HOMETOWN: Ripon, Wisconsin
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN RADIO?
Having grown up about five-miles out of town on Radio Road, I stopped into my hometown radio station one Autumn Thursday after class at the high school. After telling the general manager how much I wanted to be in radio, he gave me a “live” audition reading news copy for the staff, and hired me on the spot. I trained for two-hours the next night, and was on the air alone for a six-hour shift the following night Saturday. That was in 1978, and I’ve enjoyed working at that station three different stretches during my career.
HOBBIES:
Being a Wisconsin boy my hobbies are pretty traditional. Woodworking, camping, fishing, cheese eating, and Green Bay Packer watching.
FAVORITE “CELEBRITY” ENCOUNTER:
Years ago when Tony Bennett was on his un-plugged tour, I had a chance to introduce him to a packed auditorium. Backstage we chatted about what he wanted said. As I went out on stage, my newlywed wife Rose stepped in to take my place in talking to Mr. Bennett. It wasn’t until he walked out on stage did she realize I hadn’t been simply chatting with a stage hand.
WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING IF YOU WEREN’T IN RADIO?
Sleeping in.
FAVORITE QUOTE:
‘Don’t take life too seriously, you don’t come out of it alive anyway. – Red Skelton