David Bean, the former owner of South Australia’s 5MU and known affectionately as “Beanie” or “Bear” peacefully passed at at his home on Wednesday morning, September 11.
David throughout the 70’s, 80’s & 90’s managed several radio stations including 5AU Whyalla/Spencer Gulf where he commenced his radio career in the mid 70’s and 3CV Central Victoria, before he returned to South Australia and bought 5MU.
The station turns 90 on September 16, 2024. This morning breakfast duo Adam and Jennie paid tribute to David and his legacy by catching up with Phil McEvoy, who co-owned the station with Bean. You can listen below:
Steve Davis, who Bean gave his start at the Murray Bridge station back in 1985, also put together this episode of his The Adelaide Show podcast in 2016 where he too caught up with Bean, McEvoy and more and talked about the purchase of the station with plenty of other anecdotes along the way.
You can listen to that catch up below too:
Ian Toull said of the legacy of Beanie:
“Many people in the radio industry can lay claim to their success through David’s open & candid management style which allowed so many newcomers to the industry to be themselves & expressive in the way they approached radio.
Those who worked with David would fondly remember his ideas & concepts which, for the day, weren’t considered the norm for radio, however on occasions those left of field ideas often provided a successful sales or programming concept that was developed to suit the station’s sales or programming philosophy.
He was a loveable and one of a kind character who positively impacted many people throughout his radio career. Those who worked with him owe him a debt of gratitude.”
David is survived by his wife Patsy, & former wife Di and their three daughters Belinda, Amanda, Melissa & eight grand & eight great grandchildren.