It was an ordinary day. Staring at the photo that just appeared on my monitor when I searched for WLAN-AM radio in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. There was the empty seat in front of the microphone staring back at me. Brought back memories of an old friend, Ken Long, who worked part-time as a disc jockey for the station and was also the portraiture photographer for the Manheim Township High School Yearbook for ages. Since I was the yearbook adviser for years at the high school, I worked with Ken in the production of the yearbook. One year the seniors on the yearbook staff wanted a music theme featuring music of their era. Ken suggested he work with them at the radio station, making a small vinyl recording that could be played on a record player that would feature the music they desired. Ken was a graduate of Manheim Township, as I was, and played lead guitar in many local groups as a high school student and after graduation. While in the U.S. Navy Ken formed a band onboard ship to play for the sailors as well as playing in ports-of-call. After returning to Lancaster he became a disc jockey at WLAN using the name of Ken Roberts. He was more than capable of helping the students with their request, so he took half a dozen of them with him to the WLAN studios to put together a fantastic recording. Even interjected it with interviews of some of the teachers and included a segment that used the same recording used on WLAN when school was closed due to snow. We had a vinyl recording made to include in each yearbook. The book was a hit and we sold out, but it did make for a tough act to follow the next year. Ken went on to be a DJ at local dance clubs for years as well as continue to be a professional photographer as well as the yearbook photographer. In 1995 Ken became Lancaster County's first professional photographer to achieve Master Photographer and Certified Professional Photographer, one of only 500 designated worldwide. On November 23, 2006, after a three-year battle against pancreatic cancer, we all lost a great photographer and friend. The photo I have on my screen is a stark reminder of his passing. He is sorely missed, but will never be forgotten. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
Monday, January 4, 2016
The "Remembering Ken Long" Story
It was an ordinary day. Staring at the photo that just appeared on my monitor when I searched for WLAN-AM radio in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. There was the empty seat in front of the microphone staring back at me. Brought back memories of an old friend, Ken Long, who worked part-time as a disc jockey for the station and was also the portraiture photographer for the Manheim Township High School Yearbook for ages. Since I was the yearbook adviser for years at the high school, I worked with Ken in the production of the yearbook. One year the seniors on the yearbook staff wanted a music theme featuring music of their era. Ken suggested he work with them at the radio station, making a small vinyl recording that could be played on a record player that would feature the music they desired. Ken was a graduate of Manheim Township, as I was, and played lead guitar in many local groups as a high school student and after graduation. While in the U.S. Navy Ken formed a band onboard ship to play for the sailors as well as playing in ports-of-call. After returning to Lancaster he became a disc jockey at WLAN using the name of Ken Roberts. He was more than capable of helping the students with their request, so he took half a dozen of them with him to the WLAN studios to put together a fantastic recording. Even interjected it with interviews of some of the teachers and included a segment that used the same recording used on WLAN when school was closed due to snow. We had a vinyl recording made to include in each yearbook. The book was a hit and we sold out, but it did make for a tough act to follow the next year. Ken went on to be a DJ at local dance clubs for years as well as continue to be a professional photographer as well as the yearbook photographer. In 1995 Ken became Lancaster County's first professional photographer to achieve Master Photographer and Certified Professional Photographer, one of only 500 designated worldwide. On November 23, 2006, after a three-year battle against pancreatic cancer, we all lost a great photographer and friend. The photo I have on my screen is a stark reminder of his passing. He is sorely missed, but will never be forgotten. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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Ken and I were friends and classmates in hs. Hadn't realized he died.
ReplyDeleteWhat year was that Chip. I'm trying to find the yearbook so I can get a photo of him to post on the story.
ReplyDeleteclass of 1964
DeleteKen wrote the usual saluation on his name in my year book to me, ending with a friend always...Did Ken briefly have a small business in Millersville in the early '80s? I think I talked w/ him there. In Hawaii?
I don't think Ken ever had a business in Millersville. He may have visited the Framery that was where 999 went off to the right at the first intersection in Millersville. Ken worked for his dad for as long as I can remember until his dad died and Ken took over the business. He then married his second wife Phyllis who also was a photographer and ran the shop with him.
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