During his more than 40 years in broadcasting, Mike Price has been one of the most popular and enduring personalities in Central New York.

Mike’s television roles have ranged from staff announcer to news reporter, weathercaster, talk show host and sports anchor. He has served for more than 25 years as a sports official at football, softball and hockey games throughout the area and he played freshman football at Syracuse University.

Mike started his broadcasting career as an announcer at WSOQ in North Syracuse, but shortly after, he got a job at the yet-to-start WNYS-TV (Channel 9). He and the television station (now WIXT) started together on Sept. 9, 1962.

It was his very popular late night movie host persona “Baron Daemon” that established Mike in local television. “Baron Daemon” became so popular that the station created a daily children’s show around him after parents complained that their youngsters wouldn’t go to bed until after the show came on at 11 PM. Although the “Baron” program ended in 1967, “The Transylvania Twist,” a recording by Mike’s alter ego, is still being played more than 30 years later.

We are honoring Mike for his journalistic career, though. His “Good News” segment ending the evening newscast at WIXT has been highlighting the best of Central New York for more than 20 years. Mike has interviewed average people and celebrities, covered school functions and major community events. His stories have given viewers a cross section of life in the region.

During much of his broadcasting career, Mike also served as a chief petty officer in the US Coast Guard Reserve. He served two hitches – 1955 to 1961, which included two years of active duty in the Great Lakes., and from 1973 to 1997. In his second tour, Mike was called to active duty during the first Gulf War and served in the Joint Combat Camera Unit throughout the Gulf region.

For five years, Mike was the voice of “Big Mac” at the old MacArthur Stadium for the Syracuse Chief’s games. At the same time, he also played “Ronald McDonald” at family events throughout Central New York for McDonalds Restaurants.