Boise radio owner dies of heart attack
Don Day | September 9, 2008
Lee Schafer, owner of KBXL/94.1 FM, KSPD/790 AM in Boise and KDZY/Heartland Country 98.3 in McCall died today.
Schafer suffered a heart attack yesterday and died this morning at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center. He is survived by Beth, David & LeighAnn – all of whom are involved in the family radio business.
Services have not yet been announced – we’ll post details when they come across.
UPDATE: Lee’s memorial service is Saturday at the Cloverdale Church of God 11 am.
My prayers are with the Schafer family at this very difficult time. Lee served his Lord mightily for 25 years through his radio stations.
In Christ,
John
Man, what a shock! Prayers going to his family! Lee has always been a great asset for Idaho radio! he will be missed!
I will miss my Uncle Lee. He was the best Uncle anyone could ask for. Thank you for your kind thoughts and prayers for my family at this hard time.
At leat we know he will be singing and walking with our Lord. I can’t wait to meet him in heaven.
I love you and miss you already Uncle Lee!!!
Love,
Wendy
I am so sorry to hear of his passing. My prayers go out to his family that they be comforted at this time. Lee and his wife and family have created a wonderful gift to this community and it shows each day that the station airs the quality programming that it has to offer. It is a Christian station that is diverse in its offerings and a blessing those whom enjoy its presence.
Lee will be missed for sure, but all those touched by his life and his efforts can be sure that he put his faith into action each day on the airwaves of the Treasure Valley and beyond and even though he is gone from this Earth he has left behind a wonderful legacy.
Lee was among the last of the genuinely nice people in Treasure Valley radio. In all the years I was acquainted with him, I never once heard him speak ill of another person.
Lee served his listeners and his advertisers with competence, diligence, honesty and loyalty — elements unfortunately found too often in short supply these days. My thoughts and prayers go to his family and his employees.
He was truly a good man and will be missed by all. My prayers are with his family.
My heart aches today. I was shocked when I heard yesterday he was in the hospital, and even more so this morning to get this tragic news.
Lee has been a good friend to me through the last 25 years since he gave me my first job in radio working at KSPD. I’m thankful that I was able to tell him how much he’s meant to me over the years. I’ve always been proud of him remaining as a local owner in a world where corporations run most of the radio world. He was an incredible businessman and had a heart to serve people and the community as a whole. I just can’t imagine those radio stations without him there. He had a smile and a laugh that always made me just a little happier inside. Today, that smile and laughter just got ALOT bigger as he entered heaven and met his Lord. I have joy knowing I’ll see him again, but will miss my friend Lee until that time. An incredible man, father, husband, broadcaster and friend.
Beth, David, and LeighAnn… my prayers stay with you.
Dave
Thank you to all who have kept my Dad and my family in your prayers. We are so grateful for your prayers and support. My Dad, mentor, friend and hero has moved on. I’ll never forget his love, kindness, commitment and his hearty laugh.
Thanks for being you Dad. And thank you God for your gift in Lee.
David Schafer
It was quite a shock to receive the news of Lee’s passing. Although we know that he is in the presence of the Almighty, I know that he will be readily missed by many. His homecoming must have been splendid as he walked through those pearly gates while the heavenly choir welcomed his arrival!
Beth, please know that Norm’s and my prayers are with you at this very difficult time. You are such a special person and I know that God will give you grace and strength to face each new challenge.
Dave & Melissa, may the Lord give you peace as well as you walk through this together. May the 23rd Psalm be a comfort and a hope.
We love and appreciate each of you!
Debbie
The world is a lesser place with Lee’s passing, but a better place for his presence. I can’t even begin to tell all the stories about Lee’s unsolicited kindness to me during the KFXD years. All I can say is that he was a true Gentleman and someone we should should all strive to measure up to.
Rest in Peace my Friend.
You left the world a better place than you found it.
Lee was a man with true charisma! I will miss his silly jokes and contagious laughter. His character will live on through the beautiful people that make up the Schafer family.
Beth, Dave, LeighAnn, and Melissa- I will pray for you every time you come to mind.
I first met Lee Schafer in 1969 or 1970 when I was still in High School, and wanting to get into radio! Lee was in charge of KBXL-FM in Caldwell and they had just taken little KBGN-FM to stereo at 7,600 watts from the Caldwell Chicago Street tower, and they had brand new Gates equipment. The station’s format was “easy listening” and they sounded fabulous. I did a PSA for a Boise High School Theatrical Musical I was in – and not only did Lee run the taped PSA on KBXL, he came to musical!
I soon got hired at KEST (now KSPD, the AM station Lee would eventually own) and got started running the 1961 Gates Yard control board Dave Arthur learned on too. I now own that board (thanks to Lee selling to me for a nominal fee) and will soon donate it to The History of Idaho Broadcasting. We also have the Gates Studioette Production Board, which Lee donated to us! BTW, Doug Raper and I both worked at KEST in 1970…when I was still in high school! Doug was pretty young too and had long hair, and great pipes (as he still has – the pipes not the hair)!
After stops at KBOI AM-FM-TV, KUTV-TV in Salt Lake City, and KEEP-AM (this time working FOR Doug Raper!) I too ended up at KBXL-FM as Production Director and then Operations Director. It was 1972 and Lee had left KBXL at that time and was at KCID…but he and I remaimed friends and he “cheered me on” in my radio career.
Lee then returned to KBXL as Sales Manager working for the Shaws (Dick Shaw was GM, and they were truly wonderful people to work for) but I’d already moved on to KYME in 1974 as Program Director. I always wanted to work with Lee, but never really got the chance. From KBXL, Lee went on to buy KSPD-AM in 1983 and then acquired KBXL in 1989! When I returned to Boise after owning my own station in Casper Wyoming from 1983-1989, I almost went to work for Lee, but again fate would not have it be so. I then became Lee’s competitor first as Sales Manager and soon after as Station Manager of KHEZ-FM, where I ended my radio career in 1992 (Citadel bought us)!
Every year for the past 16 years I have taken Lee PSAs for the State Leadership Prayer Breakfast and he has always helped out and ran them! In November of 2006, The History of Idaho Broadcasting held our November memeting at his stations and we played KEST, KSPD, and KBXL tapes from the 70s! Lee loved it and vowed to have us back! In fact I had lunch with Lee early this summer and we were planning on celebrating the 25th Anniversary of he and Beth owning KSPD (1983-2008). I hope we still can, and I know Lee will be looking down and smiling, as he always was.
I was shocked by the news and my heart goes out to Beth, David, and Leigh Ann, as well as Crystal and all of the staff at Inspirational Family Radio. I sent them an email earlier in the day and called Jim and Faye Zamzow (co-owners of Zamzows, which is where I work now) and they too were saddened by the news and send their best wishes to the family.
We plan on doing atribute to Lee in our next History of Idaho Broadcasting Newsletter…so if you have any pictures or tapes etc. that you would be willing to share, please contact me at pawzup@qwest.net
God Bless you Lee, and thanks for all you did for me every other young broadcaster you helped along the way. We will miss you my friend, but I promise, we will never forget you and all of the good things you did.
Art Gregory
Lee was a great broadcaster. I so value our years together at KCID, and our relationship since. My Love and Prayers to Beth and their children.
My prayers are with the Schafer family during this difficult time. May God comfort them in the knowledge that Lee is rejoicing in Heaven.
Tami Talbot
GFU Boise 41
My Love to Beth and children.
Lee’s days at KCID AM-FM in Caldwell, were some of our very best.
Lee Schafer was a credit to our industy, a professional broadcaster in every way.
He’s already getting some wires together to see what he can do in Heaven to improve their system.
Mr. Peterson,
Was Mr. Schafer at KCID when Winifred Mather worked there? I met “Winnie” twelve years ago when my family & I moved into the neighborhood and knew her until her death. We exchanged a lot of thoughts and ideas on various issues and I greatly benefitted from listening to her wisdom. Our neighborhood has not been quite the same since her passing.
I was wondering if you might share some brief thoughts of Mr. Schafer and Winnie in this forum.
Thank you.
Dale, you’re right… I’m sure Lee is already broadcasting on a higher frequency. :-)
His memorial is Saturday at 11am at Cloverdale Church of God.
I will always remember Uncle Lee with a smile on his face and a giddy gleam in his eyes…Aunt Beth, Leigh Ann, David please give me a call if you need anything…big or small…day or night…I love you guys and pray for stregnth for you
Although we mourn the loss of Mr. Schafer, we can celebrate because of where he is now and that all of us will be reunited one day.
I am ever thankful to Lee as he gave me my first paying in radio. True story: I was slinging pies at Round Table Pizza in Nampa across from the hospital in 1989. He was with his family one night when I called over the speaker system, “Lee, your pizza’s ready, Lee”. He came up to get the pizza and said, “You have a great voice, how would you like a job in radio?” I was hired and little did I know that I would be working with not only a great owner, but with great people like Dave Arthur and Scott Riggins.
I still remember working with the “Wheel of Carts”, encoding carts using the teletype, slip-cuing songs during our music windows on SPD, and firing off the “Focus on the Family” and “Grace to You” shows.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Schafer family.
Lee is one of the most gracious people I’ve ever known. While I was going to BSU, I use to wait on him at Chilis’. He always made my day brighter with his warm smile. He would “light up” around his family. I just saw Lee last week at Whitewater Pizza. He told me a joke, and he was laughing so hard about it…he could barely tell it.! He gave me one of his bear hugs, and we said our goodbyees. Little did I know, it would be that last time I would ever see him again. I’m not sure why our paths crossed that day, but I’m thankful that I was able to see him before he met his Savior. I’ll always remember his contageous laugh.
I’ll miss you, Lee.
Cheryl McFadyen
I personally never knew or met Lee but I am touched deeply by his honored legecy and the positive impact he had on so many. These posts are a tender eulogy for a life cut too short. I also found myself smiling at how many have shared the “bropadcaster’s diet” with Mr. Shafer… Out for lunch with Art, Round Table for Matt and Chili’s and Whitewater for Cheryl. Lee sounds like a man after my own heart (which I’ll strive to give greater care). We had to tell our 5 year old that the kitchen “isn’t just for decoration”. My condolences to those of you mourning the loss of your friend and hopes that we’ll all try to live in a manner that our lives will be recalled with the same fondness witnessed here.
Hadn’t thought of it that way Jim, but I’m sure Lee would approve.
I like to think of him smiling about the groceries.
This is a long post, so please forgive me, but I attended Lee’s Memorial Service today and was quite touched.
It was very apparent that Lee was a true Christian and lived his life for one primarily purpose: to serve the Lord. Most of us live primarily for ourselves, our family, and maybe our job or some other interest in our life. Lee had all of those things going for himself too…a wonderful wife who he has loved since the moment he met her…two wonderful children who seem to love him more than he loved them…if that is even possible…and a love of broadcasting and specifically, radio broadcasting, and what made it work. But above all, Lee loved the Lord, and lived his life accordingly. We are all “works in progress,” and living up to Lee’s life gives us all something to strive for.
I thought I knew Lee before today, but I really just knew one or two dimensions of him. I of course knew what a fine person he was…that he showed me the VERY first encounter I had with him as a 17 year old high school kid. Lee made a huge impression on me as a young broadcaster, and the more I got to know him, the more respect I had for him. That continued right up to the present time, and my last meeting with him this spring was wonderful!
However, today I learned all about Lee’s many other dimensions; his passion for singing, his love of laughter and practical jokes, and just how much he loved to fish! I wish I had got to know Lee outside of broadcasting. The loss was mine.
I knew Lee had had a kidney transplant a few years ago…Lee himself told me that on one of my regular visits to the station once a year or so. But what I didn’t know was that the kidney he received came from his own sister, who gave us 9 more years with Lee. Thank You Jilayne.
I had no idea Lee’s parents were still alive. Today, I met them and shook their hand and thanked them for giving us the opportunity to know their son. It is apparent where Lee got his strong belief in God. he was rasied by a VERY fine family who instilled some great values in him.
Today I saw pictures of Leigh Ann and David as they were growing up, and pictures of Lee and Beth as they traveled together, often with their family, and you could truly see and feel the joy they had together as a family.
The program was wonderful and featured some old recordings of Lee singing with The Master’s Men’s Quartet (from 1967 I believe!), and Lee himself doing a scripture reading on KBXL September 3rd of this month. What a fabulous radio voice the man had, but the sincerity that came through could not be faked. Lee’s sincerity was real, and everyone knew it, and he was right in everything he said too.
The Eulogy was given by Jack Pelon of KPOF in Denver. It was wonderful and he too had some great “Lee” stories and I learned that the light-hearted sense of humor Lee had with me, he had with EVERYONE! I used to tell Lee a lot of radio stories, and Lee had a few to tell me back, and we’d both laugh over the phone and in person out loud. Lee enjoyed life and loved radio, and it really showed today with the many “rememberences” we heard during the “open sharing” part of the service.
After perhaps 30 to 40 minutes of wonderful “Lee stories” and tributes, the Pastor, Phil Moran of Lee’s Church (Covent Presbyterian Church or Boise), had to call for the “two last” tributes. Otherwise he said we’d still be doing them when it was time for the Boise State Football Game to start, and he said that would make Lee mad (Lee loved going to the games)!
A couple of the tributes that stood out to me from radio folks was Nels Wilson’s. Nels currently owns KBGN-AM and was hired by Lee, and he siad soemthing that rang true for me too. Lee let you know he LIKED you the first time he met you. From that moment on, how could you not be a “Lee” fan and you tried to live up the person Lee made you feel like you were. Wow.
Dave Arthur’s tribute was wonderful too. Dave came all the way down from Portland to attend, and he thanked Lee for giving him his start in radio. He also said KSPD had the “KSPD VIP of the Day.” Dave said that today, Lee Schafer was “the KSPD VIP of the day.” Here here…I agree, and I might add Lee will be the KSPD “VIP” forever in my view, which I sure everyone will agree with too.
Former BSU Head Football Coach also was there and had some wonderful things to say about Lee. Countless other friends fellow church members spoke of Lee’s gentle but playful sense of humor. Lee sang in many chiors over the years, and his fellow bass singers who were always in the “back row” with Lee seemed to spend as much time laughing as they did singing. We take ourselves much too seriously folks, and we could all “lighten up” a bit and learn from Lee, at least in my opinion!
The final tribute came from lee’s son David who thanked all of us (and all of YOU btw) for the kind words about his father. They have lost their father, but they realized they have GAINED all of us as friends. Of course we were already Lee’s friend, but this sad occasion seemed to serve to remind the Schafer family just how MANY friends Lee had. They were touched, and it really came through from David. I must say that I was also struck with how much David looked like his Dad when I first met him over 38 years ago in 1970.
There were also many other great broadcasters in the audience (beside Dave Arthur) and among the ones that I saw were: John Runkle, owner of the Deer Point antenna farm and former ownre of KYET-AM and 100.3 FM (now the “X”); Mac McGaha, contract engineer for may stations in the Treasure Valley, Jeff Bishop. Operations Manager for KBCI-TV Channel 2, Doug Raper, former KBOI, KSL, KIDO, newsman (and frequent poster on this site); Nels Wilson owner of KBGN-AM, and Kip Guth, former owner of KCIX-FM and KXLT-FM. In fact I spoke with Kip on the way out who told me he listens to KBXL A LOT and thinks Lee changed the Treasure Valley by giving us one of the first commercial Religious FMs with a “professional” sound. I agree heartily Kip, well said. Of course Marty and the staff from Inspirational Family Radio were all there to pay their respects to their friend and boss Lee Schafer. Sorry I did not get to stay and visit iwth you all. The line was L-O-N-G and I had another appointment at 1:00. The service lasted about 2 hours.
On display in the front of the sanctuary were many of Lee’s old radios that he had restored as well as an old RCA ribbon microphone with the call letters K-B-X-L on it!Lee would have been pleased, as he was very proud of these radios and loved showing them off. Lee loved broadcasting equipment of all types, and when discussing other station’s radio towers one day with Lee, the 4 tower directional array of 580 KFXD came up (now used by 5-8-0 KIDO) and Lee remarked to me “aren’t those 4 KFXD towers just MAGNIFICENT Art?” I had to agree, and yes Lee, they still are!
But the most moving part of the service for me came at the very end. The entire congregation was invited to pass by the front row and personally say hello to and greet the Schafer family. I did, and got to shake the hands of Lee’s wonderful parents, Glenn and Ada. I got to say hello to David and had to hold back my tears as I realized that he is now the man of the family and was going to have to carry on in his Dad’s footsteps. I told him that in so many words, and I could tell, he realized it too, and is up to the task in my opinion. I got a great big hug from Beth too and of course will be getting in touch with her and David as we do a tribute to Lee in the History of Idaho Broadcasting’s next newsletter, which will hopefully be out at the end of this month.
Sorry to go on and on, but for those of you who missed it, I wanted you know what a moving experience it was for me. A great broadcaster has passed on to that big control room in ths sky. By now, Lee already has installed new tubes in the transmitter and has it sounding great. And, he indeed is smiling down on all of us saying “carry on” and urging us all to go and serve the Lord.
Art Gregory
Lee Schafer Fan Forever
Thanks Art for taking the time to let us all know how the services went. I regret never having had the chance to know Lee but its certain he made a lasting and postive impression upon those who did know him. How many of us will be able to say that we such a positive impression upon others when we have drawn our last breath as did Lee.? He was a wonderful human being and will be missed by all.
I did not know Lee. However all of your remembrances of him brought to mind this poem. I certainly hope it doesn’t seem to syrupy. Also, after the touching post by Art, I do not want anyone to think I am trying to “one up” everyone.
This Poem is by James Weldon Johnson. I have edited it to be more specific to Lee.
**************************************************
Weep not, weep not, he is not dead.
He is resting in the bosom of Jesus.
Heart broken wife, grief stricken son,, weep no more.
He only just gone on.
Day before yesterday morning.
God was looking down from his great high heaven.
looking down on all his children.
And his eye fell on brother Lee,
tossing on his bed of pain. And God’s big heart was touched with pity,
With everlasting pity. And God sat back on his throne,
And He commanded that tall, bright angel standing at His right hand.
Call me death. And that tall, bright angel
cried in a voice like a clap of thunder.
Call death, Call death. And the echo sounded
down the streets of heaven, till it reached away back,
to that shadowy place, where Death waits with his pale, white horses.
And death heard the summons, and he leaped on his fastest horse,
Pale as a sheet in the moonlight. Up the golden street Death galloped,
And the hooves of his horses struck fire from the gold,
But they didn’t make no sound. Up Death rode
to the great white throne, and waited for God’s command.
And God said, “Go down, Death.
Go down, down in Boise, and find brother Lee.
He’s borne the burden in the heat of the day.
He’s labored long in my vineyard, and he’s tired and he’s weary.
Go down, Death, and bring him to me.
And Death didn’t say a word, but he loosened the reins
on his pale, white horse. And he clamped the spurs to his bloodless sides.
And out and down he rode, through Heaven’s pearly gates,
Past suns and moons and stars. On Death rode,
Leaving the lightning flash behind. Straight down he came,
While we were watching round his bed,
He turned his eyes and looked away. He saw what we couldn’t see.
He saw old Death. He saw old Death coming like a falling star.
But Death didn’t frighten brother Lee.
He looked to him like a welcome friend.
And he whispered to us, I’m going on. And he smiled and closed his eyes.
And Death took him up like a baby. And he lay in his icy arms,
But he didn’t feel no chill. And Death began to ride again,
Up beyond the evening star, into the glittering light of glory,
On to the great white throne.
And there he laid brother Lee, on the loving breast of Jesus.
And Jesus took His own hand, and wiped away his tears,
And he smoothed the furrows from his face.
And the angels sang a little song, And Jesus rocked him in His arms and kept a-saying,
Take your rest, take your rest
Weep not, weep not,
he is not dead. He is asleep.
He is resting in the bosom of Jesus.
As Art said I as there yesterday and I came away with a new found understanding of Lee. To be loved and respected by so many was an amazing gift. If only we could all accomplish what Lee did, what a wonderful world this would be.
Art… that was a great recap! This kind of gathering is always hard, but it was great to catch up with so many from the radio community who attended. I know the Schafer family was deeply touched to have so many pack the church. I also thought the location was awesome because as you walked out of the church and looked over your right shoulder… there stands the KSPD tower. I’m so thankful to have been able to make it and honor a man who has meant so much to me over the years. Afterwards, some of us who worked for Lee and knew him well went out to lunch… Chicago Connecion Pizza, in honor of Lee.
what a shame. had the great honor of working with lee in my early days at kcid. saw lee just a couple of months ago. he wanted to hear all about me….the kids and how my health was.
he was the kind of guy who would give you the shirt right off his back to help. he knew i was never that religious but he always told me he was always holding out hope for me. i will miss his smile and honesty. something you dont see in radio that much any more……
Thank you all so much for your kind remarks about my beloved husband, Lee. He loved God and he loved people, especially his family. He also loved radio. He had a passion for being the best in his industry.
His desire would be that the radio ministry continues. Please continue your prayers and support. Also, please don’t hesitate to call.
I know this is very late but i just read this on line. I had the privilege of working with Lee at KCID. Lee was a good man and broadcasting will miss him. My wife and i shall keep Lee and the family in our prayers.
blessings,
ed “Charlie Edwards” KCID 1970-75