Radio Wave Legend Harrison Dehiya: Michele Reeves

By Michele Reeves

It is that time of year again—state basketball tournament time. For radio broadcaster Harrison Dehiya, it is a bittersweet transition. He enjoys delivering the play-by-play in the Navajo language to the folks back home on the Navajo reservation and to anyone who couldn’t be there in person. When the Arizona and New Mexico tournaments conclude for this school year, it also marks the start of Dehiya’s “off season.” He’ll have to preoccupy himself with other hobbies like camping, fishing, and hiking until the beginning of the next football season. His listeners know that they, too, will have to wait until September to hear Dehiya’s sports casting once again. Perhaps this time is also bittersweet for them.

Who would have guessed that Dehiya’s humble beginnings would lead to such fame? He grew up in his grandparents’ hogan in Coolidge, about 20 miles east of Gallup. And, like a true traditionalist, Dehiya introduced himself with his clans. He is of the Ute clan, born for the Deer Spring clan; his maternal grandfather is of the Black Sheep clan, and his paternal grandfather is of the Mud clan. When I introduced myself as of the Towering House Clan, he interjected that his wife of 30 years, Becky, is also of the Towering House Clan. His last name is also uniquely Navajo and is not common. He helped his grandparents herd sheep, while still finding time to play sports as a Thoreau Hawk. After graduating in 1977, he left New Mexico for Muscogee, Oklahoma, for two years to attend junior college.

It was upon his return to the Gallup area that Dehiya “walked into” the start of his career as a radio broadcaster. He tells the story as if it happened just yesterday, and it goes like this: It was a summer afternoon during monsoon season, and Dehiya was walking to the bus station to catch a ride back to Coolidge when it started to rain. It quickly turned into a down-pour, so Dehiya stepped into the next door along his path to keep from being drenched. It so happened that the door was, and still is, the entrance to the radio studio of KGAK. He small-talked with the secretary, and by the time the rain stopped, he had a job application in hand. The next day he was hired on-the-spot. At that time, the only Navajo speaking radio broadcaster was Harry Billy from a station out of Holbrook, Arizona. However, he never thought of imitating him because Billy talked too fast. Dehiya knew he had to be himself, voice and personality.

Years later, and after a short hiatus from broadcasting, Dehiya returned to the airwaves as one of the first radio announcers for the new Navajo Nation radio station, KTNN. Dehiya brought with him the idea to broadcast basketball games in his Navajo language. But in order to entertain all listeners, KTNN had to commentate in Navajo and English. So, Dehiya became the Navajo half of the dual-language broadcasting, partnering with several other sportscasters who did the commentary in English. He is quick to give a shout-out to the late Dustin Mortensen for being his partner for most of the six years he was with KTNN. Dehiya returned to KGAK and brought with him the desire to continue sportscasting local football and basketball games. When KGAK was sold to new owners, it became the only

radio station to broadcast in the Navajo language 24/7. Since then, Dehiya has been promoted to program director, and he loves his job, even if it means starting his broadcasting at 5:00am. For 20 years, Harrison Dehiya has been the voice of KGAK. He speaks humbly of his career, despite being featured in Sports Illustrated and the New York Times; he never takes for granted the commonplace announcements such as chapter meeting notices, lost-andfound pleas, and funeral announcements. No one is more surprised than himself when people ask him for his autograph. He is so down-to-earth. Being personable attracts sponsors and makes live-air remotes so interesting. More importantly, he loves it when listeners from all-walks-of-life appreciate the Navajo language, especially if it is during an exciting basketball game between local rival teams. His secret for staying focused when the game gets intense is to remain objective, no matter how much he wants to cheer for the Hawks. Even a well-versed Navajo speaker can appreciate the Navajo language—when it is used in sports casting. Therein lies Harrison Dehiya’s legacy; he is, in his own way, preserving the Navajo language.

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