If Sacramento radio had a soundtrack, Pat Still would be one of its signature chords — familiar, dependable, and impossible to tune out. After more than three decades on the same frequency and a career that began long before most of us knew how to program a clock radio, Pat Still will retire from Bonneville’s Country 105.1 KNCI on Friday, April 17. It’s the kind of end‑of‑chapter moment that makes you rewind your mental playlist and smile at all the memories.
Still’s story in Sacramento started back in the early 1990s when he teamed up with Tom Mailey on what was then “New Country 105.1” KRAK‑FM. Not long after, the station reinvented itself under a new call sign and dial position, and the “Pat & Tom” morning show became a fixture for early risers and commuters throughout the region. Through format tweaks, frequency swaps, and more traffic reports than anyone wants to remember, Still kept that mic warm and those listeners tuned in.
When the station transitioned to Bonneville ownership and firmly planted itself as KNCI, Still kept rolling with the punches — and with Mailey by his side — through what feels like a lifetime of hits and morning banter. More recently, the show brought in Cody Robinson and then Joe Maumee, keeping the energy fresh and the laughter flowing even as Pat prepared for the day he’d trade his headset for something with a bit more porch time.
And let’s be honest: few careers in radio can claim the kind of longevity and impact Pat carved out here. He’s not just a voice on the airwaves; he’s part of the fabric of Sacramento mornings. Listeners forgot to change the dial because Pat was there — through big national news, small community events, and those moments when the sole reason anyone could make it through a Monday was something fun he said right after the country hit.
Pat & Tom’s influence didn’t go unnoticed by their industry peers either. Their work — decade after decade of sturdy ratings and genuine connection with listeners — earned them a spot in the Country Radio Hall of Fame in 2024. That’s right: the kind of honor that sits next to the gold records and timeless memories. From behind the mic, they helped elevate country radio in Sacramento and nationwide, celebrating artists and introducing countless fans to new favorites year after year.
Before mornings at KNCI, Still cut his teeth at other Sacramento stations including 98.5 KZAP and 106.5 KWOD, building a reputation as someone who knew the dial and knew people. That early experience — in a city with a rich broadcast history — gave him the chops to become the steady, reassuring voice that longtime listeners came to trust.
This spring, as Pat closes this chapter and steps toward whatever version of “retirement” means for him — whether that’s golf, grandkids, or a slightly overambitious garden project — the rest of us will hit the radio button a little more slowly. Not out of habit, exactly, but out of gratitude for the countless times Pat helped start the day on just the right note.
KNCI itself has grown over the years into one of Sacramento’s go‑to country music stations, with a roster of personalities and a community presence that mirrors the passion Pat brought to air every morning. The station’s impact — from local events to major concerts and community engagement — reflects a kind of hometown connection that a good morning show can build over time.
And though listeners may tease him about finally getting to sleep in past 5 a.m., let’s be real: Pat Still doesn’t do anything halfway. Retirement might just mean he gets to pick the perfect playlist for an afternoon nap instead of a morning commute.
As we send him off — plugged into memory and maybe a few extra cups of coffee — it’s worth tipping a metaphorical hat to the man who helped define mornings in this town for generations. Here’s hoping the next chapter is as joyfully tuned as the last 33 years on the air.
-JPS