Charles Norman Price

Charles Norman “Pop Gun” Price passed away at home on December 10, 2021. Born September 25, 1934, in Los Angeles, California to Charles Roy Price and Edna Iona Pew. Norm attended Bell Gardens High School in California where he took 3 years of Ham radio classes. Graduating in June of ’53 he got his Ham radio license W0UNM and moved to Colorado. Norm attended Pueblo Junior College and received his broadcasting degree, 1st Class License in Engineering, and 1st Class Commercial license to be a Radio DJ. On December 19, 1955, Pop Gun Price began his incredible radio career. Starting his first engineering job as the night DJ at KUBC in Montrose, CO. Moving to the Grand Valley in September ‘59 Norm went to work for then 2 yr. old station KSTR on the 4:30 – 5 pm show known as the “7 Up Juke Box”. He then moved up to the morning man DJ forever known as “Pop Gun Price”! He met and married the love of his life Marjorie Ann Heinecke, forever his sweetheart, on September 2, 1961. In the early 60’s he was hired by the owners of the Rocket Drive-in to record custom-made tapes to entertain moviegoers before and during intermission until the closure in 1974. He also served as the President of the Young Republicans for Mesa County in the 60’s and 70’s. He was proudly nominated #1 Country Disk Jockey of Western Colorado. In 1965 he went full time into engineering and in ‘71-’72, with the help of Dave Balfour, Mike Shafer, and several others he built the Whitewater 50,000 three-tower radio station for KREX. Working for KEXO and KREX as an engineer, he helped with maintaining all transmitter and studio sites.

In 1972, Norm bought KWSR in Rifle, Colorado which he then sold in 1984. While in Rifle, Norm sat on the Rifle City Council for 3 years and was Mayor Pro tem in 1974. Being a member of the Masonic Lodge, Elks Lodge, Rifle Lions, Fraternal Order of Eagles, and Society of Broadcast Engineers he found time to be one of the founders of the “Buckskin Network”. With all of his volunteer work, he got to know many prominent politicians. He was a Lifetime ARL member for Ham Radio, sat on the Board of Counsel of Governments for Colorado, to design and build many directional AM and FM transmitters on the Western Slope, including KMSA. His volunteer hours also included work for churches, Rodeo ground speaker systems, and more. The family moved to Palisade, CO in 1978. During his engineering career, he worked for KBPI “Rock the Rockies” in Denver, Colorado. Norm was known though-out the United States for his engineering knowledge and expertise, traveling to Nevada, Missouri, Illinois, and many more to work on equipment for Radio Stations. In the late 1980s Norm did contract work for public radio KPRN and was hired to engineer KMSA radio at Mesa College. He enjoyed seeing the young people being exposed to the radio industry. Norm retired from full-time work in September 2005 after 50 years in broadcasting. On December 19, 2005, he was celebrated with a 1-hour show on Moose Country 100.7 FM with special host Robert St. John.

He is proceeded in death by his father Charles Roy Price, mother Edna Iona Pew, sister Lois Nightingale, sister Thelma Larson, and brother Gilbert Gregory.

Survived by his wife Margorie Ann Price, step-son Merritt Sixbey (Susan Sixbey), daughter Kathy Wise (Chad Thrailkill), and daughter Charlea Price. Grand Children Jennifer Holton (Brian Holton), Christopher Fenton (Elizabeth Fenton), Jessica Fox (Andy Fox), Kacey Fenton, Samantha Hofius, (Nick Holfius), Kyle Jolly, Anna Jolly (Tyler White), Shania Whiteman (Lee Whiteman) and Shannon Wise (Chase Colwell). There are 10 Great Grand Children, along with many friends and family. He will be dearly missed by many!

Memorial services will be Saturday, December 18, 2021. Viewing at 10 am -12 pm for family and friends followed by Funeral services 12:00 pm at Callahan Edfast Mortuary, 2515 Patterson Road, Grand Junction, CO 81505. Graveside services immediately following at Grand Junction Memorial Gardens at 2970 North Ave, Grand Junction, CO 81504.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.callahan-edfast.com for the Price family.