Broadcaster known as community servant

PORTALES — Residents of eastern New Mexico communities woke Sunday morning to discover a voice they had become so accustomed to hearing every day — whether in their home, car or office — would no longer be there.

Local radio personality Steve Rooney was killed in a single-vehicle accident over the weekend.

According to New Mexico State Police, Rooney, 45, was northbound on South Roosevelt Road S when the vehicle he was driving encountered ice on the roadway with Rooney losing control of the vehicle, which exited the roadway and collided with a tree. The time of the accident is unclear, officials said, but the accident was discovered about 5:30 a.m. Sunday.

Rooney owned and operated Rooney Moon Broadcasting with long-time business partner Jeff McNaughton, known as Duffy Moon on the radio.

The company operates local radio stations Mix 107.5, KSEL Country, Q101.5 and the AM station, Cow Country.

Along with being outspoken, the biggest trademark that seemed to stand out to those who knew Rooney was his love of people.

"He had a whole lot of love for the community and making the community better," said Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Karl Terry. "That's so hard nowadays. We get so busy that we forget our roots, but he never forgot about the roots."

"He did not go along with the status quo. He questioned things and that was good," Terry added. "He didn't hold back any punches when something wasn't right."

Local sports announcer and Eastern New Mexico University professor Donald "Doc" Elder said when Rooney and Moon first came to eastern New Mexico, they planned to build a radio market then sell it, but things worked out differently.

"This was their home," Elder said. "It always just astounded me that they really cared about more than just a dollar sign."

Elder recalled judging an ENMU's Got Talent contest with Rooney years ago, saying that after a girl sang a country song, he told her, "I'm not a big fan of country, but you did a great job with that song."

"A minute later, Steve leans over and says, 'Hey, Doc, since you're the host of my morning show on the country station, I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't share with people that you're not a big fan of country music," reminisced Elder with a laugh.

"The main thing whenever you deal with anyone in the media, I always wondered if there was a public persona and a real persona, but with Steve, the public persona was the personal persona. He really believed in local radio. He believed that anyone who turned on that radio, we owed it to them to give them the best entertainment we can," said Elder.

"I really got to know a Steve Rooney beyond the radio presence that he had," he added. "He was a great, warm-hearted individual who thought about other people. He wanted to make this part of the world the best part of the world it could be."

In a Monday morning radio broadcast, Moon reassured community members that their local radio would still be there and that, "it's going to be OK."

Hundreds of condolences poured onto Facebook over the weekend:

• "He was a kind soul and always supported my efforts," posted Renee Vallejos Fitts. "He was funny, loud and always professional. He loved his wife, four children and radio station family. I was blessed to have worked and crossed paths with Steve — a kindred spirit that will be truly missed."

• "I will miss him scaring the snot out of me every chance he had, his laughing at my mispronunciation of words, his advice, the talks we had about kids, family, baseball, food and all the other many random things we talked about," posted Casey Peacock with Rooney Moon Broadcasting. "I will also miss his big bear hugs, advice, wisdom and support."

• In his own tribute at the end of the broadcast, Moon stated, "From a partner, best friend, it's been the best 24 years of my life. God bless you, friend, and I love you."