Indiana County Radio Mainstay retires

Chuck Clark will call it a career this Friday after 49 years in broadcasting.

Clark, also known legally as Charles Sturiale, started his career in 1973 at WSGB in Sutton, West Virginia.  He had initially applied to WPME (now WECZ) in Punxsutawney, but was told by then-owner Charlie Erhard that he would have to get more experience.  Erhard, who also owned WSGB, placed Clark there for his first radio job.

Clark, 68, then moved on to WBZY (now WJST) in New Castle, and then at WDAD in 1976.  He left WDAD in 2000 for WCCS in Homer City.  Current owner Renda Broadcasting acquired WCCS in 2002, then acquired WLCY and then finally WDAD and its sister FM WQMU, reuniting Clark with WDAD.  

Clark took his on-air surname from legendary Pittsburgh radio personality Clark Race, according to Ken Hawk, whom Clark hired for WDAD in 1989.

“We covered the 2003 Groundhog Day festivities in Punxsutawney,” Hawk remembered.  “We were at Gobbler’s Knob and then went to breakfast afterwards, then headed back to WCCS.  Chuck fell asleep in the Jeep while I was driving.  He slumped over to my side at one point, practically on top of me, and I shoved him back over to his side.  I almost missed a turn and came close to putting us in a ditch.”

Clark said he plans to do some traveling and spend more time with his family.  He and his wife Wendy have three grown daughters and a number of grandchildren.