A local radio legend, Michael “Mike” McDougald, passed away on Friday at the age of 90.

McDougald owned WRGA and Q102 before selling out to Southern Broadcasting in the early 2000’s.

Mike is a native Georgian born in 1931 in Statesboro.  He began is radio career during World War II in WWNS in Statesboro.

He later attended Emory University, graduating in 1952 from (then) Emory School of Journalism with BA degree majoring in Radio and Television.  While enrolled at Emory he went to work for WSB radio.

McDougald entered the United States Army during the Korean War and graduated from the Counter-Intelligence Corps School in Baltimore, Maryland.

Upon his return home from service, Mike went to the University of Georgia where he worked toward a Master’s Degree from the Henry W. Grady School of Journalism.  While there he worked for WRFC in Athens.  During this time, Elmo Ellis urged him to return to his job at WSB in Atlanta.

While at WSB he became the first person to broadcast from the White Columns on Peachtree. For several years, he was the “morning wake-up” personality.

Most remember Mike’s time on WRGA as the morning “wake-up host” on WRGA, with one of his most famous “alter ego’s” Grady Frisbee.

During his time owning WRGA/WQTU as well as WCHK in Canton his stations won two Marconi awards from the NAB for Radio Station of the Year.

Mike was also honored with the Crystal Awards from the NAB for Radio Station of the Year and Radio Personality of the Year.  He was also awarded the Crystal Award, given to only seven radio stations a year.

McDougald also served two terms as Vice Chairman of the Georgia Public Telecommunications Commission and Chairman of the Foundation for Public Broadcasting in Georgia.

McDougald was actively involved in politics for many years, working with many candidates within the Republican Party.

He was also Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Advertising Dynamics, Inc., a full-service advertising and marketing agency founded by his wife Leeta in 1977.

The Georgia Radio Hall of Fame contributed to this story.