Crossville News First reports that Fred Warren Dean Jr., a pivotal figure in Crossville’s radio broadcasting history, passed away on September 3, 2025, at 89 due to complications from congestive heart failure. Originally moving to Crossville in the late 1960s to join his father’s Monticello Canning Company, Dean was recruited by local investors to manage a Georgia radio station before returning to Crossville in 1971 to take on WAEW-AM/FM as general manager and part-owner.

Alongside his wife Jessie, he operated the stations until their sale in 1982, significantly shaping the local radio landscape. Dean pioneered the “All Hit Radio” format, blending Country and Pop music, and emphasized local news, weather, and high school sports broadcasts—a first for Cumberland County. He transitioned WAEW-FM to prominence as FM radio gained popularity, renaming it WXVL-FM in 1980 to focus on Adult Contemporary music while keeping WAEW-AM dedicated to Country and Gospel.

Dean’s mentorship launched the careers of local talents like Steve Norris, a 46-year weather forecaster, Kirk Tollett, who founded 102.5 Wowf-FM, and Moby, a national disc jockey. After selling the stations, Dean managed the cannery before retiring. His wife Jessie, a key partner in his success, passed away in 2019.

Dean spent his final years in Georgia with his son Bryan, leaving a lasting legacy in Crossville’s radio community.