At the end of last week, Mark Mason departed iHeartMedia Talk 1190 KEX Portland, OR for the second time in 27 years. From 1995 to 2013, Mason co-hosted the afternoon program with the late Dave Anderson.
After Anderson’s passing in 2016, Mason left KEX a few months later but returned in January 2017 to host from 12-3 pm. Along with his radio work, Mason has been the public address announcer for the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers since 1996.
News Radio 1190 KEX expressed its gratitude for Mason’s contributions in a statement shared on its Facebook page.
“Mark Mason, the iconic broadcaster, has wrapped up his almost 30 years here at 1190 KEX. For all these years, he has entertained, informed, shared his thoughts, opinions, stories and has been the voice of reason through the ups and downs of life here in Portland, across the country, and around the world,” the statement read. “If you missed Mark’s farewell address, click the link below to listen. Thank you, Mark, for all those years of entertainment both on the air and in the hallways at 1190 KEX. We’ll miss you!”
KEX has replaced Mason’s show with the Glenn Beck Show, leaving no local programming on the weekday schedule.
“I’ll miss the people that I’ve worked with, some for as long as I’ve been at KEX,” Mason said in an emotional goodbye. “Every day, I saw their faces, soaked in their creativity, relied on their professionalism, and enjoyed their smiles. We shared stories, laughs, tears, and jokes just like a family, and it never got old. Everyone worked hard to keep this show at the top of the heap, and we did pretty well for three decades. Not every day a radio show gets to sign off as I did. Thank you, KEX, for allowing this extraordinary moment to say goodbye.”
1190 KEX radio without Mark Mason is now just ultra conservative! I will be deleting from my phone home and radio. So sad.