ROSLYN, VA. — This D.C. “Ruleman” has announced his retirement, but the biggest worry the NAB, FCC and Congress may need to worry about is sending kudos and congratulatory wishes.
David Ruleman, who serves as VP/GM of Salem Media Group‘s Washington, D.C. cluster, plans to retire at the end of June 2017.
Ruleman began his career in 1968 as a broadcast journalist, news anchor and news director. Between 1973 and 1986, he served as VP of Palomar Broadcasters and President of Radio Del Rey. He joined Salem that year, and signed on KPRZ-AM in San Diego as GM, a role he held until February 14, 1992.
That’s the date that Emmis signed off CHR/Pop WAVA-FM 105.1 in Washington. The following morning, with snow falling across the National Capital Region, Salem took control of WAVA and switched it to a Christian Full Service station, featuring inspirational AC music with talk and teaching programs. Ruleman shifted to DC to serve as VP/GM, and he’s been at 5232 Lee Highway ever since.
Under his leadership, Salem in 2001 added three channels on XM Satellite Radio. Today, Sirius XM continues to carry “Sirius XM 131, Family Talk,” Salem’s exclusive Christian Teaching and Talk channel for satellite radio consumers.
“It has been a privilege to serve with outstanding professionals at every level,” Ruleman said. “They are the best of the best in the communications industry. It has been an honor to serve ministries, churches and clients and I am grateful to have been able to play a small part in the development and growth of this life changing organization known as Salem Media Group.”
Salem CEO Ed Atsinger III commented, “David Ruleman is in many respects one of the ‘founding fathers’ of Salem Media. His passion and impact for Salem in San Diego led to our decision to put him in Washington when we acquired WAVA, our most expensive acquisition at the time. He has been there ever since and has done a tremendous job in one of the most influential cities in the world, our nation’s capital. Dave’s daily presence will be missed, but the legacy of his leadership will last into future generations of leaders for Salem.”
MOYER MOVES UP
With Ruleman’s retirement, WAVA Station Manager Tom Moyer has been upped to General Manager of the Washington, DC cluster. In addition to WAVA-AM & FM and the dedicated Sirius XM channel, programmed out of Salem’s Arlington, Va., headquarters, the cluster includes WWRC-AM 1260/WRCW-AM 1250.
Moyer took his new duties today (4/3).
Ruleman said of Moyer, “Tom has been a part of the growth of our operations in DC from the beginning and has earned the respect of national and local leaders. There is no better or more qualified person to lead the Salem Media DC team into the future than Tom.”
Moyer joined WAVA as an AE in spring 1992, following Emmis’ sale of the station to Salem.
He was promoted to Sales Manager within the first year, and became Station Manager of WAVA-AM and FM in 2006, gradually assuming more responsibility for the other stations including Sirius XM 131, Family Talk.
