Walt Bodine feted at KC Media Legends luncheon (8/28).
08-27-2009
'What Do You Say to That?'
WALT BODINE CELEBRATES 89th BIRTHDAY He refers to himself as a "multi-media public nuisance," but among his many listeners/viewers over the past 60-plus years, he is a multi-media treasure. To Kansas Citians he is a true media icon. Walt Bodine, who still can be heard daily on his long-running radio show (10-11 a.m.) on KCUR (89.3 FM), celebrates his 89th Birthday today. He was born in Kansas City on August 27, 1920. The "Walt Bodine Show" has been on the air on KCUR since 1983 and he will be behind the microphone with his delightful co-host Gina Kaufmann on his Birthday. Walt today is visually impaired, hard-of-hearing and in a wheelchair, but still rarely misses a show. In his 89 years he has been a staff announcer, program script writer, television reporter, news anchor and new director with stints as news reporter and news director for WDAF-TV and radio. In all, he has been with seven radio stations and four TV stations. Walt has received numerous awards including the Kansas City Spirit Award in 1987, recognizing him as the "voice of the people" and "our community conscience." More recently he was the recipient of the Bishop John J. Sullivan Award for Communications and received the Lifetime Achievement award from the Kansas City Press Club. KCUR has compiled a retrospective on his remarkable career and presentmagazine.com's Mel Neet has also done an enlightening profile of this KC treasure.
"Thanks John and a Happy Birthday to Walt! I hope I'm alive and going that stong when I'm Walt's age. All the best to you." Sincerely, Jeff Fish
Richard W. Fatherley
KANSAS CITY RADIO IN THE 1940'S
In June, a pair of other Kansas City radio icons, Richard W. Fatherley and Ted Cramer, sat down with Walt Bodine and produced a CD titled "Kansas City Radio in the 1940's," where Bodine discussed the early days of his radio career. Fatherley, a familiar voiceover talent (advoicellc.com) in Kansas City, was the CD's producer, while Cramer, an inductee into the Country Music DJ and Radio Hall of Fame (LINK), interviewed Walt in a fascinating discussion of the early days of radio. Mike Miller at Westend Recording Studios (LINK), who edited the CD, will send the CD of the Walt Bodine interview for just $5.00, or will email an MP3 copy free of charge to anyone who contacts him at [email protected].
Ted Cramer
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