BOB FRIEDLE: Bay City Radio Tech Wins Award for Broadcast Engineering
March 8, 2015
By: Dave Rogers
Award-winner Bob Friedle rebuilt most of the area radio stations.
Robert L. Friedle, retired director of engineering, Citadel Broadcasting, Flint, has received the 2015 Carl E. Lee Broadcast Engineering Excellence Award of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters.
"Bob" Friedle is a lifetime resident of Bay City, where he graduated from T. L. Handy high school in 1961.
In 1963 he joined the United States Air Force as an aircraft radar and infrared guided missile systems technician. While serving in Vietnam, Friedle worked for the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service where his interest in electronics and broadcasting emerged.
Friedle is a 44 year broadcast veteran working as chief engineer with for several broadcasting companies within the Flint, Saginaw and Traverse City markets.
In June 1981, Bob Started his own broadcast contracting company, JBL Communications, Inc. which primarily served radio stations in the Central Michigan area. It was during this time that he redesigned and rebuilt most of radio stations in the Tri-City area.
In June 1989, he formed Mid-America Broadcasting, Inc. becoming a station owner with the building of WTCF-FM, "The Tri Cities Fox." After ten years of ownership, Bob sold the station to Liggett Broadcast Group and took on the role of Chief Engineer for the company. Liggett Broadcasting later sold the station to Citadel Broadcasting and Bob became director of engineering.
Throughout his career Bob has been an active member of his community and was a member of the MAB Engineering committee, working closely with the late Larry Estlack on numerous projects.
Mr. Friedle is a member of the National Association of Radio and Television Engineers. He's been married for 40 years to his high school sweetheart, Linda Gallagher Friedle, and together they have raised three sons.
###