Red Shipley

Date published: 10/9/2007

Red Shipley

Robert Grant "Red" Shipley of Orange County peacefully passed away Saturday night, Oct. 6, 2007, at University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, with family by his side.

He was the son of the late Allison L. and Oma Huff Shipley. He also was preceded in death by a brother, Jack Shipley; and a sister, Jewell S. Gooch.

Red was one of Orange County's best-known citizens with more than 50 years in the radio broadcasting industry.

Born in Johnson City, Tenn., Red's younger years were filled with listening to bluegrass and country music greats such as Bill Monroe, Ralph and Carter Stanley and Mac Wiseman.

From those early childhood years, Red never wanted to be anything but a country-music disk jockey.

The Shipley family moved to Orange County following World War II. Red attended Orange County schools, and began the career he always wanted by broadcasting Orange County High School football games on local radio station WJMA before he graduated in 1956.

Within three years of graduation, Red had moved to WPRW in Manassas, where he quickly became one of Northern Virginia's most popular morning-ride DJs.

The career ladder then took Red to Warrenton and Big K Country. Big K became one of the top-five-rated country radio stations during Red's tenure. Red's time at Big K brought much national recognition and an appearance on the popular Hee Haw television show.

From Big K, Red went to WPIK in Alexandria, where he was both the morning-ride DJ and program manager. Red ended his first radio career following his time at WPIK, but during that time he developed his first bluegrass show, which eventually led him to his 25-year career as host of "Stained Glass Bluegrass".

In 1982, Red was called on to host the show on WAMU on a temporary basis.

Red moved back to Orange and radio broadcasting in 1995. He returned to regular DJ duties with WJMA. With a special arrangement with WAMU in Alexandria, Red continued to broadcast "Stained Glass Bluegrass" from Orange.

Red suffered a major stroke two years ago that left him paralyzed on his right side. Unable to continue as morning DJ at WJMA, Red continued as host of "Stained Glass Bluegrass."

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Date published: 10/9/2007