NYSBA Hall of Fame Announces 2025 Inductees

RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, July 17, 2025 | 1:06pm CT

New York State Broadcasters Association

The New York State Broadcasters Association has announced six new members of its Hall of Fame, set to be officially inducted during a luncheon ceremony at the Rainbow Room in New York City on October 22. This year's honorees include broadcasters from both television and radio, but among the standouts are two longtime radio personalities from Long Island's WLNG 92.1 FM -- Bill Evans and Gary Sapiane -- who are being honored for their decades of service and local community impact.

Bill Evans serves as Owner, Program Director, Chief Meteorologist, and morning co-host at WLNG in Sag Harbor. A 20-time Emmy Award winner and five-time New York Times bestselling author, Evans is perhaps best known for his 30-year run as Senior Meteorologist on WABC-TV and his regular presence on radio stations including WPLJ-FM and 77 WABC-AM. He has also been recognized with the Ellis Island Medal of Honor and performed on Broadway in Disney's Beauty and the Beast. In addition to his extensive broadcasting credentials, Evans holds honorary doctorates and is active in the New York Broadcasters Association and American Meteorological Society.

Gary Sapiane, a Long Island native, has been with WLNG since the early 1970s and became Station Manager in 2008 following the passing of longtime broadcaster Paul Sidney. He currently serves as General Manager and Morning Show Host and was named President of Main Street Broadcasting in 2012. Sapiane's career began while still in high school and has spanned more than five decades, marked by a love for storm chasing and a deep connection to the local community.

The full list of the 2025 Hall of Fame inductees includes:

• Kaity Tong - Longtime Anchor, WPIX-TV, New York City

• Norm Silverstein - Retired President and CEO, WXXI Public Media, Rochester

• Bill Evans - Owner, Program Director & Meteorologist, WLNG 92.1 FM, Sag Harbor

• Gary Sapiane - General Manager & Morning Show Host, WLNG 92.1 FM, Sag Harbor

• Matt Mulcahy - Anchor & Managing Editor, NBC 3 News, Syracuse

• Bob Kovachick - Retired Meteorologist, WNYT-TV, Albany

David Donovan, President of the New York State Broadcasters Association, praised the inductees, calling them "the gold standard" in broadcasting. "The inductees represent a lifetime of achievement serving their profession and communities throughout the Empire State and our nation," he said.

The Hall of Fame honors individuals for exceptional contributions to broadcasting in New York State and recognizes leaders in radio and television whose work has made a lasting impact.