Jamie McKibbin Passes Away Suddenly

Jamie McKibbin served as MC at the 2020 Jackson County Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting and Awards in January.

(November 17 2020 7:00 AM) Jamie McKibbin, owner of McKibbin Media Group and longtime popular Jackson radio personality, passed away suddenly while on a hunting trip.

Jamie McKibbin, a native of Hillsdale County and longtime resident of Parma, Michigan, passed away suddenly November 16, 2020 as a result of a boating accident.  Jamie and a close friend, James “Bud” Miller, Jr.,  were on a hunting trip at Clendening Lake in Ohio and were reported missing late Sunday night.  They were found not far from the Clendening Lake Marina at around 2:00 p.m. Monday afternoon.  Their boat was not found. Weather may have been a factor in the accident.

Jamie, along with his wife Katina, was owner and operator of McKibbin Media Group, Inc., licensee of WKHM AM/FM and WIBM Jackson and WCSR AM/FM in Hillsdale.  Jamie loved everything about the outdoors, and was an avid hunter and fisherman.  Jamie’s other passion was going to his son Walker’s sporting activities, especially coaching his baseball team.

Jamie achieved his lifelong dream of owning radio stations with the purchase of the Jackson stations in December 2019, followed by the addition of his hometown stations in Hillsdale in February 2020.  He was also involved with the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, and had recently joined its Board of Directors.

Most of Jamie’s career has been at the Jackson radio stations.  In 1997 Jamie joined K105.3 as morning show host, serving in multiple capacities, rising to General Manager in 2015 prior to purchasing the stations from Bruce and Sue Goldsen last fall.  Generations of Jackson listeners grew up listening to the popular personality, known as “The Big Dog” on air.  Jamie hosted programs on K105.3, The Power Cow and Jackson Fox Sports 101.9. 

For more than two decades, Jamie hosted the Jamie McKibbin Outdoor Show, a fixture of Saturday mornings, sharing his knowledge and love of hunting, fishing, and everything outdoors. 

Jamie was deeply involved in the greater Jackson community, serving on various boards including most recently the Greater Jackson Chamber of Commerce, Junior Achievement, and others.

In addition to Katina and Walker, Jamie is survived by his mother, Sharon and her husband Robert, of Camden, Michigan.

In a message to the community, the staff of the radio stations “expressed their deepest condolences to all who knew and loved Jamie.  He was an amazing, affirming owner, boss, and friend.  We are shocked and saddened.  He will be dearly missed”.

All of us at JTV mourn the passing of our friend and colleague and extend our deepest sympathies to Katina and Walker, Jamie’s family, co-workers and friends.