The KAB is excited and proud to announce our Hall of Fame inductees, class of 2025! The Hall of Fame Award is the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the KAB. Recipients of the KAB Hall of Fame Award are individuals who have attained positions of national prominence in the industry or its allied fields, have been major contributors to the growth and welfare of radio and television in Kansas or nationally, and have been exemplary stewards of broadcasting.
Join KAB in honoring these individuals at the KAB Hall of Fame Awards Dinner in Manhattan on October 5. Register for the dinner here.
2025 Hall of Fame Inductees:
Rich Epp, Colby
Broadcasting began in his early years, growing up in Mingo and Colby, Kansas. He graduated from Berean Academy in 1969 before attending Colby Community College from 1969 to 1971, where he studied broadcast journalism. His professional career kicked off at KLOE Radio and TV in Goodland, Kansas, where he started as a sports director in 1971. From there, Rich moved on to become the voice of University of Illinois football and basketball at WITY Radio in Danville, Illinois, from 1977 to 1979. However, his love for Kansas brought him back in 1979, where he rejoined KLOE Radio and TV, focusing on both sports broadcasting and sales until 1987.
Rich then took a managerial position at KCOW Radio, a Kansas-owned Eagle Communications station in Alliance, Nebraska, before serving as local sales manager for KTPK-FM Radio in Topeka, Kansas, from 1991 to 1993. He returned to Colby in 1993 to manage sales at KLBY-TV and continued broadcasting play-by-play for KLOE Radio and KQLS-FM during this time. In 2002, Rich stepped away from sales at KLBY-TV due to health reasons but continued his passion for sports by broadcasting local high school and college sports events in Colby.
In 2009, Rich and his wife, Judy, founded Open Spaces Sports, one of Kansas’s first live-streaming companies, covering high school athletic events. In Rich’s 54-year career, he won several awards: the Oscar Stouffer Sports Broadcaster, the Hod Humiston Award, KIAAA Sportscaster of the Year, and Kansas Wrestling Coaches Media of the Year. Today, Rich and Judy Epp’s legacy in broadcasting continues as they employ 17 people and cover up to 30 schools in northwest Kansas. Rich and Judy have five children, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. They live in Colby, Kansas, where their family remains deeply involved in their church, community, and the broadcasting world.
Roger Brokke, Topeka
Roger Brokke enjoyed a distinguished career in media, beginning with broadcast sales at South Dakota and North Dakota Radio stations. He had sales and sales management positions at Knight Ridder newspapers in several states before joining the Topeka Capital-Journal as Advertising Director.
Brokke joined WIBW in sales and quickly advanced to General Sales Manager, where he spent decades with WIBW-TV/Gray Media, ultimately retiring in late 2024 as Vice President, General Manager and Director of Sales.
Throughout his career, Roger was recognized for his strong leadership, dedication to journalism, and commitment to advancing the broadcasting industry, including his service on the Kansas Broadcasters Association Executive Committee. WIBW won 11 consecutive KAB Station of the Year, two Tony Jewel Community Service Awards, NAB Service to America Award and numerous other awards under his leadership.
Beyond his professional achievements, he has been an active community leader, contributing his time and talents to local organizations, civic boards, and service initiatives. His integrity, vision, and community spirit have left a lasting impact both within the industry and across Kansas.
Ron Thomas, Emporia
Ron Thomas has dedicated more than three decades to broadcasting in Emporia, Kansas, where he has served as General Manager and longtime morning show host. After studying at Montana State University and the May School of Broadcasting, Ron began his career in sports broadcasting with play-by-play roles across Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, and Iowa. In 1986, he joined KVOE as Program Director and news reporter, later becoming Morning Show Host, and eventually General Manager in 2011. Even while overseeing station operations, he continues to anchor the “Live and Local Morning Show,” where he interviews community leaders and highlights local events
Under his leadership, KVOE has thrived in both service and recognition. The station earned the NAB Crystal Radio Award for excellence in community service, and Ron himself was named a finalist for the NAB Marconi Radio Personality of the Year. He has also been deeply engaged with the Kansas Association of Broadcasters, serving on the Board of Directors and as Chairman in 2017. Beyond broadcasting, Ron’s voice and leadership have become a fixture in Emporia through emceeing countless community events, chairing the Emporia Chamber of Commerce and United Way of the Flint Hills, and supporting causes such as Special Olympics through initiatives like “Ron’s Ride,” which has raised more than $50,000
A recipient of numerous civic honors, including the Salvation Army’s Outstanding Service Award, Emporia Mainstreet Volunteer of the Year, and the Emporia State Service Citation, Ron Thomas embodies the spirit of local broadcasting. His career reflects not only excellence on the airwaves but also a lifelong commitment to community service, making him a true pillar of Kansas broadcasting.
