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Bill Carter-WIRJ- Humboldt

M

Meepster

I would feel bad if I didn't take some space to mention Bill Carter's death here in radio info.

Bill Carter was on the air on WIRJ in Humboldt, Tn. from sometime in the 1940's until last week. He died as the result of being hit by a car while walking to (or from) his home to the radio station.
I believe he was 82 years old. The accident happened Thursday.

All these years (and even after retirement) He continued to go in every weekday and do the "Shop and Swap" show on WIRJ. I worked with Mr. Bill in the early 80's when hired by Frank Warmuth (NOT Daddy Frank) as PD for WIRJ. The one thing we never touched at that station was Mr. Bill and Shop and Swap. We changed the format a time or two, and tweaked shifts and etc. while I was there-but never did he waiver from doing Shop and Swap-exactly the way he had always done it. I hired a guy to do mornings, Bill did midday, and I did afternoons. (We still signed-off at night, then)

I left to go to work full-time for the Warmaths at WIRJ-FM as we were changing to WZDQ-Q102 and moving our efforts to the Jackson market. My morning guy took over PD and worked with Bill a while longer before joining us at the Q.

Bill was a fine man, loved all his "friends" that listened to him on the radio (probably why he never quit) and will be missed. I hate that I didn't hear of this until last night (Sunday 1/13) as his graveside service was held yesterday afternoon.

If you knew him, or knew of him-just take a moment and think about the gentle old fellow today.
He put up with a lot of crap from some young "hotshots" back in the day- and we really liked him a lot.
We were even pallbearers at his Mom's funeral way back then.

R.I.P. Mr Bill! You were a great example of how friendly radio people can be. :'(
 
Well said Meepster. Bill Carter was truly an old school radio guy (and I mean that in the best of ways). He will surely be missed by many.
 
He must have been the guy I heard doing the swap-shop program over WIRJ whenever I passed through that area going to Jackson many years ago. He would listen to the caller describe their item, and give their number, then he would repeat their number. What I remembered is that his voice would rise in a strange way as he repeated their number for the listeners.
 
Bill Carter was one of the first "voices" I remember in radio. My grandfather lives in Humboldt, and listened to "shop and swap" for as long as I can remember.

When I was younger, I thought that Mr. Carter's distinct "Shop and Swap" was him saying "Cotton Swab."
I have very fond memories of being about five, having a sweet tea and a cookie while my grandfather would write down ever single phone number that Mr. Carter read out.

I'm sad in this loss, and regret that I never got to meet him.
 
Sorry to hear about the passing of one of the true pioneers. Speaking of WIRJ, does anyone know anything about Tony Reeves? Is he still around?
 
I figured he'd at least be retired be now. I never saw him without a big old smile on his face....great guy.
 
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