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Taking a Leading Role
Portrait of Betty Ramey

Betty Ramey

Betty Ramey (c. 1924- ) co-founded WRKL Radio with her husband Al Spiro in Rockland, New York in 1964. WRKL radio grew into a pioneering, indomitable station which, despite setbacks, provided community members with a means of voicing their opinions over the airwaves.

After Spiro's death in 1968, Ramey, a former art teacher, succeeded her husband as manager of the station and as the host of its controversial, news-making discussion program "Hotline." She continued to run WRKL as a very successful, local radio station until 1985, serving as host of "Hotline" until November of that year.

View the Betty Ramey Digital Gallery