Dean Tyler, now enjoying his much-deserved retirement from radio in December 2001, last served our industry as WPEN's Station Manager and morning show co-host. Tyler joined WPEN as Program Director in 1983, added the corporate title of Manager of MOR Programming Services for the parent company Greater Media, Inc. in October, 1984, became Operations Manager of both WPEN-AM and WMGK-FM, Philadelphia in October of 1988, and was Vice President and General Manager of WPEN-AM/WMGK-FM from November, 1989 until September of 1996.

Under his direction, WPEN won two of the National Association of Broadcasters' prestigious Marconi Awards acknowledging the station as "Best of the Best" in its format worldwide, as well as a Silver Medal (second only to England's BBC) as the "Best in Format" at the International Radio Festival in New York City. In addition, the station Dean Tyler created has consistently been one of the Top 10 radio stations in Philadelphia, the number one rated AM music station in the market and the number one ranked station in its format in the Nation's Top 25 markets.

Dean Tyler's resume also includes stints as Program Director at WFIL, Philadelphia, re-organization of KLIF Dallas for Susquehanna Broadcasting, ten years with Metromedia, Inc. in New York (three years at WNEW) and Philadelphia (seven years at WIP) as an MOR/AC air talent and Program Director in addition to working as a free-lance television and radio announcer and television newscaster. Prior to joining WIP, Tyler worked in both on-air and programming capacities at WJBK Detroit, WHN New York and twice in Philadelphia at the former personality Rock and Roll giant, WIBG (1960-1961 and 1965-1968) as a "Wibbage Good Guy."

For many years Dean also served as a driving force behind the efforts of the Leukemia Society, in honor of his friend Ken Garland who succumbed to the disease. (Garland was AIR's previous Lifetime Achievement Award honoree and the Award is now named for him.) Dean also gave of his time in support of The March of Dimes AIR Awards program, serving five years on AIR's Board of Governors.