Contributed
The Dayton Area Broadcasters recently inducted former Cincinnati radio personality Edna Howell-Parrish into its Hall of Fame Class of 2022 along with nine other honorees at the Dayton Convention Center.
The Dayton Area Broadcasters Hall of Fame was founded in 2001 to enshrine pioneering and legendary broadcasters from the Dayton area for their many years of service in the industry and their dedication to the community.
Edna Howell-Parrish served 45 years working in the broadcast and social media industry. She began her radio career in Dayton after attending the Dayton International School of Broadcasting and training at Broadcast Workshop Inc. In 1975 -1978 she hosted “Jazz Kaleidoscope on WCXL-FM and then went on to work at WAVI-AM/ WDAO-FM in several posts, including News/Public Affairs Director, all while editing WDAO The Soul-Phiscators newspaper.
In 1986 Edna moved to Cincinnati and was named News/Public Affairs Director at WCIN and later anchored at WSAI-AM. A few years later she was named News/Public Affairs Director/Talk Show Host at WIZF-FM and WDBZ, where she served for 12 years and hosted her daily talk show, “Straight Talk Live.” She also directed News at WAKW- FM. In 2003, she relocated to Atlanta, and worked as a radio news anchor at V103/WAOK. Her next moves included positions as a news/traffic reporter in Cleveland, and Austin, Texas, and talk host in Grand Rapids/Holland, Michigan. She returned to the Tri-State in 2014.
Howell-Parrish has covered hard-breaking news stories locally and major national news. She has been the recipient of numerous awards for community service from social service agencies sororities, fraternities and ministries. The Cincinnati Enquirer newspaper honored Edna in the prestigious gallery of “The Next Best” Top 40 Radio personalities.
Sharon Davis, founding Broadcasters Hall of Fame member, says of Edna: “Edna is a radio pioneer. She made a name for herself in the industry when it was so difficult for women to succeed and has never looked back.”
Faith Daniels, Dayton WROU- FM Program Music Director, paying tribute to Edna, who she worked with at WIZF-FM, said, “Edna has always been the consummate professional and in addition to that she is very well respected. She is an African American Image maker I chose to pattern my career after. Watching Edna’s career growth has been amazing. She is a lighthouse in so many communities. Edna reinvents herself and she tells an amazing story. It’s not just an African American story, but an American woman’s story in media.
While attending the Hall of Fame Celebration, Anjali McGuire credits Edna for hiring her as a news anchor/reporter at The WIZ WIZF after graduating from Central State University. Her career has span 33 years and she is currently a radio personality at 97.5 The Beat in Tampa Bay. She says, “Thank you for being such a powerful inspiration. Congratulations to my dear friend, mentor, and first boss in radio. You are sensational Edna — Well done!”
Howell-Parrish continues to share news as a host on her own Video Podcast “Straight Talk Live with Edna Howell-Parrish.”