Gene Burns Memorial Award for Freedom of Speech
| Gene Burns | |
|---|---|
Radio talkshow host Gene Burns doing a remote from Napa California for Dining Around with Gene Burns in March 2006.
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| Born |
December 3, 1940 Hornell, New York |
| Died | May 25, 2013 (aged 72) San Francisco, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Radio host |
| Known for | Political and social commentary; Food and wine expert |
Gene Burns (December 3, 1940 – May 25, 2013) was an American talk radio host. He hosted Dining Around with Gene Burns, a wine and cheese program, which aired Saturdays on NewsTalk 810 AM in San Francisco. He was originally also scheduled to host The Gene Burns Program, a political and social commentary show, that was to air weekday afternoons on NewsTalk 810; but that time slot was taken over by Gil Gross.
He had previously broadcast both shows on KGO in San Francisco. On December 1, 2011, it was announced he was among the hosts cut by KGO as it shifted to more of a news format. Burns was scheduled to continue his shows on the radio station KKSF 910 AM on January 3, 2012. Instead, fill-in hosts took his place as he recovered from an unknown illness. On April 3, 2012, Burns disclosed on his KKSF blog that he was recovering from a stroke that had resulted in aphasia. The time slot for the Gene Burns program has been taken over by the Gil Gross show.
Burns worked in several different major markets throughout his broadcasting career. In addition to San Francisco, he also hosted radio programs in Baltimore, Boston, New York City, Orlando and Philadelphia.
Burns was born and raised in Hornell, New York. Following high school graduation, he attended Rutgers University before becoming involved in the local politics of Hornell, serving as chairman of a young citizens committee.
In his early twenties, Burns was hired as news director for radio station WWHG in his hometown of Hornell, New York before moving on to WSBA in York, Pennsylvania. He began his career as talk radio host at WCBM in Baltimore in the mid-1960s. While at WCBM, Burns did two major international assignments, going to Vietnam in 1968 and the Middle East in 1969.
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