Fortner spent more than thirty years as a
broadcaster, working alongside veteran California
newscaster Michael Tuck both in
San Diego and
San Francisco. Immediately after Fortner's death from
cancer, Tuck took it upon himself to help raise
college and support funds for his son, 13-year-old Blaise Alejandro Fortner. According to Tuck, "Ron had hit on hard times over the past few years and I wanted to do something to help. He was a terrific guy, professionally and personally." Fortner's work in the San Diego TV market included stints at
XETV-TV Channel 6 during that station's initial attempts at creating a news department. He later moved to
KNSD-39 and had a
talk radio show during that time at
KSDO (AM). In the early 1970s he and Tuck anchored
The Tuck and Fortner Report on San Francisco's
KTVU-2. Upon his move to
Palm Springs, Fortner concentrated on radio as the
conservative host of
The Ron Fortner Show originally carried on
KNWZ (AM). Poor ratings meant a move to
KESQ (AM) Palm Desert. After that station's sale, Fortner moved one final time to
KGAM (AM) Palm Springs. While at KNWZ, Fortner was host of a national show bearing his name on the
Talk Radio Network. ==Personal==