Jim Rome, a nationally syndicated sports radio personality and Thoroughbred owner who has become one of the sport’s leading advocates, will be inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame during the 31st Annual Radio Hall of Fame induction ceremony in New York City on Nov. 8. 

Rome, a 1987 graduate of the University of Southern California, Santa Barbara, started his career in the Southern California market and became nationally prominent as host of “The Jim Rome Show,” also known as “The Jungle.” He became interested in horse racing in the mid-2000s after Billy Koch of Little Red Feather Racing asked him to buy a Thoroughbred.

Rome found success quickly with two top-class racehorses: Mizdirection, who won two consecutive editions of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in 2012 and 2013; and the late Shared Belief, winner of the 2014 Pacific Classic and the 2015 Santa Anita Handicap. 

Through his Jungle Racing ownership entity, Rome and his wife Janet remain involved with the sport of kings. Rome was the keynote speaker at the 2016 Thoroughbred OwnerView Conference.

Along with Rome, the 2019 inductees include:

Sean “Hollywood” Hamilton, afternoon host at iHeartMedia’s WKTU New York and the Premiere Networks-syndicated weekly “Weekend Top 30 Countdown”

Harry Harrison, former morning man at New York’s WMCA, WABC and WCBS-FM (Longstanding Local/Regional, 20+ years)

“Kevin and Bean” (Kevin Ryder, Gene “Bean” Baxter), morning hosts at Entercom’s KROQ-FM, Los Angeles (Active Local/Regional, 10+ years)

Joe Madison (“The Black Eagle,”), heard on SiriusXM Radio’s Urban View channel and formerly on WXYZ Detroit; WWRC and WOL Washington, D.C.

Ryan Seacrest, morning man on iHeartMedia’s KIIS-FM Los Angeles and host of Premiere-syndicated shows “On Air with Ryan Seacrest” and “American Top 40 with Ryan Seacrest”

John Tesh, host of “Intelligence For Your Life,” syndicated by Compass Media Networks (Active Network/Syndication, 10+ years)

Dr. Ruth Westheimer, former host of “The Dr. Ruth Show” on NBC Radio and “Sexually Speaking” on WYNY New York

Calling their on-air performances and audience relationships “especially remarkable,” RHOF Chairman Kraig Kitchin said each of the 2019 nominees “are worthy of induction and I’m appreciative of all those who participated in our process of selecting our Class of 2019, who will join the 238 Radio Hall of Fame inductees already recognized for their great work.”

Four inductees were determined by a voting participant panel made up of nearly 1,000 industry professionals and four inductees were voted on by the RHOF Nominating Committee, two with input from the public. All inductees with their notable presenters along with industry heavyweights will come together to celebrate at Gotham Hall.  

Presenters include:

Jimmy Fallon, host of "The Tonight Show"

Christian Slater, award-winning actor and producer

Kevin Frazier, co-host of "Entertainment Tonight"

Andy Schuon, veteran radio and cable television programmer and music industry entrepreneur

Dave Gorab, vice president/general manager talk programming, SiriusXM

Frank Osborne, retired general manager of WYNY-FM New York

Joe McCoy, longtime program director of WCBS-FM

Connie Sellecca, television actress, producer, and radio host