Millennium Magazine_5th Ed

29 Millennium - A Marquis Who’s Who Magazine I ra J. Fistell foreshadowed his own career path as a young boy when he would pretend he was on the radio, talking to listeners and introducing music. Little did he know that he would go on to become a renowned radio personality across the country. As Mr. Fistell’s career grew, naturally his passion for reading and radio expanded into broadcasting, writing and teaching. Mr. Fistell graduated from the University of Chicago with a BA with general honors in 1962 and JD in 1964. In 1967, he obtained an MA in U.S. history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 1968, Mr. Fistell began as a radio personality for WKOW-AM in Madison, Wisconsin, and in 1971, he moved to WEMP-AM in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. From 1977 to 1995, Mr. Fistell became a personality at KABC-AM in Los Angeles, California. He returned to KABC-AM in 2001 and remained until his retirement in 2006. From 1980 to 1984, Mr. Fistell was a television personality at the USA and ESPN cable networks, and from 1982 to 1988, he was a national radio personality at the ABC Talkradio Network. Mr. Fistell worked in newspaper publishing for one year at the Los Angeles Jewish News; however, in 1998, he once again became a national radio personality with the TalkAmerica Radio Network. Mr. Fistell spent time as a faculty member at the University of Phoenix and as an English instructor at Concord Prep High School in Santa Monica, California. Still connected to his love for writing throughout his years of radio, Mr. Fistell is the author of “The Hidden Holmes: A Sherlock Holmes Companion,” “Encounters with Mark Twain,” “Oddball America” and “America by Train.” He is also a writer for the monthly journal Topics. Mr. Fistell was awarded the Golden Spike Award for Service to Rail Passengers by the NARRP in Anaheim, California. He is a member of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and the Milwaukee Press Club. One of Mr. Fistell’s favorite memories was when he entered a taxi in New York City, and the driver recognized Mr. Fistell’s voice from his broadcast. IRA J. FISTELL RADIO PERSONALITY, EDITOR, EDUCATOR Station KABC-AM Los Angeles, CA ARTS, MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT