Past WHAV Stars Relate Humorous Tales and Lessons Learned

Gary LaPierre, who began his career at WHAV in 1961, said he learned a valuable news reporting lesson at WHAV.

mark_watsonThirteen former WHAV personalities, who went on to make their marks in regional and national broadcasting, gathered in Haverhill last night for WHAV’s historic “Reunion of the Radio Stars.”

Gary LaPierre, longtime WBZ morning news anchor, told the audience how he learned the hard way at WHAV about a reporter’s most valuable lessons—checking one’s sources.

“This guy calls me one morning and gave me this man’s obituary and I’m writing notes feverishly, took down the information and I got my first lesson on checking your sources. Some poor schmuck was sitting at the local diner having his breakfast and I’m reading his obituary,” LaPierre recalled. WHAV was his first radio job, but his local career lasted only two months because of the incident.

LaPierre was joined during the fundraiser by, alphabetically, Paul Bellefeuille, Michael Burns, Joe Clementi, Joanne Doody, Patricia Johnson, John Katsaros, Marc Lemay, Dave “Mack” Macaulay, Bill “Maxwell” Macek, Eddie McGee, Rick O’Shey and Mark Watson.

Watson, who worked at WHAV from 1984 to 1987, related a humorous story about Bill Pike covering a football game in Dracut in 1985. When audio connection could not be established, Pike improvised.

“The referees are sitting out there. He takes the phone—it has a long enough cord—he goes into the bathroom, he sits down on the seat. He gets the cue from Brian Webster, who’s running the board back at the station. Bill Pike says, ‘Here I am reporting live sitting on the toilet seat in the locker-room at Dracut High School,’” Watson remembered to howls of laughter from the audience.

Joe Clementi, who worked at WHAV before joining WHDH, discusses the crew at the station. John Katsaros, who announced football games, listens behind.

Joe Clementi, who worked at WHAV before joining WHDH, discusses the crew at the station. John Katsaros, who announced football games, listens behind.

Joe Clementi, who went on to a long career in news at WHDH radio, Boston, remembered the crew at WHAV in 1960.

“Pat was with us, her husband Ed Johnson, Bob Clinkscale—just a really fine group of people. We had a wonderful time. I loved the city,” Clementi said.

The stories were told during a segment of the program hosted by Marc Lemay, a former WHAV news director who is still heard on the station today as the voice between programs.

“Reunion of the Radio Stars” was a fundraiser to place non-profit WHAV’s new FM station on the air at 97.9. More stories will be heard when WHAV broadcasts a recording of the event at a future date. Others who wish to contribute to WHAV’s “Make Waves” campaign may visit https://www.gofundme.com/mjp130.

Joanne Doody began her career at WHAV in 1978.

Joanne Doody began her career at WHAV in 1978.

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