Fred Honsberger, KDKA talk show host, dies at 58

My condolences to the family, friends and listeners of Pittsburgh-area radio legend Fred Honsberger on his untimely death today.

I was a guest on Hornsberger's radio program a few years ago. He was a gracious host and asked a lot of insightful questions about state and national issues.

From an article in today's edition of The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

Longtime KDKA-Radio newsman and talk show host Fred Honsberger died at his Monroeville home this morning, the station said.

Honsberger, 58, joined KDKA in 1979 as a reporter after working as a news anchor at KYW-Radio in his hometown of Philadelphia. He also served as news director at WKBO Radio in Harrisburg, and was operations director at WRSC/WQWK in State College.

Honsberger was KDKA's news director for several years before becoming a talk show host for the station. He had been hosting the noon to 3 p.m. time slot since early January.

"Fred truly loved the Pittsburgh area, the KDKA listeners and his colleagues at the station," said Michael Young, senior vice president and market manager for CBS Radio in Pittsburgh. "His immense passion and the enjoyment and pride he took in preparing and producing his shows will be greatly missed. Fred's family has the station's deepest sympathies during this difficult period."

Read the full story at the newspaper's Web site.