Charles “Chuck” Adams
5/22/1923 - 10/11/2013

The Bay Area lost a radio veteran on October 11th 2013 when Charles “Chuck” Adams died at Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater, several months after suffering a fall. Chuck settled his family in Clearwater in 1948 and landed a broadcasting job with WTAN-AM. Then in 1959, with co-worker, Gene Robinson founded WAZE-AM. The WAZE offices were located in the Gray Moss Inn across from the old Ft. Harrison Hotel.

An avid jazz fan, Chuck and Gene conspired to bring big name jazz bands to Clearwater to perform at the Ft. Harrison Hotel. Acts such as The Woody Herman Band, Count Basie, The Four Freshmen, Harry James and many more made repeated visits to Clearwater. Chuck and Gene sold WAZE in 1974 and that left Chuck with lots of time to enjoy his other passion, baseball. When asked about his life-long love of the game, Chuck would recount the day as a youngster he watched a game while sitting on the knee of Babe Ruth.

A memorial gathering for Chuck will be held at 6pm Monday, October 28th at Bob Heilman’s Beachcomber Restaurant, 447 Mandalay Ave., in Clearwater.