Dear Source:
Thanks for a great profile of a man whose name is synonymous with radio in the Virgin Islands. For as long as I can remember, Leo Moron’s "Old Timer’s Program" was a Sunday afternoon fixture at my parents' and grandparents' house and today, at the home of my in-laws. And with more than forty years of "quelbe knockin’ dog" each Sunday afternoon, Leo has seen similar attempts by others to imitate his weekly program. Today, however, there is only one program which highlights the traditional music of our islands left standing and that is testament to his knowledge of the music and its origins and the quality time he spends in production of each one-hour long "Old Timer’s Program."
In addition, his contributions to radio in the Virgin Islands are endless and his legacy will be that he displayed the courage and leadership to engage the young people year after year in this communications art form. Over the years, he has trained a number of prominent Virgin Islands young people in the field of communications each starting at the humble studios of WIUJ, 102.9 FM. WIUJ is the only non-commercial licensed radio station in the Virgin Islands and Moron is the sole owner of this station which has diverse programming and features gavel to gavel coverage of all legislative proceedings.
The Virgin Islands has a rich history of radio broadcasters and Leo is in the company of so many who have contributed much to keeping Virgin Islanders informed. Who can forget the night Hurricane Marilyn devastated the Virgin Islands? The comforting voices of Leo Moron, Rick Ricardo and Buddy Kennings were on the air from their third floor perch of the Franklin Building in downtown St. Thomas passing along words of encouragement and support as the brutal forces of this category five storm came to bear on the territory. They remained on the air on (WVWI Radio One) until the waterlogged facilities could go no more…all in service to the community they loved.
I salute Leo for his tenacity in maintaining the "Old Timer’s Program", for his almost life-long efforts to grow WIUJ 102.9 FM and for the effect he has had on the formative years of so many Virgin Islands young people through their training at WIUJ.
Thanks for all you do each day. I am delighted to count you among my close friends.
Jean P. Greaux Jr.
St. Thomas
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