Stan Karas' Obituary
Stan Karas – “The Nightowl”
Washington area radio listeners have lost one of their favorite air personalities from the 1960’s- 1980’s. Stan Karas passed away at his home in Culpeper, VA, on May 22, 2007. Mr. Karas was known as “The Nightowl” during his career on WRC 980 AM from 1960-1973. He followed Eddie Walker and Willard Scott, the famed “Joy Boys,” and hosted the overnight show from midnight to 5:30am. He featured a mixture of big band music and celebrity interviews. During this same time period, he broadcast sports segments on WRC-TV Channel 4 News. He also produced and hosted two weekly sports television series, Golf with the Pros and Golf from Tee to Green on Channel 4. For those programs, he filmed over 90 shows at local golf clubs, and featured golf legends such as Arnold Palmer, Lee Elder, Doug Sanders, and Tony Lema. From 1973-1977, Mr. Karas was the play-by-play announcer for American University basketball on WAVA-FM. He also produced and hosted “College Scoreboard,” a sports radio show, as well as “Celebrity Corner,” a live weekly celebrity interview show broadcast from the Marriott Hotel in Bethesda. From 1979-1985, Mr. Karas was the General Manager of WEAM-AM, broadcasting Big Band music. There he created the “Big Band/Nostalgia Dances” in support of the Easter Seals Foundation, and developed a Big Band library that became the focus of the “Stardust” format aired on the Satellite Music Network. Mr. Karas was also a fixture in the local dinner theater scene. He starred in popular shows such as The Music Man, Funny Girl, Hello Dolly, Oklahoma, Guys and Dolls, and others at theaters including The Burn Brae Dinner Theater, The Downingtown Inn, and the Marriott Twin Bridges. After several years managing radio stations in Florida, Las Vegas, the Carolinas, and other markets, Mr. Karas settled in Culpeper, VA, where he managed WCUL-FM and most recently Channel 21 TV, the government public access television station. Under his leadership, the small station won an unprecedented six Telly Awards for excellence in local programming. Mr. Karas was pre-deceased by brother Perry James Karas, who was killed in action in World War II. He is survived by his daughter Michelle (Karas) Duncan and grandsons Jeffrey, Michael, and Gregory Duncan of Centreville, VA; brothers James Karas of Bladensburg, MD, and William Wilkerson of Rockville, MD, as well as his special lady friend Jill Boon of Bethesda, MD.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Found and Sons Funeral Chapel, 850 Sperryville Pike, Culpeper, VA 22701.
A funeral service will be held at on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 at 11 a.m. at Culpeper Baptist Church in Culpeper, VA, with Dr Ted Fuson officiating.
Interment will follow in Culpeper National Cemetery (NEW).
Memorial contributions may be made in his name to Relay 4 Life, 2654 Valley Ave. Ste. B, Winchester, VA 22601 &/or Hospice of the Rapidan, P.O. Box 1715, Culpeper, VA 22701.
An online guestbook is available at www.foundandsons.com
Found and Sons Funeral Chapel of Culpeper is handling the arrangements.
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