After almost 34 years as the main voice on KMOX (1120 AM), presenter Charlie Brennan drops the microphone on the “News Voice of St. Louis”.
On his Monday morning show, Brennan told his audience that his last shift at the station would be May 12.
Brennan said he made his decision to leave KMOX about two weeks ago as he was about to begin new contract talks with the station’s general manager Becky Domjan and program director Steve Moore.
He told the two, “After 33½ years at KMOX plus six years at Boston radio, that’s almost 40 years; it’s time,” Brennan said, taking a step back.
A native of Cleveland, Brennan joined the staff of “Mighty Mox” on September 20, 1988. His first mention in that publication came three days later, as the late columnist Jerry Berger wrote:
“Charlie Brennan was courted by KMOX from WNTN radio in Boston and checked in on the Voice of St. Louis ‘At Your Service’ on the night when there was no sport.”
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Brennan switched to his current morning shift of 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in 1990.
As part of cost-cutting measures at the station in 2017, Brennan’s shift was reduced to four days a week, Monday through Thursday.
Then in 2019 after they were paired with Debbie Monterrey For years, Brennan was joined by a new co-host, Amy Marxkors.
In their on-air response to Brennan’s announcement, Marxkors thanked Brennan for making “St. Louis got.”
“We’ve got Cardinal Baseball, a free zoo — and Charlie Brennan,” Marxkors admitted of being “choked up” by Brennan’s departure.
During his time on radio, Brennan has spearheaded numerous community-based efforts:
Promote cleanup efforts in multiple communities; orchestrating actions to raise money for flood victims; urge the Missouri Legislature to restore medical benefits for the blind; and raising more than $100,000 to erect a statue honoring the STL rock ‘n’ roll titan Chuck Berry.
Brennan has received numerous awards for his radio and community work, including induction into the St. Louis Media Hall of Fame in 2009.
While at KMOX, Brennan also wrote three books about the St. Louis area. His latest – Only in St. Louis: The Most Incredible, Strange and Inspiring Tales – hit shelves in 2020.
Along with thanks to the staff at KMOX, especially the longtime producer Chris MihillBrennan took his time to defy his audience, who “have always been so supportive that I have exceeded my wildest expectations and for that I thank you.”
Brennan noted that although he is leaving KMOX, he plans to continue in his role as host of “Donnybrook” on KETC (Channel 9), a show he first appeared on in 1992.
This debate format rush to the show would have been longer had it not been for the opposition of the legendary KMOX boss Robert Hyland Jr.
“Bob Hyland didn’t want me on it,” Brennan said in a previous interview. “So Mr. Hyland died in March 1992 and I first appeared in April 1992.”
Brennan was a regular on the “Donnybrook” panel until 2009, when he rose to moderator from the original panel wrangler Martin Dugan retired.
In addition to continuing to host the show, Brennan said his other future endeavors will be “travelling, getting involved in the community — and cashing some of the rain checks I’ve collected in the past.”