Gary Burbank, Legendary 700 WLW Host, Dies at 84

Gary Burbank, renowned radio personality best known for his work on Cincinnati's 700 WLW from 1981 until his retirement in 2007, has died at age 84 after a brief illness. Born Billy Purser, Burbank created numerous memorable on-air characters such as Earl Pitts Uhmerikun, Gilbert Gnarley, and the Right Rev. Deuteronomy Skaggs, which helped him earn widespread acclaim and national syndication for his commentaries until 2021. His show was regionally and nationally syndicated, and he won back-to-back Marconi Awards for Large Market Personality of the Year in 1990 and 1991. Burbank began his career under different on-air names in Louisiana and Mississippi before adopting the Gary Burbank persona in Louisville as a tribute to radio legend Gary Owens. He was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2012, and colleagues, including Bill Cunningham, hailed him as one of the most talented radio hosts of all time. Beyond radio, Burbank also ventured into the restaurant business and was beloved for his creative, humble personality and impact on the medium.