It’s the end of the Dave Becker Era at Nevada Public Radio and in the public media system.
Dave retired in late 2024 after 17 years managing NVPR’s Las Vegas stations, KNPR and KCNV. Dave left the industry having taught, inspired and cared for many grateful people, myself included. I was privileged enough to work with and learn from him for eight years, and I owe much of my success to his influence.
Dave began his career at the Des Moines station that was then known as WSUI (1981–83), then moved on to KCCK in Cedar Rapids (1984–91). Before he made it to Las Vegas, he helped reshape the public radio landscape in Iowa. As program director of WOI in Ames (2000–07), he played a vital role in the merger that formed Iowa Public Radio. Between stints in his home state, Dave worked at High Plains Public Radio in Garden City, Kan., (1983–84) and WESA — formerly known as WDUQ — in Pittsburgh (1991–2000), where he undertook an illuminating experiment in giving air time to political candidates.
Nevada Public Radio put Dave in charge of programming in late 2007. He became a driving force in developing State of Nevada, a daily current affairs program. Under his guidance, NVPR’s news team produced award-winning reporting, including local and national coverage of the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting on Oct. 1, 2017.
State of Nevada host was one of the several hats Dave wore over the course of his tenure in Las Vegas, and he truly shone in celebrity interviews, when he chatted with everyone from actress Suzanne Somers to comedian Marty Allen like old friends. It was often a struggle for me to edit segments like these for time because of how warm and engaging they were from start to finish. Really, Dave has a talent for putting just about anyone at ease. It’s hard to establish a positive relationship with a subject in a 20-minute recording session, but he made it look effortless. His hosting and edits on the show inspired the on-air approach I’ve developed and use on the air every day.
While he’s moved on from news and interviews now, Dave will still be there for listeners, volunteering as music coordinator for the PubJazz music service. His wife, Marge, says Dave plans to also spend his newly acquired free time looking into other volunteering opportunities and enjoying visits with his grandchildren.
Roger Duvall is GM of WVTF in Roanoke, Va. He and Dave worked together on PubJazz.
“I’m not sure he’s given due credit for his brilliance and commitment to service — not only professionally but personally,” Duvall said. He’s grateful for Dave’s “friendship over all these years, for his commitment to family and his profession.”
Similar sentiments came up again and again throughout a video compilation shown at Dave’s Nov. 21 retirement party and in conversations with me afterward. Dave’s colleagues and friends from across his decades of service gushed about not only his leadership and contributions to public media, but also his guidance and kindness.
A few examples:
You have been a colleague, you have been a sounding board, you have been a mentor, but, I would say most importantly, you have been a friend.
Casey Morell, NPR News
You were very helpful in encouraging me to be creative and to try different things, and I have carried those things forward with me.
John Pemble, Iowa Public Radio
I really can’t imagine [NVPR] without you.
Kristy Totten, City of San Diego
You have had such an amazing impact on the public radio community and your colleagues, but most importantly, you always kept your listeners at the forefront. … Public radio is going to miss you.
Kevin Gavin, formerly of WDUQ
No challenge was ever too large for Dave Becker to resolve, and he will be difficult to replace with just one person.
Dave Berns, formerly of NVPR
No word from the organization yet on hiring a successor, but whoever’s next in the NVPR PD chair has some legendary shoes to fill.
On behalf of all of us whose lives and careers you’ve changed for the better: Thank you so much for everything, Dave.
Nikole Robinson Carroll is a host/reporter for KUNC in Greeley, Colo., and a former host/producer for Nevada Public Radio.