Howard Simon leads class of inductees into 2024 Buffalo Broadcasters Hall of Fame

Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Howard Simon, who has spent decades covering Buffalo sports and adopted Buffalo as his hometown after growing up on Long Island, is entering the 2024 Buffalo Broadcasters Hall of Fame on Thursday night along with several others.

"After I found out I was going in, I looked up all of the sportscasters who are in the Hall. I thought, what am I doing with these people?," asked Simon while appearing on WBEN. "Van [Miller] is there, 'Murph' [John Murphy] is there, Rick Azar and Stan Barron. These are people I listened to and watched when I got here in 1989. I thought, 'Oh my God, I'm in the same group!' I admired and respected all of them."

Simon got his start doing sports on WBEN after graduating from Buffalo State College. He later switched to TV and the Empire Sports Network before returning to his radio roots and hosting the morning show on WGR Sports Radio 550 with Jeremy White.

Howard retired in 2023 but remains a contributor on WGR, as well as WKBW's "Leading the Charge," a weekly Buffalo Bills show with Matt Bove and Joe Buscaglia.

Simon is part of a class of inductees that includes television producer/writer/actor Nick Bakay, nationally syndicated talk show host Stephanie Miller, former WGR-TV news anchor/reporter Sheila Murphy, former WKBW-TV reporter Mary Travers Murphy, 97 Rock morning radio team Shredd & Ragan, WGRZ-TV videographer J. “Dooley” O’Rourke, former Director of National Sales for Buffalo/Toronto Public Media Jim DiMino.

This year's class was announced April 17.

The Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is being held Thursday evening, Sept. 19, at Samuels Grande Manor in Clarence.