George Walker, long-time classical music host and producer for WFIU, died today. He was 81 years old.
Walker retired from WFIU in July of 2022 after 45 years as a full-time staff member. His time on the radio, though, spanned more than 50 years, beginning in 1967 when he came to Indiana University for a master’s program in teaching English.
“In the first year as a graduate student at IU, someone visited one of my classes to let us know that there were auditions for news announcers at WFIU. I tried out and wound up being hired, not as a news announcer, but as a part-time classical music announcer,” Walker said in an article for WFIU about his retirement in 2022.
Although he completed his graduate degree in teaching, the part-time position he took at WFIU while he was a student led to a long and successful career in radio.
“George was a model of consistency across what might have been a record tenure,” said WFIU/WTIU station operations director John Bailey. “We can’t find any evidence that another daily music host in the history of U.S. broadcasting served one station for longer in that role.”
Throughout his time at WFIU, Walker witnessed how both the station and his job have evolved from their classical music beginnings. He was present for the creation and growth of the NPR network, which wasn’t in existence when he first began working at WFIU as a student.
“For many years, I had the longest (by far) weekday airtime at any NPR station. In those years, the only network program during my 6:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. airtime was Adventures in Good Music with Karl Haas. No NPR news—I took it off the wire or it came from our news staff,” Walker recalled.
His position expanded to covering the arts in south central Indiana, including reviewing hundreds of stage productions and concerts and interviewing performing artists.
“I’ve been fortunate to interview so many creative and talented musicians, dancers, actors, directors, writers, and scholars—from Yo-Yo Ma to Buckminster Fuller, to Twyla Tharp, to Yefim Bronfman, the Canadian Brass, Maya Angelou, and Bill T. Jones. I take great pride in having known the remarkably warm and talented Dave Baker and Josef Gingold (who always called me ‘dear boy’) and knowing Menahem Pressler,” said Walker.
Last month, Indiana Public Broadcasting Stations (IPBS) inducted Walker into the IPBS Hall of Fame, which honors outstanding champions of public media with ties to Indiana and the industry.
“George’s commitment to his craft and to WFIU was truly one-of-a-kind,” said Brad Kimmel, WFIU/WTIU executive director.
Funeral services will take place at 10 a.m. Friday, August 23 at Congregation Beth Shalom. Burial will follow immediately at Valhalla Memory Gardens in the Beth Shalom Cemetery.
