By Joshua Robison / The Jambar
Gary Sexton has been serving the community as a part of the Youngstown State University public radio station, 88.5 FM WYSU, since January 1990. After a long career with WYSU, Sexton will be retiring from his duties as director of broadcasting at the end of the year.
Sexton first began working at WYSU as a program director while Sexton’s mentor, Robert Peterson, served as director of broadcasting. Following Peterson’s death, Sexton became the new director.
WYSU was first established in 1969 to provide educational programs, with specific attention to classical music. Sexton said that since he has been director, he is proud that he’s been able to maintain that custom.
“I’m just very proud of how we have continued that mandate and lived up to that tradition,” Sexton said. “And I feel that it’s been a really valuable service to the community overall.”
Sexton also said that he feels honored to serve the Youngstown community. He believes WYSU’s services have helped make it a better place.
“We help listeners in their lifelong pursuits and help them, you know, live a better life and help our community be a better place. I feel really good about that,” Sexton said. “I mean, it’s been a real honor to be part of — to work somewhere I think is doing valuable work.”
Regardless of all of the challenges that WYSU and Sexton has faced over the years, the radio station has always been able to make it through.
“There was all this doom and gloom that, you know, digital radio, or this or that, was going to be the end of public radio, but each year we found ways to address that,” Sexton said.
As Sexton’s career at WYSU comes to an end, he believes this is a new opportunity for the radio station, with newer and younger leadership.
“I definitely look at it as an opportunity, as far as the station goes. It’s time for new and younger leadership. So, I’m happy about moving aside for that,” Sexton said.
Sexton said that one regret he has is having to let it all go. As much as Sexton does not want to leave WYSU, he said he sees it as a time to pursue more special interests.
“I also have lots of interests, and I see this and I can’t even necessarily say what exactly I am going to do once I retire,” Sexton said. “But, you know retirement is setting the platform, or the opportunity to go into different directions and you don’t really do it until you know you’re in that situation.”
Until a full-time replacement for Sexton is found, YSU professor Adam Earnhardt in the Department of Strategic Communication and Media, will serve as interim director.
