This Saturday, the Rotary Club of Winona will celebrate its 57th Annual Rotary Radio Day on WONA 95.1 FM, a tradition that began in 1968 as a fundraiser for the newly established Shed Hunger Memorial Scholarship.
Now known as the Shed Hunger–Ralph Applewhite Memorial Scholarship, the program provides two $1,000 scholarships each year—one to a graduating senior at Winona High School and one to a senior at Winona Christian School. Since its founding, the fundraiser has generated more than $100,000, supporting nearly 125 students in furthering their education.
The idea for Radio Day came from WONA station manager and Rotarian Bob Chisholm, who suggested raising money for scholarships through a community-driven broadcast. At the time, the scholarship provided $500—the cost of one year’s tuition at Holmes Community College.
The scholarship was first established in memory of Shed Hunger, Sr., a charter member of the Rotary Club of Winona in 1939. Hunger, who founded Winona Dry Cleaners in 1922, was a prominent businessman and longtime school board member. His son, Frank Hunger, now 89, recalls how deeply his father valued education.
“He never finished high school, but he did everything in the world to see that I got a good education,” Frank said. “I wouldn’t be sitting here right now if it weren’t for that.”
Four generations of the Hunger family have carried on his Rotary legacy, including his sons, grandson, and now great-grandson, Shed Hunger IV.
In 1981, following the death of Rotarian Ralph Applewhite, the scholarship was renamed to also honor him. Widely known as “Mr. Rotary,” Applewhite was a lifelong educator who served as superintendent of Winona City Schools, Montgomery County Schools, and several other districts. His daughter, Mitchie Billingsley, now 99, proudly shared that her granddaughter, Olivia Leow, Applewhite’s great-granddaughter, is the current Executive Director of the Rotary Club of Nashville.
Each year, Radio Day brings Rotarians into the studio to serve as on-air DJs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Members pair up to play favorite songs, share sponsor recognition, tell stories, and add plenty of humor along the way.
Rotarian Al Baker, the club’s longest-tenured member, has participated in every Rotary Radio Day since the very first broadcast. He fondly remembers fellow Rotarian Barry “Pine” Blakley impersonating local community members so convincingly that listeners would call in, believing the person was truly on the air. Other traditions included humorous “reports” such as: “Today’s forecast is daylight all day, and tonight we expect darkness all night.”
For many Rotarians, the event is also a family tradition. My daughter, Lillie Claire, was on air when she was just six years old. Each year since then, she’s made it a point to find out which Saturday we’ll be on the air. If she can’t be there with me, she tunes in to listen.
Thanks to the generosity of community sponsors, the fundraiser consistently raises about $2,000 each year, enough to fund both scholarships.
The Rotary Club expresses deep gratitude to Sharon and Seth Kent, owners of WONA, for opening their studios year after year. Sharon’s father, the late Johnny Pettit, was also a longtime Rotarian and supporter of Radio Day.
As the Rotary Club of Winona celebrates more than half a century of this unique tradition, the legacy of Shed Hunger, Ralph Applewhite, and countless Rotarians lives on—one broadcast, one scholarship, and one student at a time.
How to Listen: Tune in on WONA 95.1 FM, stream live online at streema.com/radios/ WLEE, or download the WONA mobile app to listen from anywhere.
If you would like to become a Rotarian, purchase a Rotary Radio Day sponsorship, or simply learn more about the Rotary Club of Winona, reach out to a local Rotarian or email winona.ms.rotary@ gmail.com.
Matt Bennett is a member of the Rotary Club of Winona, a Past President, and a past Assistant Governor of Rotary District 6820.
