In the 1970s and 1980s, two new radio hosts joined the airwaves in Marion: Mary Ann Michaels and Bob Bender.
Mary Ann Michaels had lived in Marion since the 1950s. She worked as a teacher in Marion and hosted several programs on community antenna television before being hired by a Dayton television station.
Michaels worked at WCMH-NBC 4 in Columbus for seven years. Michaels joined WMRN radio in 1981. Michaels created the Morning Magazine show which ran on WMRN for more than 30 years. She was that station’s first and only female news director.
“She had a sense of humor, was a great interviewer, did her homework and always was prepared,” said Scott Spears, program director of WGH Talk. “When Mary Ann walked in a room, you knew she was somebody.”
Michaels made trips to Israel, interviewed celebrities, psychics, gardeners and mechanics. Her colleagues from Columbus TV including Jimmy Crum, Doug Adair, Mona Scott, and Jym Ganahl regularly made the trip to Marion to be on her show.
Mary Ann Michaels: Expansive Career
Michaels tackled serious subjects like suicide and heart failure. She worked at WOSU radio and WSYX-ABC 6. In 2009, Michaels started The Exchange Club radio show with Scott Spears and Charlie Evers on WMRN, which continues today on Fridays at noon on WGH Talk.
In 2014, Michaels joined WGH where she started The Exchange Club radio show with Scott Spears and Charlie Evers which remains on air today on Fridays at noon on WGH Talk.
“Mary Ann was without doubt a pioneer for women and men in broadcasting. Personally, she was always fun to work with. She was a class act in every way. She was a great broadcaster and a good friend,” Spears said.
Michaels won two Associated Press Awards for excellence. Michaels, whose legal name was Mary Ann Stolarczyk, died at age 88 in 2024.
Bob Bender: WDIF Journalist
Bob Bender worked for WDIF radio from 1975 to 1986. Bender took WDIF news reporting to the next level.
“Bob was a consummate news man who always went after the story. Bob interviewed politicians and former presidents. He always went and did what he had to do to get the story. He always made sure he had the facts, and showed no bias. He made WDIF news very competitive with WMRN news. He was the definition of professionalism,” Spears said.
Legends Interviewed Together
On December 21, 2007, legendary broadcasters Madge Cooper, Mary Ann Michaels, Charlie Evers, Bob Bender, Joe Ionno, and many others gathered at WMRN to celebrate the 67th anniversary of the station during an on air special. It would be the last time they would all be together. Scott Spears, the host of the program, asked what WMRN had meant to each person’s life.
Madge Cooper, whom Mary Ann Michaels referred to as Marion’s “Grand Dame of Broadcasting,” answered, “You won’t be a millionaire, but it’s the best job in the world.”
The room cheered and clapped because that was the truth for all of them. Spears pointed out that these broadcasters were who Marion turned to for reliable information, from neighborhood news to international events. The radio director recalls that these professionals were the same on air as they were in the grocery store.
“They loved Marion. They always pushed to learn from the past, be in the present and be hopeful for the future. They made Marion a better place, and they were all loved by their audiences. There will never be a group like them again. They were singular and I miss working with them all,” Spears said.
MarionMade! is a program of Marion Technical College.
