: “Tell em Hank sent ya” was classic.
In 2004, Bob and I wrote our Christmas song, “Digital Christmas”. We didn’t know Hank but owning his show, we knew he would air our song.
Hank played the song four times a morning every Christmas season. That started an 18 year friendship with this interesting guy.
Hank was a proud Irish Catholic lad from Philly. He grew up on the playgrounds and starred in parochial high school sports. He loved to tell the story of his Mother Superior promising no homework if Notre Dame won on Saturday. The “Fighting Irish” usually did and Notre Dame became Hank’s favorite team for life. He grew up with Wilt “the Stilt” Chamberlain and “Jellybean” Bryant, father of the late NBA legend, Kobe Bryant.
Hank affectionately used a convincing Irish brogue when he told stories about his Mom and police officer Dad, who walked the beat in downtown Philadelphia. He served in Korea with the US Navy.
A gifted raconteur; Hank told stories on and off the air of encounters with “The Greatest”; Ali, Mike Tyson, Utica native, Olympic boxing ref, Tony Filipelli, Carmine Basilio, Willy Mays, footballers, Sid Luckman and Chuck Bednarik plus entertainers, Frank Sinatra, boyhood friend, Al Martino, Patti Page and many more. Hank’s show was a one-two punch: the popular hits of the 1940’s-50’s plus daily doses of wisdom.
Hank Brown created and hosted a weekly live WKTV dance show, “Twist-o-Rama which became the top rated show in its time slot from 1964 to 1968. T-o-R was a local version of Utican Dick Clark’s “American Bandstand” which took the country by storm out of Philadelphia.
He also announced boxing events on ABC’s Wide World of Sports, where he teamed up with sports broadcast legend Howard Cosell. Hank announced the 1966 Olympic Game’s boxing from Atlanta and was inducted into the Greater Utica Sports Hall of Fame plus the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
His most generous effort was the annual Christmas party for needy kids. He rallied local businesses to donate toys, bicycles, food and candy for them and their families.
*We sat in the press box at Cooperstown’s Hall of Fame game, compliments of ABC sports. Each year we received the commemorative pin engraved with the names of each inductee.
Hank’s life was Global sports and show business gigs plus a deep affection for the people of Greater Utica where he chose to work for 55+ years. Hank raised his family in nearby Little Falls.
Our “Dean of Broadcasters” retired in 2013. The Browns moved to the Montclair, NJ area to be closer to their son and grandkids. Hank missed the snowy Mohawk Valley that he daily described as “Colder than a Mother-in-Law’s kiss”. Wherever he went, Hank was recognized. “You’re Hank Brown. I enjoyed your show every morning”. Hank Brown’s Irish blues would glisten and light up warmer than a Mother-in- Law’s smile.
Coffee and toast aren’t the same without ya, Morning Man!
Brothers Bob and Dick Chancia are native Uticans. Bob lives in Detroit. Dick lives in Utica.