UTICA/ROME -- Dick Nellis, who worked at a number of Mohawk Valley stations including WLFH, WADR, WALY and WUTQ, has passed away. Nellis, who also worked at stations in the Hudson Valley region south of Albany, was 70.
CNYRadio.com reader Mark Fuller, who informed us of Nellis' passing, recalls Nellis starting at WLFH in Little Falls sometime in the 1950s. Fuller recalls Nellis then "moved on to WALY/Herkimer, WONG/Oneida, WBVM/Utica," and later to the Hudson Valley.
According to a January 1971 article in Billboard, archived on Google Books, Nellis eventually left WCKL/Catskill to return to the Utica/Rome market for a job at WADR/Remsen.
Fuller also tells us he remembers Nellis "started a television station on cable in the 1970's that was seen on Valley Cable Network. Dick loved radio and country music."
An obituary published by the Little Falls Times on Monday says Nellis' final job on-air was for the former WYUT/Herkimer. (Although it doesn't say when Nellis left the station, WYUT changed to WXUR in 1994.) Funeral arrangements will be held at the convenience of the family.
The family requests any gifts in memory of Dick Nellis be directed to the American Lung Association. Although the funeral services are not public, the Chapman-Moser Funeral Home on Ann Street in Little Falls has donation envelopes available.
Our condolences to the family, friends and former colleagues of Dick Nellis.