San Diego legendary radio personality “Shotgun” Tom Kelly, whose deep baritone voice has been heard over the air for more than 60 years, has been nominated for induction into the National Radio Hall of Fame.
Kelly, whose real name is Tom Irwin, is one of 24 nominees selected in April by the 2026 Radio Hall of Fame Nominating Committee based on input from radio industry leaders and listeners.
“I was totally surprised by the nomination,” Irwin told Times of San Diego. “I didn’t campaign for it. Instead, I asked my listeners to nominate two other industry friends. But, it backfired on me and they also nominated my two friends and me.”
The 76-year-old Irwin, identifiable by his trademark Smokey Bear-style ranger hat, is still working weekday afternoons as a disc jockey playing favorite tunes from the 1960s and1970s on satellite radio Sirius XM’s “60s Gold” channel.
Beginning April 24, nearly 1,000 National Radio Hall of Fame (HOF) members have been casting votes for up to six nominated individuals for the 2026 class. The top six vote-getters from the current ballot will earn automatic induction as the 2026 HOF class, while two more individuals will be selected by the HOF Nominating Committee. The eight inductees will be announced Monday, May 18.
The 2026 Radio Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held Thursday, Oct. 8, at the Fairmont Hotel Millennium Park in Chicago.
The entire list of 2026 Radio Hall of Fame nominees also includes (alphabetical by first name): Andie Summers, Big D & Bubba, Bob Stroud, Boomer Esiason, Charlie Van Dyke, Enrique Santos, Fred Winston, Funkmaster Flex, Helen Little, Joey Reynolds, John & Ken, Johnny Magic, Kevin Matthews, Kid Leo, Larry Elder, Lee Arnold, Monica May, Pat Hughes, Raul Brindis, Rickey Smiley, Ryan Cameron, “The Electrifying Mojo” and NPR’s “Wait Wait, Don’t Tell Me!”
Kraig T. Kitchin, co-chairman, Radio Hall of Fame, said, “This special group of individuals and programs nominated for induction in 2026 epitomizes the wide spectrum of talented individuals our industry is fortunate to rely on and build large audiences around. My congratulations to each of them. What they’ve accomplished is truly special.”
“I think I’m going to make it,” said Irwin. “I’ve been receiving messages from my friends and other voters who said they voted for me. So, we’ll see.”
If selected, the honor would be the latest in a celebrated career for the San Diego native, who attended St. John of the Cross Catholic School in Lemon Grove and graduated from Mt. Miguel High School in Spring Valley in 1968.
Other career awards have included California Music Hall of Fame 2023 inductee, Billboard Magazine Air Personality of the Year and Radio and Records 2020 Oldies Air Personality of the Year.
In April 2013, Irwin was honored with his own star on the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame and superstar Stevie Wonder was one of the presenters. His star is located at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and La Brea Avenue.
Beyond radio, he is a two-time Emmy Award winner as host of two shows for children, including “Words-A-Poppin,” a game show seen on Channel 10 from 1974 to 1979 and the “KUSI Kids Club,” which aired for 12 years (1983-1995).
His voice was featured in the motion picture “Déjà Vu” starring Denzel Washington, as well as the Fox Network television show “America’s Most Wanted” and Spike TV’s “1000 Ways To Die.” His voice also was heard at Qualcomm Stadium for San Diego Chargers’ home games.
After high school, Irwin worked at radio stations in California in Merced, Oxnard and Bakersfield before joining San Diego’s 101.5 KGB Radio at age 21. By 1970, he had adopted Kelly as his radio name.
According to Irwin, “Shotgun” was a nickname from his dad because he preferred riding in the front seat rather than the beat seat of the family automobile.
For its news story on Irwin as a 2026 Radio HOF nominee, Inside Radio, an industry publication, said the “Shotgun” moniker reflects his rapid-fire speaking style and energetic and lively on-air presence.
In San Diego, Irwin worked at several radio stations, including KPRI, KGB, KFMB, KCBQ and KBZT, before a 22-year stint as afternoon host at the top-rated KRTH (K-Earth 101-FM) in Los Angeles. After a nationwide search, he was selected to fill the coveted afternoon drive slot at KRTH, succeeding the late Real Don Steele.
Then in 2018, Irwin joined SiriusXM and voices his weekday satellite radio show from his home studio in Fletcher Hills. His signature sign-on is “Brrr-yah, you better believe it baby.”
“Taking the job at SiriusXM was another leap in my career,” Irwin said. “It gave me the opportunity to be on the air playing 60s music nationally and on the SiriusXM app around the world.”
His memoir book, “All I Wanna Do is Play the Hits,” was released in July 2024. The 280-page autobiography is a collection of interesting, fun stories and anecdotes mixed with customary biography details, including the birth of his daughter, drug use and rehabilitation and heart surgery.
The book features a number of QR codes that takes readers to video clips. “That was Linda’s idea,” said Irwin, referring to his wife.
Crowe PR’s New Client Aids Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injuries
San Diego-based public relations firm Crowe PR reports its new client is the Resurrecting Lives Foundation, a nonprofit focusing on raising awareness of traumatic brain injuries among veterans and advocating for services to prevent veteran suicides.
The foundation connects veterans and their families to resources within their communities to provide health care, education and employment, thereby strengthening the veterans’ ties to the community and strengthening the community in return, a statement said.
Crowe is promoting “Guarding our Guardians: Guaranteeing America’s Veterans a Future from Deployment to Employment,” a new book authored by physician and author Chrisanne Gordon, founder of Resurrecting Lives Foundation.
Gordon is a survivor of brain injury herself after striking her head against a brick wall while moving Christmas decoration boxes in a crawl space at her Dublin, Ohio, home in 1996.
A Crowe statement said the 199-page book, released May 12 and published by Advantage Books, is a call-to-action mandate requesting community leaders, employers, healthcare systems and citizens across the country to unite in providing a smoother transition while securing a stronger, more supported future for men and women who have served in the military.
Currently, 450,000 veterans are living with traumatic brain injuries, according to Crowe PR.
A press conference with Gordon discussing and signing her new book will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, May 20, at the front steps of the Liberty Station Command Center, 2640 Historic Decatur Road, in Point Loma.
Also scheduled to attend the press conference are San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and retired U.S. Navy Chief Joe Pisano of Pisano Artistry at Liberty Station.
“When our nation’s guardians return home, their mission should be over but for too many the battle is just beginning,” said Gordon. “Traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress and systemic barriers keep them from the care, community integration and the promised future they’ve earned. This is just one of the reasons we’re honored to partner with the city of San Diego and support our veterans across the county and the nation.”
Qualcomm Sponsors Naming Rights for Coronado NASCAR Track
San Diego-based Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. has agreed to a major naming-rights sponsorship for NASCAR San Diego Weekend, a motorsports event over Father’s Day weekend, June 19-21, at Naval Base Coronado.
The 16-turn, 3.4-mile track built on Navy land will be known as the Qualcomm Circuit. It will be the first NASCAR track ever constructed on an active military base.
National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for more than 1,200 NASCAR races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.
Terms of the sponsorship agreement were not disclosed.
“Qualcomm is synonymous with innovation, and there could not be a more fitting partner to put its name on this groundbreaking circuit,” said Amy Lupo, president, NASCAR San Diego. “The Qualcomm Circuit represents the future of motorsports, built with precision, purpose and performance in mind, all while paying tribute to the extraordinary history of Naval Base Coronado and celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States Navy. We are proud to partner with a San Diego-born global technology leader as we make history together on this remarkable stage.”
Construction of the track is scheduled to begin later this month, a statement said. The Qualcomm Circuit has several features reflecting military tie-ins.
- The Ellyson start-finish line is named in honor of Commander Theodore Ellyson, whose training at North Island laid the foundation for its commissioning as a naval air station in 1917, and eventual recognition as the “Birthplace of Naval Aviation.”
- Turn 5, a left-hand turn positioned between the docking location of two aircraft carriers, is named the “Carrier Corner.”
- Turn 8, nearing the interior of the base, is called the “Coronado Chicane.”
- Turn 14, at the end of the north runway at Halsey Field, will be called “Runway Road.”
Defense contractor Auduril is the title sponsor of NASCAR San Diego Weekend. The event will include the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on Friday, June 19, and the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Part Series race on Saturday, June 20. NASCAR Cup Series drivers will compete in the Auduril 250 Race the Base on Sunday, June 21.
In its announcement, Qualcomm said it is working with NASCAR and its partners “to deploy intelligent computing and advanced connectivity to elevate the fan experience and team performance throughout NASCAR San Diego Weekend.”
Don McGuire, executive VP and chief marketing officer at Qualcomm, Inc., said, “Qualcomm Circuit represents the perfect intersection of breakthrough innovation, high-performance competition, and deep community pride. For more than 40 years, San Diego has been home to Qualcomm’s pioneering spirit, and this partnership honors that legacy while celebrating the extraordinary men and women of the U.S. Navy. Just as our AI-powered technologies are driving the future of mobility and connectivity, the Qualcomm Circuit will showcase the pinnacle of racing performance on one of the most unique and innovative tracks in NASCAR history. We’re honored to be part of this groundbreaking venue and bring this historic moment to our hometown.”
Rick Griffin is a San Diego-based public relations and marketing consultant. His MarketInk column appears weekly in Times of San Diego.
