The 518's original radio rebel, Bob Mason, passes away

 Remember when Howard Stern decided he wanted to run for governor?

Bob Mason tried it first.

The gravelly voiced Mason (born Roy Moon in Catskill) was largely responsible for WPYX becoming the #1 FM station in the 518 during the late 70's and 80's after being lured away from WFLY by 'PYX program director/afternoon host Ted Utz. With either Cliff Nash or Bill Sheehan by his side, and a cast of recurring characters who wanted in on the fun, Mason owned local FM radio, at least until Stern's syndicated show added a local station to its network.

Bob Mason runs for governor in 1981. File photo courtesy of the Albany Times-Union.

Mason often sent rude or annoying callers away with a curt, "Say goodbye, dummy!". As shown above, Mason did make a modest run for governor in 1981 as a 3rd party candidate, and, like Stern a few years later, failed to make a dent at the polls. However, he frequently had then-Albany Mayor Thomas Whalen as a phone-in guest on his show.

WPYX cut Mason & Sheehan in the mid-90's, when they signed with rival WQBK. That partnership didn't last, and the duo will be forever remembered for their stunts with 'PYX, including managing a local comedy wrestler, Fracture Flansburg, in a 1-off at the then-Knickerbocker Arena for the then-World Wrestling Federation.

Rest in peace.