WBA Hall of Famer and creative radio pioneer Bill Vancil died Jan. 3 after a long illness. He was 82.
Vancil grew up in Kewanee, Illinois. While attending Wesleyan University, he hit the air at KSTT, Davenport, Iowa in the early 60’s. Ken Draper, KSTT PD would be programming WCFL, Chicago a few years later. When Draper left, Vancil became PD and among his hires was rising radio star Bobby Rich.
In 1969, Vancil left Davenport for a job with Mid-West in Madison, to program WISM-FM, then an automated easy listening station. He soon created an innovative AC format “Movin’Easy 98FM.” A few years later he was PD of both Top 40 WISM/1480 and AC WISM-FM. WISM/1480 had been a market leader since its flip to Top 40 in 1960. A busy voiceover talent as well as a skilled artist and designer, Vancil created a fresh new station logo, and each year he designed a custom WISM T-shirt. He was director/organizer of the annual WISM Frisbee Fly-in and he was coach of the WISM Wizards basketball team.
In 1981, he guided the transition of WISM/1480 from Top 40 to News-Talk WTDY. Two years later, Vancil along with Audience Development Group consultant Tim Moore, and air talent and PD Pat O’Neill, created a spirited, very community involved AC station Magic 98 to replace WISM-FM. It was an instant success scoring No. 1 25-54 women in its first book. This Vancil, Moore, O’Neill’s creation became a model for successful AC radio in the US. O’Neill, who was PD and hosted the Magic 98 Morning Show for 30 years considered Vancil “an AC Adult Contemporary visionary.” In the 1990s, Vancil co-founded and served as president of the Madison Area Radio Association. He retired from Mid-West as executive VP and Madison GM in 2002.
Jonathan Little, close friend and 70’s WISM personality, described Vancil in this way, “He’s a renaissance man, who is really talented in so many areas.” Upon retirement, Vancil focused on writing, painting, and photography – his three major interests. His first book Don’t Fear the Big Dogs (2005) told the story of the journey he made to find a cure for his prostate cancer. Following his cure, he served on the Advisory Council of Loma Linda University Proton Treatment Center. After two liver transplants, which involved three months in the hospital, he developed an opiate dependency. Vancil described his journey from dependency to withdrawal in his second book Almost An Addict. In support of his books, Vancil did countless radio and TV interviews and he counselled 100’s of people diagnosed with cancer and oxycodone dependency. Friends and the people who benefited from his counselling said he saved many lives.
Vancil had unique talent as a graphic designer. He created logos for nearly all Mid-West Family stations over his years there. He created logos for The Train, The Fast Train, and Cowboy Singers and Poets, three formats Little programs for AccuRadio. In the last decade Vancil became a website developer and he authored a blog called Brain Showers, using his trademark wit and humor to expand and comment on “stuff I find interesting.” After his move to Tucson, Vancil reunited with Bobby Rich and became graphic designer for The Drive (KDRI).
Vancil is survived by his partner of 25 years Andrea “Andy” Byk and best friend Lee Fischl. He is also survived by his son Lou, who will host a celebration of Bill’s life this spring in Madison.
Vancil was inducted into the WBA Hall of Fame in 2013.
