Lon Helton Recipient of CRS 2020 Rivers Humanitarian Award

RADIO ONLINE | Monday, September 23, 2019

Lon Helton

Country Radio Broadcasters (CRB) has announced 48-year industry vet Lon Helton, publisher/CEO of Country Aircheck and host of Westwood One's "Country Countdown USA," as the recipient of the 2020 Tom Rivers Humanitarian Award, which will be presented during Country Radio Seminar 2020. Helton will be recognized at the Opening Ceremonies on Wednesday, February 19, 2020.

The Tom Rivers Humanitarian Award is given at the discretion of the CRB board of directors to recognize an individual in the Country Radio industry who has displayed a magnanimous spirit of caring and generosity in service to their community. Helton is one of the founders of Country Cares for St. Jude Kids radiothon program, a fund-raising effort that is quickly approaching the $1 billion mark.

His advocacy for St. Jude with Country radio not only stretches back to the very beginning, but it has also manifested itself in his dual career tracks. With "Country Countdown USA," he and Audio Productions' Jim Reyland purchase guitars that are signed by Helton's guest artists. The instruments go to St. Jude and, ultimately, radio stations and listeners/donors. This happens every week, all year long and has been going on for years.

During his 20+ years at Radio & Records and now 13 at Country Aircheck, support for St. Jude has been important to him, and has inspired many others to support St. Jude as well. Helton is also a longtime member of the CMA Board of Directors, as well as serving on the organization's philanthropic arm, the Country Music Foundation. Since its founding, the CMA Foundation has invested more than $25 million to enrich music education programs across the United States.

CRB/CRS Executive Director RJ Curtis commented, "The CRB Board of Directors has made a terrific choice in selecting Lon Helton as our Tom Rivers Humanitarian Award recipient. Lon's work in helping to establish, and then advance the St. Jude Country Cares radiothon program stands alone, but there are many other, quieter efforts he's championed as well. Recognizing unselfish, unheralded examples of benevolence is the original spirit of this award, and a fitting tribute to the character of Tom Rivers."

Helton added, "I'm fortunate to have been entrusted with a very large megaphone for the last 36 years. Whether at Radio & Records, Country Aircheckor Country Countdown USA, it has been a privilege to champion and chronicle the charitable efforts of Country radio, Nashville labels and Country artists. It is immensely gratifying to be even a tiny part of ‘Country Cares for St. Jude Kids,' which began as Randy Owen's challenge to Country radio at CRS 1989 and is now closing in on $1 Billion in donations. It is an honor and privilege to serve on industry boards that do so much for so many. Receiving this award is especially humbling because it is named after long-time friend Tom Rivers, who set such a high bar for public service."

This award is named in honor of CRB Board member Tom Rivers, who died in 2004 at age 38 of bronchial asthma. Rivers, known for his work at WQYK/Tampa and WUSN/Chicago, was highly regarded for his public service. Past recipients of the Tom Rivers Humanitarian Award include "Dollar" Bill Lawson, Dan Halyburton, Peter Smyth, Jeff Smulyan, Mary Quaas, George G. Beasley and more.