V. Kay Melia

Longtime Goodland, Kansas resident, V. Kay Melia, 88, passed away on Thursday, July 19, 2018, surrounded by his family, at the Parker Adventist Hospital in Parker, Colorado.

Kay was born on May 9, 1930 near Bucklin, Kansas to Gordon and Lula (Skeen) Melia.    He attended school in Bucklin, Kansas and graduated from Bucklin High School in 1948.  He went on to Fort Hays State University where he received his bachelor’s degree.

On May 1, 1950 Kay started his broadcasting career at KIUL AM in Garden City as a nighttime radio announcer.  Shortly after, on June 11, 1950, Kay married Marilyn Johnson at the Methodist Church in Garden City.  In November of 1950, Kay and Marilyn moved to Emporia where Kay was the first ever sports director for KSTW AM, doing play by play for Emporia High School and Emporia State College. In early 1952 Kay was drafted and served as a cryptographer in the US Army during the Korean War.  After returning from serving in Korea, Kay took a new job at KAYS in Hays in November 1953. Kay spent 7 years at KAYS, eventually becoming the voice of the Ft. Hays State Tigers and Sales Manager for the station.

While in Hays, Kay and Marilyn’s three children were born. Marty in 1955, Marla in 1956 and Mindy in 1959. Also during this time, Kay completed his bachelor’s degree from Ft. Hays State.

In 1960, KAYS Inc. purchased what is now KLOE Radio in Goodland, and Kay was appointed General Manager, and moved his family to Goodland. In addition to KLOE Radio, Kay would eventually manage KLOE TV and the Goodland Cable TV Company, all owned by KAYS, Inc., now known as Eagle Communications.  Kay would continue managing the stations and Cable TV for Eagle Communications until retiring in 1993, when son Marty succeeded him. Kay would continue to work for the stations part time until 2009.

Kay was a member of the Goodland United Methodist Church, Goodland Elks Lodge, VFW and Sugar Hills Golf Club, and was a K-State Master Gardener.

In 1963 Kay was appointed to succeed Max Jones on the Goodland School Board during the time the Board decided to build the Max Jones Fieldhouse and Vocational Technical School.  He was also a member of the Kansas Association of Broadcasters board, where he served as president,  and the National Association of Broadcasters where he was Vice Chairman of the Board. Kay is a member of the Kansas Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

Preceding Kay in death was his wife Marilyn, his parents and brother Max.

Kay is survived by his three children; Marty (Kathy) Melia of Goodland, Kansas; Marla (Bob) Cherryhomes of Conifer, Colorado  and Melinda (Dana) Kroner of Westminster, Colorado.  He is also survived by 6 grandchildren, Sarah (Trevor) Linton, Goodland, Kansas; Marcy Melia, Goodland, Kansas; Andrew (Jen) Melia, Atwood, Kansas; Daniel (Kolby) Melia, Burlington, Colorado; Kelsey Cherryhomes  Conifer, Colorado and Brennan Cherryhomes  Conifer, Colorado.   Plus 9 great grandchildren.