On the Summit’s Horizon: Dee McKinley Celebrates 50 years in Gospel Radio
By Rev. Christopher W. Riley
FWIS Contributing Writer
Dee McKinley, the host of the Gospel Flight on WBOI 89.1 FM-NPR, News and Diverse Music in Northeast Indiana is celebrating 50 years of radio June 8-9 at The Temple, 4202 Hessen Cassel Road, 6 p.m. on Saturday and 5 p.m. on Sunday.
“Delois has been a spiritual force of nature, a gospel rebel with a cause storming the air waves of Fort Wayne over the years with a gospel sound that a saved soul could never resist,” said Prophet Cedric Walker, Sr., former pastor of The Temple and cousin of Mckinley-Eldridge.
Walker’s father, the Late Rev. Samuel Walker, Jr. Founder and Long-time pastor of Jerusalem Baptist Church encouraged McKinley to come to Fort Wayne from Bessemer, Alabama which is 15 miles from Birmingham in September 1969. At that time Jerusalem was one of six Freedom Schools which were established in boycott of Fort Wayne Community Schools’ refusal to desegregate four central city schools (Hanna, Harmar, McCulloch and Smart). Walker, Jr. tapped McKinley on the shoulder to work in the Freedom School at Jerusalem and she decided to stay after the boycott. McKinley’s participation in the Civil Rights Movement began in Alabama where she endured the spraying of high-powered fire hoses and dogs being sicked while marching, according to a January 2024 interview with Fox 55 News Anchor Terra Brantley.
“The fight for social justice is what kept me in Fort Wayne. I became involved with the Fort Wayne Urban League’s Voter Registration Drives that not only promoted registering but getting voters to the polls on election day. I later became an Election Registrar,” said McKinley-Eldridge. McKinley credits the late Charles Redd and the late Thomas “Tom” Brown for helping her get started in community activism locally.
While a member of Jerusalem Baptist Church, McKinley-Eldridge became involved in the music ministry as one of the choir directors along with the late Delores Jackson and Hermenia Clark who worked with the youth of the church. The late Rev. Michael Latham, Sr. (Past President of the Fort Wayne NAACP) and the late Evangelist Dorothy Nichols (Founder of Community Ministry) were also choir directors at Jerusalem. It was a few years after getting established at Jerusalem, Louie Dinwiddie approached her about being an on-air personality with Cool Cable Radio. “Louie knew I had radio experience and was familiar with the music as a choir director. I worked alongside Rev. Curtis White and the late Emmitt Bowen and the late Rev. Johnny Nellems, Sr. (Nellems in the Air Chair) who all played Gospel Music on Saturday morning and Sunday. You had to have cable access to hear the station. I stayed with Louie when he switched to FM Radio and established FOXY WJFX 107.9. In 1999, Dinwiddie sold FOXY and the station is now known as HOT 107.9 FM.
It was in 1999 that McKinley-Eldridge began hosting the Gospel Flight at WBOI which was only 30 minutes. The time was extended and eventually became four hours, 4 a.m.-8 a.m. on a Sunday morning. “I like the early time slot because I catch people when they are coming in from their Saturday night life and can play life-changing music. All of my radio experience has been as a volunteer, but the testimonies of those who were about to take their life or the life of someone else, but you played a song that encouraged me to change my direction. That is the payment.”
“When I think of Dee McKinley-Eldridge, I am reminded of the quote by Booker T. Washington who once said, “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed,” said Dr. Deborah Godwin-Starks, Master Teacher/Educator, Host of Wonders in Grace and Executive Director of Quasi, Inc. Stellar Women on the Move which is the parent company of WQSW-LP 100.5 FM. WQSW-LP 100.5 FM has the distinction of being the first 24-hour Gospel Radio Station in Fort Wayne when “The Voice” went on the air in late 2007.
“I give Dr. Deborah Godwin-Starks credit for walking in obedience to the vision which God blessed her with. I am grateful to have been a part of the ministry and plan to return hosting the Gospel Express taking you back to church on a Sunday Afternoon later this year,” said McKinley-Eldridge. McKinley-Eldridge also hosted radio programs with WLYV in the Summit City.
Elder Dee is a trailblazer who has prepared a strong pathway for other radio personalities to learn and grow from. Her warm heart, strong anointing and gift reaches the heart and makes us proud to be a part of this radio ministry alongside her. I celebrate you Elder!” said DeShawn Moore, Host of Mornings with Lady Moore, WRNP, 94.1 FM.
McKinley-Eldridge credits the late Al “The Bishop” Hobbs with helping her master the flow of playing Gospel Music and leading her to the Gospel Announcers Guild which was started by Willie McKinstry with whom she interned with in Alabama. Today, McKinley-Eldridge continues to remain active with GAG and the Gospel Music Workshop of America in which she encouraged other local musicians, choir directors and gospel announcers to become involved to receive the professional development so that God gets the best service. McKinley-Eldridge has not just played Gospel Music throughout her career in radio. Over the years she has done interviews and hosted programming that promoted cultural themes such as Black History and Women’s History Month. “I made it my business to meet the movers and shakers within our city and beyond. The late Rev. Samuel Walker, Jr. told me to always walk with someone who is going somewhere. Wherever they go you will go as well.”
McKinley-Eldridge is still walking with the leaders of the community. The newly elected mayor, Sharon Tucker will share a Proclamation on June 9 during the 50th Anniversary celebration. Bennie Edwards, the immediate past president of the MLK Club, Inc. of Fort Wayne describes McKinley-Eldridge as a “natural-born leader and a servant of the people who is very involved in the community. She has been a member of the Club for the last 10 years and has coordinated our annual Civil Rights Tour. She has guided us to Meridian, MS, Selma and Montgomery, AL, Washington, D.C., Detroit, MI and Cincinnati, OH. Dee is also responsible for leading my wife Sheryl and I to The Temple.”
“Elder Dee is a gift to our community and a gem in our congregation. I’m grateful for her example of service. 50 years of volunteer service is worthy of a monumental celebration. We live in a culture where people won’t commit to 50 days and she’s still not slowing down at 50 years,” said Rev. Bryson Sharp, Pastor of The Temple where McKinley is a proud member.
“A lot happens when you have great relationships,” said McKinley-Eldridge. The great relationships established within the Gospel Music Industry brought a lot of the legends to Fort Wayne such as the Late Albertina Walker, The Late James Moore and the Late Orlando Draper. The Mighty Clouds of Joy, Charles Fold and Ricky Dillard are some of the other Gospel Greats who McKinley-Eldridge led to the Summit City to bless its residents with their timeless music.
On Saturday, June 8 the celebration will include the Chosen Wonders, Minister Floyd Bledsoe, William Walker, Sheila Floure and Pastor Maurice Culver all of Fort Wayne along with Paul Porter of The Christiannaires, God’s Posse of Chicago, IL and the Mighty Gospel Travelers of Dayton, OH. Sunday, June 9 will include Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, Antioch Baptist Church Adult Choir, Greater Progressive Baptist Church, CAYACC Praise Team, Minister GorDon Martin and Rev. Cliff Latham. One of McKinley-Eldridge’s mentees Chris Ford who led the Fort Wayne Youth Ensemble in the early nineties will minister as the Founder and Director of The Sounds of Redemption on Sunday shared the following:
“Congratulations Dee! Your commitment and dedication to the local Gospel Music community over the past 50 years, has been nothing short of amazing! You have been an inspiration in my life for many years and I will forever be grateful to you. I love you dearly and pray God continues to give you favor in every area of your life.”
When asked, what is next for Dee McKinley-Eldridge? “I will play Gospel Music until I die. May the work I’ve done speak for me.” She can also be found serving as a Case Manager at Study Elementary (FWCS) and describes the children there as “her babies.” “I have been with FWCS for 30 years in October and have not set a date for retirement. However, when that time comes, I would like to explore the passion of photography capturing trees as a part of God’s magnificent handiwork.”
“I encourage the younger generation to continue the fight for social justice and civil rights, always putting your trust in God,” said McKinley-Eldridge. She has encouraged her daughter Jamela to do the same. “My Mom encouraged me to stand up for myself,” said Eldridge. “Being Dee McKinley’s daughter takes patience, kindness and understanding. She sets the bar high and teaches me valuable life lessons.” McKinley-Eldridge is also the mother of a son Jamarcus who was born in the Blizzard of 1978.
McKinley-Eldridge, a devoted Grandmother and Great-Grandmother is also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Iota Chi Omega Chapter of Fort Wayne and the Fort Wayne National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) #3049.