KERCHEVAL

CHARLESTON – Hoppy Kercheval, described as a dean of broadcasters in West Virginia and the longtime host of WV MetroNews “Talkline,” is stepping away from his signature radio show beginning after the new year while taking a lesser role in the company that made him a statewide name.

Speaking at the end of the final hour of “Talkline” Wednesday morning, Kercheval said he will retire from the show, with his final show being Jan. 3.

“It was my decision. I know that it was not an easy decision, one I’ve thought about for a long time,” Kercheval said. “I want to thank all of you. I want to thank all of you for tuning in, for listening, for participating, for having the debate and the discussion all these years.”

While retiring from the show, Kercheval said he will continue to publish a weekly commentary and make occasional appearances on “Talkline,” as well as other behind-the-scenes duties with MetroNews’ news and sports departments. Kercheval will still co-host the “3 Guys Before the Game” podcast with WVU play-by-play announcer Tony Caridi and Citynet Statewide Sportsline co-host Brad Howe.

“With this announcement, Hoppy has decided to reduce his role at WVRC Media and Talkline,” said George Pelletier, president and chief executive for WVRC Media, in a statement Wednesday.

“He has been a fixture in West Virginia’s media for 49 years. His commitment to doing things right as well as his uncanny ability to ask the important questions, is what makes him and Talkline so trusted and popular.”

On his show, Kercheval said he will turn 70 in February and felt that the time had come for him to take a step back and allow a new generation of broadcasters to step up.

“I’ve thought about this for a long, long time and I feel like I could keep going … but those of you who have retired and some of you I’ve talked to about it say you know when it’s time, and I think I know,” Kercheval said. “I can’t say with certainty that I know, but I feel like it is. I feel like it is time and there’s some other things I want to do.”

Beginning Jan. 6, “Talkline” will be co-hosted by Dave Wilson, the current host of WAJR’s “Talk of the Town” and MetroNews’ Marshall University sports anchor who has filled in for Kercheval before. Wilson will co-anchor the show from Morgantown. T.J. Meadows, a former director of federal policy for American Electric Power who has guest-hosted “Talkline” in the past, will co-anchor the show from the WCHS Network studios in Charleston.

“Although Dave and T.J. will be new to hosting Talkline on a daily basis, both have had extensive experience with the show,” Pelletier said. “We are excited to have two seasoned veterans to assist us in the next chapter of Talkline.”

“I have complete confidence in Dave Wilson and T.J. Meadows,” Kercheval said on Wednesday’s show. “I know them both well. Again, Dave has subbed for me for a long time. T.J. has done some subbing for me. They were both on here last week and I have complete confidence in them and it’s going to be healthy to hear some other voices. My gosh, you’ve been hearing me if you’ve stuck around for a long time and I’m sure after a while it gets a little bit repetitive.”

Kercheval — a native of Jefferson County, W.Va. — has been with West Virginia Radio Corp., now known as WVRC Media, since he was hired as a part-time DJ in 1976. Working at the company’s flagship station at WAJR AM-FM in Morgantown, Kercheval transitioned to anchoring news on the station and anchoring broadcasts. After graduating from West Virginia University, he became news director for the station.

Listed as a founding father of WV MetroNews, Kercheval served as its news director before becoming vice president of operations in the early 1990s. Kercheval created Talkline in 1993, originally co-hosting the show with the late Charleston Gazette-Mail Executive Editor Don Marsh. Since then, “Talkline” has been where local, state, and national politicians and leaders have gone, with Kercheval breaking many news stories during his career.

“I haven’t always practiced, but I’ve always believed that hearing other voices is important,” Kercheval said. “It’s important to our process of learning and making decisions and figuring out what we think about certain things.”

Kercheval expressed thanks to John Raese, the president and CEO of Greer Industries which is the parent company for WVRC Media, and Dale Miller, the now-retired president and CEO of WVRC media. But Kercheval saved most of his praise for those who have listened to him over nearly 50 years.

“Suffice to say that I will miss you all. And I really, really, really appreciate all the people who’ve come on this program and interacted with me and listened,” Kercheval said in closing. “It’s meant more to me than you could imagine. You’ve given me a blessed career.”