WICHITA — The Kansas Association of Broadcasters’ highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award, is given annually for exemplary service to the community, state and broadcast industry. This year’s award went to Jerry Hinrikus of Eagle Communications, Inc. and as a recipient of the Distinguished Service Award; Jerry will also become a member of the Kansas Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

Jerry Hinrikus started his broadcast career in 1967 at KTNC radio in Falls City, Neb., right after high school and realizing he couldn’t plant straight corn rows on the farm he grew up on near Prosser, Neb. While serving in the Navy as a Cryptologist, Jerry also announced for American Forces Philippines radio, boxed and played for the San Miguel Comets tackle football team.

After attending Brown Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jerry worked in sales and management positions in Hastings, Grand Island and Lincoln, Neb., plus Beaumont, Texas, and Wichita. The last 30 years, Jerry has been involved in Salina radio as an owner, manager, announcer and head cheerleader and is currently general manager of Eagle Radio.

Having introduced a successful news and information website plus being one of the first radio groups to exclusively broadcast high school sports on the Internet, Jerry gave presentations to the Swedish and Philippine Broadcast associations and many speeches to state broadcast association meetings, NAB, RAB, ABC and NBC meetings.

Jerry served on the KAB Board of Directors 1991-94 and as President Chairman in 1993. Jerry also served on the NAB Board of Directors 2002-2004.
Jerry and his wife have been married 41 years, have three daughters, who are all school teachers, four grandchildren and more on the way.