Local Christian radio station owner, Lee Schafer, dies at age 62

BY SANDRA FORESTER - sforester@idahostatesman.com

Published: 09/11/08


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Lee Schafer, a significant influence in local Christian radio, died Tuesday of a massive heart attack.

Schafer, 62, and his family own Inspirational Family Radio's three stations specializing in Christian talk programming. He was the general manager.

"Lee was an innovator in the radio industry," said Dale Peterson, former owner of KCID and executive director of Buy Idaho. "He saw the way things were, and he wanted to make them better."

Friends said Schafer's legacy is that he remained a local owner, even when other stations sold to large corporations.

"Being a radio owner in Boise, Idaho, is not for the faint of heart," said Art Gregory, History of Idaho Broadcasting Foundation president. "It's a lot of work for very little return. He did it by operating the station the proper way, keying in on listeners and ethics."

Schafer built his first radio at age 7, said his son, Dave Schafer. At 10, he earned an amateur radio license. As a college student, he worked at Northwest Nazarene College's radio station.

In 1983, Schafer and his wife, Beth, purchased KSPD AM in Boise. They bought Boise's KBXL FM in 1989 and KDZY FM in McCall in 2001. The stations have about 15,000 listeners a week, and the family will continue to run the stations, Beth Schafer said.

"He had a passion to serve God, and the way he did it was through radio," she said. "He saw ministry as broader than the pulpit."

Dave Schafer said his father loved people, as well.

"He had a magnetic personality and an infectious laugh," Dave Schafer said. "He was a down-to-earth person. He loved learning."

A memorial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Cloverdale Church of God, 3755 S. Cloverdale Road, Boise.

Gregory is planning a tribute later and asks that those with photos or tapes contact him at pawzup@qwest.net.

Sandra Forester: 377-6464

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