KNORR NELLIE MARIE WELCH

of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and Boca Raton, Florida, concluded a long, prosperous life on August 10, 2006. Nellie was 89 years old, the daughter of Claude and Ella Welch. She began her career as a school teacher in Imlay City, Michigan. In 1960, Nellie's husband, Frederick A. Knorr, II, died at the age of 47, leaving Nellie with three small children, five radio stations and a one-third ownership of the Detroit Tigers Baseball Club. Although women business executives at that time were rare, Nellie courageously assumed the reigns of Knorr Broadcasting Corporation. In 1963 she gave her approval to change the format of WKMH, the firm's flagship station. On Halloween day of that year, the call letters were changed to WKNR and Detroit was treated to its first taste of "Top Forty Radio." WKNR, usually referred to as "KEENER 13," became the talk of the town, quickly rising to the top of the ratings charts. WKNR delivered to the public on air what the public was buying. The station sampled sales from local record retailers, and produced the WKNR Music Guides, currently sought after collectibles. WKNR hosted the Detroit premiers of such bands as THE ROLLING STONES, THE DAVE CLARK FIVE, HERMAN'S HERMITS and, of course, THE BEATLES. In the late sixties, Nellie gave the OK for alternative rock to be broadcast on WKNR-FM. Russ Gibb was brought on board and the rest is FM rock history. WWW.KEENER13.COM is a website devoted to WKNR, Rock and Roll and the history of radio in Detroit. Nellie also had her hand in cable TV. In the mid-1960's, she oversaw the installation of Cable TV in Jackson, Michigan, the first cable system installed in the state of Michigan. In 1962 Knorr Broadcasting Corporation received the Alfred P. Sloan RADIO-TV award for distinguished public service. In 1964, Nellie was named Detroit Advertising Woman of the Year. Nellie retired in 1970 and divided her time between Bloomfield Hills and Boca Raton. She was an avid gardner who loved spending hours on end tending to her gardens. She often spoke of the great peace and contentment found there. In Florida, Nellie was seen frequently walking the beach or swimming in the ocean. Nellie also had a great passion for her bridge games. Duplicate, marathon or party bridge, she loved them all. Nellie's kind, generous personality was known to disappear somewhat at the bridge table, where she was quite a competitor. Nellie played bridge with many groups, including the Pi Beta Phi alumnae group and the Village Club. Nellie graduated from Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan and maintained close ties with the school. For nearly twenty years she sat on the Board of Trustees. In 1961, the student center at the school was named in honor of Nellie's husband, Frederick A. Knorr, II. Nellie also sat on the board of Oakwood Hospital for nearly twenty years. Nellie is survived by daughters Nancy Polk and Katie Mers, son-in-law Michael Mers, son Frederick A. Knorr, III and grandchildren Kathy Osborn, Susan Seyphers, Julie Polk and Michael Mers, Jr. Services will be held at 3 p.m. on September 9, 2006 at Christ Church Cranbrook. Memorials may be made to Oakwood Hospital or Hillsdale College. Memorials to Hillsdale can be specified to the Knorr Family Dining Room. Further information Wm. R. Hamilton Co., (248) 644-6000.