The radio “dean” of West Virginia broadcasters, Hoppy Kercheval joined West Virginia Radio Corporation in 1976. Through the years Hoppy’s assignments have spanned the gamut to include news, sports, and talk.
A native of Summit Point in Jefferson County, Hoppy began as a news anchor/reporter at WAJR in Morgantown while still attending West Virginia University. After graduating with honors from WVU, Kercheval took over as news director at WAJR and began carving an identity as one of the leading broadcasters in West Virginia.
A founding father of Metronews, Kercheval served as News Director until assuming the role of Vice President of Operations in 1991. In 1993, he created Metronews Talkline, which has become a signature program of the network. Hoppy’s gift of interviewing has made Talkline a must-listen for lawmakers and anyone interested in state politics and the day’s top news events.
Kercheval has a Master of Science in Journalism degree from WVU. He also has an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from West Virginia Wesleyan. Kercheval has received a number of honors over the years, including the Mel Burka Award, which is given annually by the West Virginia Broadcasters Association to the state’s top broadcaster.
An avid traveler, Hoppy’s adventures have taken him to 19 different countries around the world. He and his wife, Karin, live in Morgantown. Kercheval has one son, Ben, who lives in Denton, Texas where writes for the sports website bleacherreport.com.
Recent Articles by Hoppy Kercheval
The Entrepreneurial Spirit is Surging
Mark Twain said, “The secret to getting ahead is getting started,” and new research shows a growing number of Americans are willing to take that risky plunge of starting a business. The report by the Economic Innovation Group found that, “Over the first six months of 2023, applications to start a business likely to hire
August 8, 2023 - 12:03 am
Conference Realignment and Cannibalism
The chaotic reshuffling of college sports conferences got me thinking about the Donner Party. They were a group of American pioneers who became snowbound in the Sierra Nevada mountains while on a wagon train to California in the winter of 1846-47. When they ran out of food, they resorted to cannibalism to survive. The extent
August 7, 2023 - 12:38 am
So, Are We Still Friends?
Whenever the subject of Donald Trump comes up on my radio show, I’m reminded that I am an odd man out in West Virginia, and that is not a comfortable place. Trump has more support per capita here than perhaps any other state. He received 69 percent of the vote in 2020 and 68 percent
August 4, 2023 - 12:22 am
Huggins Wanted His Office Back, Emeritus Head Coach Position
Last month, West Virginia University firmly rejected an attempt by former basketball coach Bob Huggins to get his job back by claiming that he never really resigned. WVU forced Huggins to resign after he was arrested in Pittsburgh June 16th for drunk driving. “In no uncertain terms, the University will not accept Mr. Huggins’ revocation of
August 3, 2023 - 12:22 am
Wanted: Foreign-born Workers
When Americans think about immigration, disturbing images from the U.S.-Mexico border come to mind. The flow of refugees and people entering the country illegally creates a range of emotions, from empathy for the suffering to hostility toward politicians for the lack of a comprehensive immigration policy. The border issues are real, but so is the
August 2, 2023 - 12:01 am
Alderson Broaddus Told to Wind Down Operations
The Alderson Broaddus Battlers lost the fight. The state Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC) held an emergency meeting Monday afternoon and voted unanimously to revoke the financially troubled school’s authorization to confer degrees, effective December 31, 2023. (Read more here from Brad McElhinny) The HEPC then approved a ten-point plan directing the private school in
August 1, 2023 - 12:26 am
Lawmakers Plan a Fix of the Vehicle Tax Credit
Earlier this year, the West Virginia Legislature and Governor Justice agreed on the largest tax cut in state history. The new law will allow individuals and small businesses to save a total of $750 million a year on their taxes. A key provision allows West Virginians to receive a dollar-for-dollar credit on their income taxes
July 31, 2023 - 12:06 am
