For more than 64 years, he was known to thousands as “Mr. Radio.” Herm Reavis died June 25 at age 92. The Galax native started his radio career when he was only 14. It was often said radio was his life. He was a DJ at Roanoke’s WRIS-AM in 1953, where he played country and rock and roll music and started his radio show, “Squirm with Herm.” By the late 1960s he had moved to WSLS FM radio, now WSLC, where he was sales manager and general manager. Reavis was credited for helping bring and promote the first rodeo in Salem in 1969. The rodeo continues to come to the Salem Civic Center each January. Reavis loved to introduce himself as “Your favorite Radio Man.”
He was a loyal Salem Rotary Club member, received Roanoke College’s Charles Brown Award given to outstanding citizens, and was inducted into the Virginia Communications Hall of Fame in 1969. His other awards are too numerous to list.
Reavis and his wife, Sue, were married 42 years. In addition to Sue, he is survived by their children and families. They are Pamela LaPradd and daughter Heather Rivers and husband Jimmy and their daughters Eve Peay and husband Daniel, and Eleana Rivers; Tina’s twin daughters April and Anna Davis; Greg Reavis and wife Stephanie and their sons Mitch and wife Mariah, and Stuart Reavis;
Also, Penny McNabb and children Suzanna and husband Dr. Robert Weldon, baby Vena Frances, Patrick McNabb and Jaime McNabb; Perry Heslep and wife Brenda and family Jordan, Lauren and Carolanne Heslep, and CJ, Erika and Seana; Herm’s son Chris Reavis, Phoebe Rakes and husband Dave and sons Jack and Sam.
Herm Reavis’s surviving siblings are Dorothy Bainter, Edna Dillon, Linda Dochterman and Edward Reavis, sister-in-law Carole Reavis and brother-in-law Tom Arnold.
Family who died before him were sisters Joyce Reavis, Peggy Carr and Lucy Arnold; brother Paul Reavis; Herm’s daughter Tina Testerman Davis and son-in-law Ron Testerman.
According to his family, Herm did not want a funeral but a celebration of his life later.
Instead of flowers, contributions may be made to the Shelia S. Strauss Hospice House, 4751 Cove Rd. NW, Roanoke, Va. 24017; and the League of Older Americans Meals on Wheels program at 6402 Peters Creek Rd, Roanoke, Va. 24017.
