Arrangements for "Uncle" Fred Horton have been set for this Saturday, March 15, at 1pm, at Calvary Chapel in Liverpool [Google Map]. Horton, whose career included stops at WSEN, WYYY and WRUN, died March 4th in Erie, Pennsylvania. His obituary appeared in today's Syracuse Post-Standard.
Horton most recently worked at WXTA, a Citadel-owned country station in Erie. A newspaper columnist there remembered Horton's knack for making up "witty lyrics about local people and turned them into popular songs, such as 'The 12 Days of Rick Filippi,'" a former Erie mayor.
A tribite website about WDRC, a Hartford station where Horton worked as PD in the early 80s, says Horton got his start in radio at the age of 16. After graduating from Onondaga Community College, he worked as a record promoter for awhile, before returning to radio. The site also mentions Horton had been battling cancer.
Earlier this week, we reported Horton's family has established a memorial fund to cover medical expenses. Here's that information again. If you wish to donate, make your checks payable to “Elaine Horton for the Benefit of Frederick C. Horton III” and send them to:
Elaine Horton
436 Park Ave. 2W
Syracuse, NY 13204
This week's NorthEast Radio Watch by Scott Fybush has a much more extensive write-up on Horton's long career.
Fred was one of the best people I've ever worked for. I will miss him a great deal, as will most radio professionals in the area.