November 7, 2024

OTTAWA — Former KOFO chief engineer and country DJ Don Willis has been named to the Kansas Country Music Hall of Fame. He’ll be inducted at the Middle Creek Theater in Louisburg. He joins names like Martina McBride, Little Jimmy Dickens, Johnny Western and Marlena Adkison. Wilson started his radio career in York, Neb., and in 1958, he moved to KOFO, Ottawa, as chief engineer and country DJ. In 1962, he put KOFO-FM on the air, making it the first FM station in Kansas. In 1963, he was invited to be “Mr. Dj U.S.A.” on WSM radio and the Grand Ole Opry. In 1967, he joined WIBW as an engineer and country personality and during his 20 years there he had his own band, “The Country All-Stars.” He moved to St. Joseph, Mo., where he had a country music show and later owned his own FM station. He’s retired.

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