Ron O'Quinn

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Publicity Photo 1966

Ron O'Quinn is a hall of fame radio disc jockey born March 4, 1943 in McRae, Georgia.

At the age of 16, Ron began his radio career at WMGA, a small station in his hometown of Moultrie, Georgia, where he worked at the time of his graduation from Moultrie High School in 1961. Shortly thereafter, Ron joined the Army, where he became a machine gunner as an Army Ranger. In 1963, after finishing his time in the Army, Ron jumped right back into radio with a move to WVLD in Valdosta, Georgia, then on to WROD in Daytona Beach, Florida, before ending up at WLCY in Tampa, Florida, where he went by the moniker Jack E. Rabbitt. While on WLCY, Ron had the highest rankings ever earned in the Tampa market...a 60% share (Arbitron, released Summer 1966)...a record that still stands today. Moving on to Miami, Ron went to work for WFUN[1], where he became known as Jack Armstrong.

In 1966, Ron left WFUN to become Program Director of a new offshore pirate radio station, Swinging Radio England, that was located off the coast of England in the North Sea.

Ron's Beatles' Touring Pass

During his time at Radio England, Ron accompanied The Beatles on their 1966 U.S. Tour. Upon returning back to England following the tour, Ron was told he had 3 weeks to get his affairs in order and return to America, unless he left the employ of Radio England, in which case he could remain (due to the British government imposing restrictions against offshore pirate radio). Knowing that he couldn't remain in the UK jobless, Ron left Radio England and returned to the United States.

Ron at Radio England, 1966

After returning home to America, Ron worked for many top-rated stations, including WYLD in New Orleans, KYA in San Francisco[2] & WUBE in Cincinnati, as well as being National Program Director of Urban Stations for Rounsaville Organization, an Atlanta based company.

In early 1971 Ron became the manager of WSIZ in Ocilla, Georgia where he stayed until 1976. In 1987, after being out of radio for a several years, Ron started a syndicated oldies show, Rock and Roll Reunion, which was carried on 88 stations across the country. He also hosted a weekly oldies show, Memories Unlimited, on WQZY-FM and WKKZ-FM in Dublin, Georgia until 2001.

Promotional mailer from WFUN

Ron and John Lennon

Rock & Roll Reunion radio show album, 1989

Ron is regarded as one of the "BEST ALL TIME Disc Jockeys". His style was high energy, rapid fire, and always the top rated program in his time slot. Ron is a member of the Pirate Radio Hall of Fame, and is an inaugural nominee for the Georgia Radio Hall Of Fame.

Ron is now retired and lives with his wife in Glenwood, Georgia.