Albert (Gene) Guthrie

Legendary Salt Lake City Broadcaster passes

Albert (Gene) Guthrie, 83, of Grantsville, Utah, passed from natural causes on January 22, 2022. Gene was born on April 01, 1938, in Alamogordo, New Mexico to George and Margeret Guthrie. Gene attended high school in Alamogordo where he dominated high school track and field. At the age of just 15, Gene found his love for broadcasting and regularly rode the train to El Paso, Texas where he obtained on-air work at the legendary KHEY AM while attending high school.

Gene met and married the love of his life Glenda Guthrie in 1957 and they had three beautiful daughters, Robin, Kathy, and Mona. While raising a young family Gene worked his way through college by working in radio. He also moonlighted as a very successful Country music singer and writer earning the respect of many Nashville producers and musicians. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Texas-El Paso (UTEP). 

After a successful early career working for Texas and Arizona radio stations, Gene and Glenda found themselves packing up the family and moving to Salt Lake City, Utah where Gene owned Utah’s legendary country station 1550 AM KRGO and 107.9 KRGO FM for nearly three decades.

Gene became a pioneer in Utah radio launching the first AM stereo broadcast technology and structuring the very first Time Brokerage Agreement (LMA) in the Wasatch Front with an agreement he forged to allow KZHT radio to lease time from 1550 AM in 1991.

While AM stereo was ultimately proved unsuccessful as an alternative to FM radio, the LMA is a widely used; FCC approved standard nationwide allowing broadcasters for both television and radio to legally lease time from other broadcasters.

Gene was athletically motivated well into his 60s and ran competitively many times in the Utah Senior Olympics. To the delight of his grandchildren, he enjoyed rollerblading, fishing, and snow skiing through those years.

Gene is survived by his wife Glenda, daughters Kathy and Mona, 7 grandchildren, and 10 great grand children.

Gene is preceded in death by his daughter Robin, his parents George and Margeret, brother Harold, and sister Audrey. The family will hold private services and ask in lieu of flowers that people remember Gene by listening and supporting their local radio stations, wherever they may be.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday evening, January 25, 2022 from 6-7:30 PM at the Dalton-Hoopes Funeral Home, 50 W Main, Grantsville, Utah 84029

Online condolences and memories may be shared at daltonhoopes.com