Lyle Halsted Rockefeller, known on the air as “Rocky” later in his career, was a Colorado Springs native whose radio and television career spanned roughly 50 years.
Rockefeller graduated from Palmer High School and Southern Colorado State College, now Colorado State University Pueblo, where he majored in broadcasting. His obituary says his broadcasting experience began with the Palmer High School radio station. He later worked as a reporter, anchor and broadcaster at multiple Southern Colorado outlets.
At KRDO-AM, Rockefeller worked in news and became Colorado Springs' first morning radio traffic reporter. Contemporary trade reporting placed him in KRDO's news department in 1979. By 1980, the Broadcasting Yearbook listed him as commercial manager at Pueblo's KPUB. He also worked in television at KRDO-TV and KOAA-TV.
Later, while working for Compassion International, Rockefeller returned to radio on weekends as “Rocky” at KBIQ-FM, playing contemporary Christian music. A remembrance from fellow broadcaster George James also recalled that Rockefeller had started at KPIK.
Rockefeller died December 2, 2014, at his home in South Carolina after a nine-month battle with cancer. He was 64.
Southern Colorado stations: KPIK, KRDO, KPUB, KBIQ.
Sources: Lyle Halsted Rockefeller obituary, The Gazette (2014); Broadcasting (1979–1980); Broadcasting Yearbook (1980).
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