The voice of the Navajo Nation

When Ernie Manuelito was a young man, his family gave him the nickname of "Early Bird Ernie." The nickname would stick with him.

"There were times as a youngster where he would get up in the wee hours of the morning and hitchhike (to the radio station from Tohatchi to Gallup) regardless of the weather," said Jerry C. Manuelito, Ernie's brother.

It made their late mother, Sarah Manuelito, nervous and she would sit by the radio and wait for the voice of her son to come on the air, confirming that he made it to work safely.

As soon as Ernie's signature opening theme song played, relief would overcome her.

"That was probably the most important sound to her," said Jerry, 53. "Mom would say, 'He made it! He made it!'"

Ernie Manuelito was first introduced to the professional world of radio during his senior year of high school. As part of a school project, the dorm staff at Wingate High School would take him to Gallup to announce on KYVA in the morning before classes started.

But Ernie's curiosity about radio was initiated when he was just young boy. He was raised in a traditional Navajo setting of herding sheep and tending to horses in Tohatchi, N.M., but he would spend his spare time fiddling with radios.

"He'd take apart radios and try to figure out if there were people in there," said Jerry. "He wanted to figure out how does this thing work and how can someone be talking somewhere else and it was coming out of this box."

Early days

Ernie's curiosity for radio as a young boy transitioned into adulthood, and radio would become his passion. He would spend 38 years in radio as a professional DJ, chief engineer and sports announcer.

After receiving his bachelor's degree in broadcast engineering from the Denver School of Broadcasting, he worked at a number of radio stations, including KNDN in Farmington, KGAK in Gallup, and Millennium Media.

But when KTNN 660 AM first went on the air over 23 years ago, he was set on staying there.

"He was just so dedicated to his radio station," said his wife, Angelina Manuelito.

Ernie became the first person to talk on KTNN on Feb. 28, 1986, at 6:30 a.m.

"He was just so excited that day (when they first broadcast)," said Jerry. "The first song he played was 'Made in Japan' by Buck Owens."

Over the years, the excitement and enthusiasm he delivered in his daily news and sports announcing was recognized by Diné and he became one of the most famous voices on the Navajo Nation.

"He was truly bilingual," said Jerry. "His voice was beautiful. It was very recognizable and it was his."

When his family recalls memories of him, it seems he was destined for a life in radio. He loved music and sports, he had natural engineering capabilities, and he had a genuine way of connecting with people.

"I would test him when we traveled," said Angelina. "I would say, 'Who is this (on the radio)?' He would say the name of the song and whom it was by. Then he would say, 'This came out in 1962.' That was amazing to me."

His cousin Gilbert Manuelito recalled memories of Ernie as a young man who recorded himself at the kitchen table.

"We would ask him to play us a song and he would say, 'Yeah, this song goes out to Gilbert Manuelito. This is Waylon Jennings,' or whatever. After that, he would replay it and see where all the mistakes were," said Gilbert.

"He was a perfectionist," he added. "Whatever he did, he wanted to do it better to improve himself."

Troubleshooter

Ernie also had a knack for troubleshooting and fixing things.

"For instance, the heater here," said Angelina, pointing to a beat-up space heater. "I put it in the trash can, and he took it out and said, 'I'm going to fix this thing.'"

She gets up from the couch to show off his handy work and demonstrate that the heater works.

"He understood electronics like someone who had a degree in it," said Jerry

As the station's chief engineer, Ernie was responsible for fixing KTNN's transmitters and towers, and while he enjoyed working with his hands, his primary passion was in bringing the news to the Navajo people.

"What he truly, truly enjoyed was he was able to be the avenue for people to visualize what was going on before their front doors," said Jerry. "He was an iconic figure in the sense that when people heard or saw his name, it was associated with the media."

When Ernie first began a career in radio, and still today, many Navajo families in the most rural parts of the Navajo Nation did not have television or Internet service.

Their only connection to the outside world was radio, and the Navajo people would rely heavily on Ernie's reporting and announcing to stay informed.

"He certainly had an unmistakable, genuine way of connecting with people," said Jerry. "He had a way of simplifying complex issues so people at the hogan level could understand them."

National acclaim

Ernie's professionalism and talent was recognized outside the boundaries of the Navajo Nation as well, and he received national attention for his work in radio.

He once appeared on television on CBS and CNN with famous anchors John King and Don Donaldson after receiving an award for work with youth.

Manuelito was also the driving force behind KTNN's move into sports coverage in 1993. He announced games featuring the Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury, Arizona Cardinals, Oakland Raiders and many national rodeo events in the Navajo language.

One of the most notable recognitions he received was when he broadcast Super Bowl XXX in Navajo. It won him the BoJack Sports Award for announcer of the year in 1996.

"He was one of kind and he kept people at the edge of their seats," said Jerry. "He was an entertainer."

Ernie was also well-known for his morning golden oldies show, which was a favorite for radio listeners with its unique blend of country, oldies and Native American music.

Even with the national recognition he received, Ernie stayed humble.

"He was really modest, even though he knew he was that good," said Gilbert.

Each time Ernie received an award, his wife recalled how he always thanked the Navajo people and expressed his desire for the Navajo language to continue.

Health problems

When Ernie's sudden death occurred in mid-April, it took the professional radio world and the Navajo Nation by surprise. Few people knew he was sick.

"He just didn't want people to know," said Angelina.

In 2005, Ernie began coughing and the severity of his coughs would progress over the next three years

"It was a light cough like you're catching a cold or something," said Angelina. "It just continued. He coughed for three straight years."

Ernie went to the hospital, but doctors repeatedly told him he was fine.

"(But) he kept saying, 'Something is wrong with me,'" said Manuelito. "They (doctors) just kept going in circles."

Ernie Manuelito continued his daily routine until December 2007 when he collapsed at home in the middle of the night. He stayed in the hospital for the next three weeks and tests confirmed he had a scar on his lungs. Over time, the scar began to grow.

"We did a lot of traditional ceremonies, singings," said Angelina. "We did everything. We went to church."

She eventually quit her job at the Native American Breast Cancer Coalition to stay home with Ernie. She and her two children, Warren, 7, and Shaundeen, 5, dedicated their time to making sure he was taking his medications regularly and getting enough rest.

Unable to diagnose Ernie's illness, the doctors told him there was not much they could do. It was then Ernie began talking to his family, telling them to prepare.

"It was hard," said Angelina. "He said, 'Take care of the kids, take them to school, take care of yourself. Life goes on. Don't be crying on your knees, pitying yourself. No one is going to feel sorry for you. You're going to have to tough it out.'"

"I think he already knew he was leaving us. He didn't say it, but I kind of sensed it," said Angelina, wiping tears from her eyes.

In January 2009, Ernie was told by doctors his scar had grown larger. He was put on a waiting list for a lung transplant and was referred to UNM Hospital in Albuquerque for a biopsy procedure.

Just days after the procedure, Ernie started to feel sick and he was admitted back in UNM Hospital.

He stayed there until he passed away in the early morning of April 10 at the age of 57. Manuelito said the doctors never did pinpoint the cause of his illness.

His clans were 'Ashiihí (Salt People Clan), born for Kiyaa'áanii (Towering House Clan). His maternal grandparents were Tl'ógí (Weaver Clan), and his paternal grandparents were Tsi'naajinii (Black Streak People Clan).

Blessed with language

After Ernie's passing, the family was flooded with calls of condolences. They received cards and flowers from all over the United States and Canada.

"Ernie was just the just the most loving person you ever knew," said Manuelito, crying.

Ernie's family described him as a loving, uncomplicated man. He was punctual, and he enjoyed fishing, football, basketball and rodeo.

He liked the music of Buck Owens, George Jones and George Strait. He was a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan.

But his family is certain he will be remembered most for the love and respect he had for the Navajo people and the Navajo language.

"He was so fluent and that's what his legacy was: Being able to speak the language and take it around the world," said Ernie's oldest daughter Evelynda Manuelito-Bedonie, 34, of Farmington. "He was a wonderful father."

"He was blessed and gifted with his language," said Angelina. "He wanted the younger generation to know their language. He would say, 'I wish there was students out there who wanted to be a broadcast engineer.'"

"If he left a legacy, it certainly was to promote the Navajo language," said Jerry. "He was very optimistic that the station would be around for a long, long time."

It's been just over a month since Ernie's passing, and the family is still coping with his loss.

"He was my hero in boarding school," said Jerry, his voice cracking. "Little brothers look up to their big brothers. We had some very good, long, fine conversations about life and I hold those memories very dear to my heart."

"He had a great personality, knowledge, wisdom," said Angelina. "He was outspoken. He was everything."

Angelina Manuelito said she is trying to stay strong and get through the difficult time with their two children.

"I still talk to him, and I think he is still around here helping us," she said.

She shared a story of how their vehicle wouldn't start and how she prayed to Ernie to help get it fixed. "Two hours later, we got it working," she said.

A banner of KTNN is still displayed prominently in their home, as well family portraits and the awards Ernie received throughout his years in radio.

"He would say, 'KTNN will always be in my heart. That's my home," said Angelina.

The family is accepting donations for a scholarship fund for Ernie and Angelina's two youngest children, Warren and Shaundeen. Information: Ann, 505-726-1968, or Jerry at jcmanuelito@yahoo.com.

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