Longtime WTOP Anchor, Reporter Evan Haning Dies at 74

RADIO ONLINE | Monday, November 18, 2024 | 10:55am CT

Evan Haning

Evan Haning, a veteran broadcaster whose 50-year radio career included nearly a decade as an anchor and reporter at Hubbard's WTOP in Washington, DC has died at the age of 74 after a long battle with cancer.

"He loved working in radio," said his daughter, Amber Haning. "WTOP was his favorite job he ever had -- he talked about it all the time."

Haning's career spanned numerous roles and formats, showcasing his versatility as a broadcaster. Born in 1950 in Sydney, Iowa, he began his radio journey in 1970, shortly after graduating from Simi Valley High School in California.

During the Boss Radio boom in Los Angeles, Haning joined KRLA in 1973 as a disc jockey. A decade later, in 1983, he moved to Washington, DC, to work at WJOK, a station that pioneered the country's first all-comedy radio format.

By the mid-1980s, Haning became the production director at WWRC, a prominent talk radio station known for its lineup of notable hosts, including Joel A. Spivak, Bob Kwesell, and the morning team of Bruce Alan and Ed Walker.

Haning's time at WTOP, from the early 2000s to 2011, remains a highlight of his career, cementing his reputation as a trusted voice in news broadcasting.