Jon Robinson (announcer)
Encyclopedia
Jon Robinson was a longtime radio and television personality in Charlotte, North Carolina
. He was also the public address
announcer for the NFL's Carolina Panthers
from the team's inception in 1995
until midway through the 2009 season
. He also called the first seven editions of the Meineke Car Care Bowl
(known as the Continental Tire Bowl from 2002 to 2004).
A native of nearby Gastonia
, Robinson graduated from the University of Maryland
in 1983 and worked at several Charlotte radio stations before landing the morning drive-time slot at WBT
in 1992. In 1997, he moved to then-sister television station WBTV
as an anchor and reporter. After being passed over for a promotion, he moved to WCBD-TV
in Charleston, South Carolina
as the main evening anchor. He commuted to Charlotte for the next two years for Panthers games.
In 2006, he moved back to Charlotte as morning host at WDYT
, a station in nearby Kings Mountain
that had recently boosted its daytime power to cover Charlotte. Almost two years into this job, he was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma
in his throat. Doctors managed to catch it before it spread, however. Having been laid off from WDYT, he then moved to WKQC
as morning host in December 2008. This slot, and his tenure as Panthers PA announcer, ended abruptly in October 2009 when he was arrested for telephoning and texting his estranged wife in violation of a restraining order.
In December 2009, Robinson told The Charlotte Observer
that he'd been abusing drugs almost continuously since he was 12, primarily heroin and cocaine
. He said that his habit got so severe that while he worked in Charleston, he was often high on the air. His estranged second wife believes his spiral into drug abuse was due to being molested for five years by a man who coached him in basketball.
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. He was also the public address
Public address
A public address system is an electronic amplification system with a mixer, amplifier and loudspeakers, used to reinforce a sound source, e.g., a person giving a speech, a DJ playing prerecorded music, and distributing the sound throughout a venue or building.Simple PA systems are often used in...
announcer for the NFL's Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
from the team's inception in 1995
1995 Carolina Panthers season
-Preseason:-Regular season:-Records:* Most victories by an expansion team * First expansion team to have a winning record at home * First expansion team to have a four game winning streak...
until midway through the 2009 season
2009 Carolina Panthers season
The 2009 Carolina Panthers season was the 15th season for the team in the National Football League. They failed to improve on their franchise-record 12–4 season in 2008 and also failed to make the playoffs.-2009 NFL Draft:-Trades:...
. He also called the first seven editions of the Meineke Car Care Bowl
Meineke Car Care Bowl
The Belk Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. First played in 2002, it was certified by the NCAA as the Queen City Bowl and was previously known as the Continental Tire Bowl and the Meineke Car Care Bowl before Belk acquired...
(known as the Continental Tire Bowl from 2002 to 2004).
A native of nearby Gastonia
Gastonia
Gastonia may refer to:Places:*Gastonia, North Carolina, United StatesIn biology:*Gastonia , a genus in the ivy or ginseng family*Gastonia , a genus of ankylosaur...
, Robinson graduated from the University of Maryland
University of Maryland
When the term "University of Maryland" is used without any qualification, it generally refers to the University of Maryland, College Park.University of Maryland may refer to the following:...
in 1983 and worked at several Charlotte radio stations before landing the morning drive-time slot at WBT
WBT (AM)
WBT is a radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina, broadcasting on the AM dial at 1110 kHz. A 50,000-watt clear-channel station, it can be heard across most of the eastern half of North America at night. It simulcasts on WBT-FM, at 99.3 MHz in Chester, South Carolina. It is owned by Greater...
in 1992. In 1997, he moved to then-sister television station WBTV
WBTV
WBTV, channel 3 , is the CBS affiliate in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is one of two flagship stations of Raycom Media. WBTV's studios are located off Morehead Street just west of Uptown Charlotte, and its transmitter is located in north-central Gaston County, North Carolina...
as an anchor and reporter. After being passed over for a promotion, he moved to WCBD-TV
WCBD-TV
WCBD-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station for the Lowcountry area of South Carolina licensed to Charleston. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 50 from a transmitter in Awendaw. The station can also be seen on Time Warner channel 2 as well as Knology and Comcast...
in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
as the main evening anchor. He commuted to Charlotte for the next two years for Panthers games.
In 2006, he moved back to Charlotte as morning host at WDYT
WDYT
WDYT is a silent radio station licensed to Kings Mountain, North Carolina, serving the Charlotte, NC area. The station is currently owned by CRN Communications, LLC. According to an FCC filing, Iglesia Nueva Vida is buying the station...
, a station in nearby Kings Mountain
Kings Mountain
Kings Mountain may refer to:*Kings Mountain, California, an unincorporated community in San Mateo County*Kings Mountain, North Carolina, a city in North Carolina...
that had recently boosted its daytime power to cover Charlotte. Almost two years into this job, he was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma , occasionally rendered as "squamous-cell carcinoma", is a histologically distinct form of cancer. It arises from the uncontrolled multiplication of malignant cells deriving from epithelium, or showing particular cytological or tissue architectural characteristics of...
in his throat. Doctors managed to catch it before it spread, however. Having been laid off from WDYT, he then moved to WKQC
WKQC
WKQC is a CBS Radio adult contemporary radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina. The station goes by the name "K 104.7" with the slogan "Cool Songs."The station receives exceptional interference from another 104.7 in Columbia, just 75 miles south...
as morning host in December 2008. This slot, and his tenure as Panthers PA announcer, ended abruptly in October 2009 when he was arrested for telephoning and texting his estranged wife in violation of a restraining order.
In December 2009, Robinson told The Charlotte Observer
The Charlotte Observer
The Charlotte Observer, serving Charlotte, North Carolina and its metro area, is the largest newspaper, in terms of circulation, in North Carolina and South Carolina...
that he'd been abusing drugs almost continuously since he was 12, primarily heroin and cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
. He said that his habit got so severe that while he worked in Charleston, he was often high on the air. His estranged second wife believes his spiral into drug abuse was due to being molested for five years by a man who coached him in basketball.