Background
Fortner was born in Poteau, Oklahoma.
Fortner was born in Poteau, Oklahoma.
Fortner spent more than thirty years as a broadcaster, working alongside veteran California newscaster Michael Tuck both in San Diego and San Francisco. According to Tuck, "Ron had hit on hard times over the past few years and I wanted to do something to help. He was a terrific guy, professionally and personally."
Fortner"s work in the San Diego television market included stints at XETV-television Channel 6 during that station"s initial attempts at creating a news department.
He later moved to KNSD-39 and had a talk radio show during that time at KSDO (Department of Administration and Management).
In the early 1970s he and Tuck anchored The Tuck and Fortner Report on San Francisco"s TeleVision for YoU-2. Upon his move to Palm Springs, Fortner concentrated on radio as the conservative host of The Ron Fortner Show originally carried on KNWZ (Department of Administration and Management).
Poor ratings meant a move to KESQ (Department of Administration and Management) Palm Desert. After that station"s sale, Fortner moved one final time to KGAM (Department of Administration and Management) Palm Springs.
While at KNWZ, Fortner was host of a national show bearing his name on the Talk Radio Network.