Three KTAL volunteers inducted into Hall of Fame

KTAL, a low-power community radio station, inducted three new members to its Las Cruces Community Radio Hall of Fame.

Minerva Rivera, Dean Matson and Richard Kadzis, who is known to listeners as The Buzzman, were inducted during a recent ceremony. Walt Rubel, station manager, said all three have been with KTAL since its inception eight years ago.

Minerva heads the station’s committee responsible for programming and is the producer of “Speak Up Las Cruces,” a local public affairs show that airs each Wednesday from 8 to 10 a.m.

Matson leads the station’s technical committee which is responsible for keeping the station on the air. Matson previously had his own show.

Kadzis hosts two of the longest-running music shows, “Reelin’ in the Years,” from 3 to 5 p.m. Friday, which features a wide variety of classic rock, and “Tuesday Night Jazz.” He also curates the “Drivetime Jazz” show on weekday mornings.

Kadzis told the Bulletin his volunteer work at KTAL is his “avocation” and that he spent a large portion of his career in broadcast media, including working for NPR member station WBUR in Boston.

Kadzis said he enjoys volunteering for KTAL because it allows for “a freedom of choice” in music programming.

“The reward is, you wouldn’t be doing it if you were not loving your music. It’s a self expression. You get to paint your own canvas,” he said.