There are radio personalities.
There are programmers.
There are sales managers.
And then there are the people who quietly build radio stations into institutions.
That’s the category Jeffrey Parke belongs in.
After nearly 40 years with Anaheim Broadcasting, Parke will retire on July 24, closing one of the longest-running executive careers in Southern California broadcasting. It’s the kind of tenure that has become almost mythical in today’s radio business, where leadership changes often come faster than formats.
Parke arrived at KCAL-FM in 1987 as Sales Manager. Two years later, he was promoted to General Manager, a role that would define not only his career, but the future of two of Southern California’s most recognizable brands.
When Anaheim Broadcasting acquired what would become 99.9 KOLA, Parke was entrusted with helping transform the signal into one of the Inland Empire’s signature Classic Hits stations. He also played a key leadership role in the relaunch of San Diego’s K-Best before eventually returning to oversee KCAL and KOLA for the remainder of his career.
Think about that for a minute.
Four decades.
The radio business has survived ownership changes, consolidation, digital disruption, streaming, satellite radio, podcasts, social media, smartphones, and countless economic cycles.
Jeffrey Parke stayed.
Not because the business never changed.
Because he adapted as it did.
His broadcasting journey began on the air in Santa Maria, continued through Santa Barbara, and eventually into radio sales in San Jose and Los Angeles before veteran broadcaster Tim Sullivan recruited him to Anaheim Broadcasting—a decision that would shape Southern California radio for generations.
Parke reflected on his retirement by expressing gratitude for the people who shared the journey, describing himself as fortunate to have spent nearly 40 years doing work he genuinely loved. He also credited Sullivan’s mentorship and friendship as instrumental in the career that followed.
That’s what makes this story different.
This isn’t about someone leaving radio.
This is about someone who helped define a company for nearly 40 years walking away knowing he left it stronger than he found it.
In an industry built on ratings, revenue, and constant reinvention, perhaps the greatest legacy isn’t a single promotion or a format change.
Perhaps it’s earning the respect of an industry one day at a time for nearly four decades.
That’s not just longevity.
That’s legacy.
#JeffreyParke #AnaheimBroadcasting #KCALFM #KOLA999 #SouthernCaliforniaRadio #BroadcastLeadership #ClassicRock #ClassicHits #RadioIndustry #Broadcasting #Leadership #OnTheDial
On The Dial covers breaking radio industry news, including layoffs, programming changes, talent moves, and broadcast trends across the United States.