Missoula's Gene Peterson To Be Inducted Into Montana Broadcaster's Hall of Fame

After a radio career of over 50 years, he was a DJ, sportscaster, general manager and radio station owner. Now Missoula's Gene Peterson is being inducted into the Montana Broadcaster's Association Hall of Fame.

In Missoula, Peterson owned and operated KYLT AM and FM, which later became KZOQ Z-100, with the late Bill Holter through Scottie Broadcasting.

Montana Broadcaster's Association President and CEO Dewey Bruce said the induction ceremony will be Saturday night, June 13 at the MBA convention to be held at the Huntley Lodge at the Big Sky Resort.

"Gene Peterson is very well known, not only in Missoula, but throughout Montana," Bruce said. "This is an honor that is long overdue for Gene and all the work he has done in Missoula and throughout the state, and we're very, very honored to be presenting this award to Gene."

Bruce said Peterson's name will be added to a prestigious list of individuals from both radio and television in Montana.

"We have a hall of fame at UM, as well as at MSU in which are photos and descriptions of each of the Hall of Fame members. Usually, there's a current photo of the inductee, as well as an action shot of them when they were actually on the air, or at their broadcasting job. I'm looking at Gene's photo right now from about 30 or 40 years ago, while he was on the air."

Peterson is a past president of the Grizzly Athletic Association, and helped to create the Grizzly Sports Network, bringing Grizzly football and men's basketball games to radio stations all over the state.

Peterson, who still lives in Missoula and his wife Rose, and their daughters Kim and Pam and their families will be at Big Sky for the induction ceremony.

Some of the Montana Broadcaster's Hall of Fame members include Chet Huntley, Conrad Burns, Norma Ashby, Cato Butler, Brent Musberger, (Peterson's late partner ) Bill Holter, Stan Stephens, Dale Moore, Sr., Art Mosby and Vi Thompson.

And,...on a personal note, Gene Peterson is the best boss I've ever had.