"This is the
FUN part of my day" That's how Tom describes the morning news and talk show he has hosted on KAST for over 30 years.
Oregon State Senator Betsy Johnson calls Freel “The most powerful voice on the North Coast of Oregon” as a nod to the veteran broadcaster’s reach and influence as the morning news anchor and commentator on KAST AM 1370. Tom Freel has gained the trust of generations of listeners as the morning voice of commonsense and no nonsense for over 30 years on Astoria’s heritage radio station.
Tom Freel began his radio career in Portland, Oregon on News Talk KYXI AM 1520 where he reported on Multnomah County and Portland City government. His daily afternoon drive feature “BREAKTHROUGH” on science and technology innovations in the Northwest garnered awards from the Associated Press and the Oregon Association of Broadcasters.
Freels coverage of a jetliner hijacking and subsequent crash in a northwest Portland neighborhood in 1979 was carried on CBS radio and lauded by CBS News Executive Vice President Emerson Stone as “Invaluable to CBS news at a tough time of the day and far from any network bureau”
In 1980 his coverage of the eruption of Mt. St. Helens won best coverage in metro Portland from Associated Press.
Freel moved his family to Astoria to take over programming and morning drive duties on KAST in 1981 and was named Operations Manager for New Northwest Broadcasters Astoria Cluster in 2002. He was responsible for the programming and day to day operations of seven radio stations serving Clatsop and Pacific counties. Under his direction the KAST 1370 news team won various coverage awards from the Association Of Oregon Broadcasters for special series reports and website coverage. In 2007 Freel won "Best News Coverage" and "Best Breaking News" awards for coverage of a devastating multi-day wind storm that cut off the Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington. The Mayor of Astoria made an official proclaimation recognizing the vital importance of Freel's personal contribution to that coverage. In 2009 KAST recieved award recognition for it's outstanding community service from the National Association of Broadcasters. In 2010 he served as Vice President and General Manager for NNB Radio Astoria. Freel now serves as the News Director for Ohana Media Group based in Warrenton, Oregon.
Tom Freel introduced the concept of local talk radio to the lower Columbia audience with the creation of “Coast Watch Call In” in 1989 and the program has provided an important community forum. In 1994 Freel introduced the concept of a full time news and talk station in a small market with a strong emphasis on local news. Freel is the person other talk show hosts call for his opinion on issues affecting the coasts of Oregon and Washington. He has been a guest commentator on the Lars Larson show on several occasions over the years. In 2003 Tom Freel was honored by the Oregon Association of Broadcasters as “Oregon Heritage Broadcaster”.
Freel has served Lions Clubs International as an Oregon District Governor for the charitable organization in 2003 and has served on a number of non-profit boards for organizations including the American Cancer Society North Coast Chapter, Pioneer House Homeless Shelter, and Board of Trustees for the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
Tom and Linda Freel have been married for 38 years and have two children and two grandchildren to spoil.
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