Update: July 28th. As of today, (noon on July 28) we’re just $445 away from reaching the Go Fund Me goal for Ben’s family and final expenses. You can help reach that goal by clicking here.
Ben’s memorial service will be held Friday at 2pm in the Kinzer Performing Arts Center on the NOC Tonkawa campus. A live-stream of the service will be broadcast here on MyHomeTownPost.com.
Update: Thank you to Tracy & Kevin Emmons for opening The Axe Hole, in downtown Ponca, on Thursday evening for a special “Celebration of Ben” gathering. We appreciate all you were able to join us and the great food from I’d Smoke That BBQ. A substantial amount of money was raised to assist Ben’s family and we are very grateful.
This Sunday from 11am – 2pm, Mary’s Grill in Tonkawa is hosting a Loaded Baked Potato Benefit Dinner for the Welch family. Enjoy your choice of a loaded pulled pork or taco baked potato along with a drink and dessert for a minimum donation of just $8. Dine in or take out. Pre order by calling 580.823.1027. Thank you, Mary’s!
As of 10:30 Friday morning, $9,155 of the GoFundMe goal of $10,000 to help pay for Ben’s funeral had already been raised. If you or your business would like to help us the remaining amount, you can find the GoFundMe page here.
A memorial service for Ben will be held Friday July 29th at 2:00 pm in the Kinzer Performing Arts Center at NOC in Tonkawa.
Original Story –
On Saturday July 16th, our Sterling Broadcasting/Doxa Wave Family was left stunned and heartbroken by the sudden and unexpected passing of our friend and co-worker Big Ben Welch. He was just 36. Ben joined our staff at 1047 The Bull and WBBZ about 2 years ago – first as The Voice of Tonkawa Bucs football, and later as a full-time member of our staff.
We’ve come to know and love Ben for his bigger than life personality and the many qualities that his family and friends have known for years. He was truly one of the most kind hearted people you could ever know. He was a fiercely loyal friend and a man who was full of joy and passion for sports, including his beloved Tonkawa Bucs. Ben was a “rising star” in the broadcasting business, excelling in both his sports play-by-play work and as a radio salesperson, with an excellent reputation that was rapidly growing among his peers across the state and the region.
We will miss our friend. To honor him, we will be renaming our 1047 The Bull broadcast studio as the “Big Ben Welch Studio”, a message our listeners will hear 24/7, 365 days a year.
A GoFundMe account has been established to assist the family with expenses during this very difficult time. Click here to find out more and to make a contribution.
In addition, this Thursday July 21st from 6-8pm, I’d Smoke That BBQ will be holding a fundraiser dinner at the Axe Hole, 310 East Grand in Ponca City, with all proceeds going to the Welch family to help with funeral expenses.
Funeral services are pending.
