Who's Who at WONN

Dick Goleno

Dick was a native of East Palestine, Ohio and graduated from Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio where, in 1960, he received a degree in education. While in college he started his radio career doing high school play-by-play for WSOM-FM in Salem, Ohio. Later he did play-by-play for Mt. Union College and pre-season play-by-play for the Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians, and Cleveland Browns.

Dick moved to Lakeland in 1968 and joined the staff at WLAK as Sports Director. He moved over to WONN in 1970. In 1975 he left to work at W.R. Grace Company, but came back to WONN in 1985 and became a Marketing Consultant, WONN Program Director, and Sports Director for the Hall Florida stations.

In 1989 Dick was promoted to Operations Manager of both Hall Lakeland stations, WONN and WPCV, and a few years later took over hosting WONN’s morning show in 1992. He stepped down from the Operations position in 1995 because of health reasons but remained in his other positions including hosting the morning show on WONN until his death September 6, 2001.

At the WONN 50th Anniversary celebration in January 2000, Dick was honored for his many years in broadcasting with a surprise presentation. In 2001 he was inducted posthumously into the Polk County Sports Hall of Fame.

Station History