WICHITA, Kan. — KNSS announced today that longtime on-air personality and Hall of Fame broadcaster Steve McIntosh will retire, bringing to a close an extraordinary 55-year career that helped shape the sound of Wichita radio for generations.
For nearly three decades, McIntosh has been the trusted voice of Steve & Ted in the morning, heard weekdays from 6–9 a.m. on 98.7 and 1330 KNSS. Known for his sharp news sense, warm delivery, and ability to inform and entertain in equal measure, McIntosh’s retirement marks the end of an era for Kansas broadcasting.
Born in Fowler in 1949, McIntosh graduated from Wichita West High School, attended Friends University, and later completed training at the Columbia School of Broadcasting. His radio career began in 1970 at KWBB 1410 AM, where he signed on as a mid-morning news anchor. It didn’t take long for Wichita listeners to recognize his talent; by the mid-1970s he had become News Director at KEYN 103.7 “The Rock of Wichita,” building what began as a one-person news department into a four-reporter team that earned multiple state and regional awards.
McIntosh continued his leadership in Wichita radio throughout the 1980s, serving as News Director for KFH Radio and as Program Manager for KBRA under Kassabaum Broadcasting. He later joined KXLK as both morning co-host and News Director, continuing to stack up awards for outstanding news coverage and editorial commentary.
In 1998, he joined KNSS as News Director and eventually became Program Director, solidifying his status as one of the region’s most respected broadcast journalists. Over the years Steve collected multiple honors from the Kansas Association of Broadcasters, The Associated Press, and prestigious Murrow Awards. In 2017, he received one of the industry’s highest honors—the medium-size market Marconi Award for Outstanding Talent.
A member of the Kansas Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame, McIntosh has covered some of the state’s biggest stories, from severe weather and breaking crime news to decades of political change. Through it all, he remained committed to serving Kansas communities with professionalism, curiosity, and heart.
“Steve’s name is synonymous with Wichita radio,” Audacy Wichita, parent company of KNSS, Senior Vice President/Market Manager Tommy Castor said in a statement. “His leadership, integrity, and unmatched storytelling have shaped this station and enriched the lives of our listeners for more than half a century.”
McIntosh expressed his gratitude to listeners, colleagues, and the community he has served throughout his career. “It has been the honor of my life to share Kansas news and Kansas stories with Kansas people,” he said. “Thank you to everyone who has been part of this incredible journey.”
Steve is looking forward to spending more time with his wife of 55 years, Shelley, his two adult children, and seven grandchildren.
As KNSS prepares to celebrate McIntosh’s legacy, the station plans an event for his sendoff:
Friday, December 12th
5p-7p: live radio broadcast at 5, meet and greet at 6
Courtyard by Marriott at Old Town, 820 E 2nd St
Public invited to attend
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