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104.5 The Bear - Where did everyone end up ?

A

allanhackney

Just wondering what happened to the staff from WGRL 104.5 The Bear. I know that Vicki Murphy and Deborah Honeycutt ended up at FMS, and I have read something about Guy Forrest being in Ft Wayne, but what about Jeff Hoffmeister (Kodi), Sam McGuire (Gentle Ben) and Donnie Wall (Claw). I know I was out of radio from 1996 to 2005, then did mornings at N/T WBIW in Bedford, and am now back out of radio again for a while.

Allan Hackney
"Fuzzy Phillips"
 
Trapper John Morris is at Big 96-3 KSCS/Dallas-Fort Worth.

Brent Lee is at WBWN in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois. He's been doing mornings for the last eight years.
 
Alex Meier (Rick Barry) is at B100 in South Bend (as "Stinger"), and I'm at WCYO in Richmond, KY as "Mike James." (I was CJ Bruin on the Bear)
 
Sam McGuire is the P.D. of WYNK in Baton Rouge. Last I spoke to Donnie Claw, he was in Evansville. Chris Clare is at Cat Country in Pensacola.
 
"Boo Boo Barnes" (Steve Stuart) is at WFMS
"Christopher Robbin" (Darren Tandy) is at WFMS
Mark "Smokey" Roberts (who was the afternoon guy and later did mornings) is doing very well in the financial services sector...and rumor has it is doing weekends somewhere in Indy. Mark is also an accomplished semi-pro blackjack player!

Scott Roddy (sorry I forgot your Bear name) is programming WKLU.

Jim Hunter was doing mornings at WLWI/Montgomery until a few weeks ago. He is so talented...he used to drive us crazy walking around the jock pit playing his guitar. Who did he think he was: Jim Denny? (lol). Great guy!

Jennifer "Beard" (Board) was married and living in Florida last I heard.
 
I think that Darren being "Christoper Robin" was before I got hired in. Mark Roberts was my inspiration into the world of radio. I used to call and request songs to him when I was in Junior High School when he was at WITZ AM/FM in Jasper. Tandy hired me at WCSI, then helped me get the job at GRL. Sounds like Trapper is doing well these days, as is Sam. I got to be full time on a part time basis when Claudine Bichette "Teddy Bearit" moved to Arizona I think. Thanks to everyone for the quick responses !
 
Almost forgot...Dana Marshall is pimping records out of Bloomington. Jessica Lowe is a stay-at-home mom and works part time in promotions for Cumulus. We lost Devin Marsh a few years back.
 
I wish "Hank" would wise up & realize that the reason the Bear was taken off of the 50KW signal was because it was cutting into WFMS too much. Hank seems content with a 3.5-4 share, while the Bear was neutered at almost a 6 share (and rising)...and the Bear was DESIGNED to not hurt WFMS. Imagine what Hank could do if he were focused in the New Hit Country direction rather than trying to be your father's country. I'd love to hear all you guys back here...High School Honky Tonks and all!
 
The country genre is a little different now than it was ten years ago, I think. I see Hank as a station for "everyone" and WFMS as the kiddies country. I could listen to Hank with my parents and we'd all be happy. I don't see it the same way with WFMS.

Although WFMS does have better jocks and promotions ;)
 
I see it a little different. I see Hank as male leaning and WFMS as female leaning. Pretty smart on Emmis' part, because it differentiates Hank from WFMS, and it doesn't pull a lot of females away from B.
 
Cumulus is well on their way to doing the pooch on this anyway. They have the uncanny ability to suck money life and spirit out of anything they touch.

Not to say that WFMS hasn't fought this trend by the existing staff and great employees but if you look at Cumulus as a whole they will if not totally destroyed by Cumulus end up the exception rather than the rule.

Not as much cash on anything promotion related and it shows if you look. Big staff cuts, not at as many events, etc.
 
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