Sammy C Chioda, Voice of Gallup, Dies at Seventy

Salvatore “Sammy C” Chioda, known locally as the “Voice of Gallup,” died on Nov. 14 at the age of 70. Born in Gallup on Dec. 29, 1954 after his parents immigrated from Italy, Chioda began a lifetime of community engagement through local radio and sports coverage that shaped civic life in McKinley County.

Chioda launched his broadcasting career at age 14 when, as a ninth grader, he walked into KYVA AM and persuaded the station to let him host his own program. “The Sammy C Show” ran from 7 to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, and he also filled in for other DJs during vacations. He gave his first play by play account of a high school sporting event in 1970 and became a regular voice on Gallup High School athletics beginning in 1977 when he provided exclusive sports play by play on KYVA AM.

His career advanced from on air work to management. He accepted a position as sales manager in 1977, was promoted to general manager in 1978 and served in that role for five years before becoming vice president in 1983. Along the way Chioda married Marie Colaianni on April 25, 1998 and raised two children, Giovanni and Francesca.

For more than five decades his voice accompanied Friday night games, community fundraisers and conversations that mattered to local families. His work supported school athletics, promoted local civic groups and amplified scholarship efforts, and his presence became a familiar part of life in Gallup and the surrounding county.

A funeral service was held on Nov. 21 at Sacred Heart Cathedral Church. The family asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the TDFL, the Rotary Scholarship Fund, or Sacred Heart Cathedral School. Those requests reflect the community priorities Chioda championed throughout his life, from youth sports to education and local philanthropy.

Chioda leaves a legacy in local media and civic life, and his passing invites reflection on the role of hometown institutions in sustaining community ties across McKinley County.