About the GRHOF Legacy nominees

[Mitchell]

When I looked over the list for this year i was struck by the loss of so many "great ones" just recently, like Mike Kavanagh, my friend Dick Meeder and Don Elliot Heald. But there was a name on the list you may not have known and chances are he made you laugh.

I don't exactly remember how i met him but it was immediately apparent this guy was slightly cracked, perfect for morning radio! So he started being a regular character voice on the Mark & Steve show and in the process he and I became great pals. When we left town he continued doing morning show bits for lots of stations and became that rare kind of talent morning shows dream of....the go-to guy for the laughs who could reduce you tears with one of his bits. If you ever listened to Randy and Spiff then you've heard him. His name was Bill Hoger.

All the nominees are worthy of induction, but if Bill ever made you laugh, cast a vote for him, would ya? His wife put together a nice little tribute site with pictures and airchecks at http://www.billhoger.com

By the way, you can't vote unless you're a member. Ballots go out June 1st

 

[RoddyFreeman]

Wasn't he Ed the Mechanic "over at Ed's Garage" on Randy & Spiff? He was very funny.

 

[Mitchell]

Yes he was. In the radio world he was a rare find.

 

[amlover]

I for one was glad to see Bob Carr, (Willis the Guard) who was Gary Mckee's sidekick on 94Q Now Star 94. (94Q) much better moniker BTW. He's no longer with us but he was a very good friend and I miss him. We worked together is the theatre business,(his other passion). When I first moved to Atlanta in 1976 Bill Tush introduced us and became wonderful friends. He certainly will get my vote.

Hey Mitchell I remember Rob Buttery, (POPEYE) with you and Mark at 96 Rock. He too was a funny guy.

 

[daryll]

Speaking of really funny, I have an early 1983 aircheck of Bearman and Mitchell on 96Rock from then promotions director Bill Wise. Great chemistry and great bits. A real morning show. Thanks for the laughs, Steve.

 

[Mitchell]

Bearman I and really clicked but he wanted to go back home to Pennsylvania. It's amazing what people remember after all these years....they remember the Groundhog Day bit (where Bubba shoots Punxsatawney Phil) and Helium Mondays, where we had an actual tank in the studio. Remember, this was like 1985.

As for Rob Buttery, last I heard he was in Wisconsin and left radio long ago. Rob was very much like Bill Hoger, in that he was slightly twisted (in a good way). Rob was an interesting story too. He was a "walk-in". Just showed up one day looking for part-time work and when we found out just how "sick" he was, put him on the morning show. Ok now that we're completely off-topic...I just got a stereo copy of the entire last Mark & Steve show in Atlanta, commercials, newscasts and all. Anyway, thanks for remembering.

By the way, I would gladly pay for a copy of that aircheck with Bearman. I don't have any.

 

[jabba17]

Bearman I and really clicked but he wanted to go back home to Pennsylvania. It's amazing what people remember after all these years....they remember the Groundhog Day bit (where Bubba shoots Punxsatawney Phil) and Helium Mondays, where we had an actual tank in the studio. Remember, this was like 1985.

I remember Helium Mondays...didn't 96 Rock call that one quits after someone passed out on the air? Then there was "Up-Yours Friday", basically a family-friendly version of the FU Line that STILL drew complaints.

 

[Mitchell]

It was Bearman who passed out live on the air after a particularly big hit from the helium tank. Helium Mondays lasted about 5 weeks . It's funny, back then (mid 80's) you didn't hear words like "up yours" on the radio.