MARION – Withers Broadcasting and Dana Communication is sad to report that Jay Pearce passed away Wednesday morning after battling cancer.

Jay was a radio legend who worked at W3D in Marion along with other local stations in a career that took him to a leadership role at Illinois Public Radio as well as the board at National Public Radio before retiring as CEO at WVIK in Rock Island.

Our thoughts and sympathy are with the Pearce Family and all those whose lives he touched.