Former City of Henderson Mayor and former owner of WSON Henry Lackey died Thursday at the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center with his family by his side. He was 78.
Lackey served as mayor from 2003-2006. He was the owner of WSON radio station in Henderson for many years.
Current WSON Owner Ed Henson purchased the station from Lackey in 2010.
“Henry was not only a fellow broadcaster, but also a dear friend,” Henson. “From the 1970s at KBA events, Henry and I would often go and sit together and compare notes. My biggest problem sitting next to Henry is he would often make me laugh at inopportune times. Henry was tremendously respected by broadcasters from all over the state who will greatly miss him. I really appreciate the opportunity Henry gave me to own WSON and to carry on the tradition started by the Lackey family. I will also miss him greatly.”
Lackey was the son of the late Hecht S. Lackey Sr. and Rebecca Woodruff Lackey. He attended Henderson City High School.
He graduated from the University of Kentucky, later earning his Master’s Degree in Broadcast Management from Michigan State University.
Lackey knew from an early age that he wanted to work in broadcasting. He broke into the business in 1972 at WRLS in Louisville.
For over three decades, he owned and operated WKDQ and WSON.
Lackey served on the Kentucky Broadcasters Association in numerous capacities over the years, including as Chairman of the Board in 1981 and as President & CEO from 2016-2018.
“In every sense of the word, Henry was a broadcaster,” said Chris Winkle, KBA President & CEO said in a statement. “He loved the broadcast industry and especially the Kentucky Broadcasters Association. He never met a stranger and you could always count on his larger than life smile and personality. Henry was a dear friend and mentor to so many. He will be deeply missed and remembered well beyond his time on this earth.”
Lackey was also dedicated to public service. He began with serving two terms as a Henderson City Commissioner from 1978-1981.
Lackey then served as a Kentucky State Senator from 1982-1986 and from 1991-1994. He spent significant time working to strengthen Kentucky’s drunk driving and seatbelt laws.
A worship service will be scheduled at a later date for family and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the University of Kentucky Neuroscience Institute or the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
