Long time Sacramento radio personality Rick Stewart passed away this afternoon with his wife Nina by his side. Rick had been hospitalized for more than three weeks. Of late he co-hosted the noon news on KFBK and handled afternoon traffic updates. He perhaps is best known for hosting the midday show on KRAK AM from the mid 70's to the early 90's. Also known for his involvement in Northern California motorsports, he'll be missed by many. "Racin" Rick was a talented and caring broadcaster. God bless him.
-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
KFBK's Rick Stewart Has Passed Away
- Thread starter bbutler
- Start date
Rick was just a great guy. I was always impressed by his professionalism, but it was his wicked sense of humor that endeared him to so many of us. I will never forget the day Saddam's sons were sent to meet Allah. Rick walked into the studio and read me his headline: "Udai and Qusai are Ed-day." Also, Rick never met an "object in the road" that he couldn't make a joke out of.
My heart goes out to his family, and I hope they realize how much he was loved by those of us who worked with him... and by the countless listeners he kept informed and entertained every afternoon.
Godspeed, friend, I will miss you.
Dana
My heart goes out to his family, and I hope they realize how much he was loved by those of us who worked with him... and by the countless listeners he kept informed and entertained every afternoon.
Godspeed, friend, I will miss you.
Dana
I agree with Dana, Rick will be missed
I have a Wonderful Memory to share also, When ever I had the chance to chat with Rick at the Station
at times I flashed Back to 1974 sitting at the Table with my Grandmother and listening to Rick On KRAK1140
on little white tabletop Motorola radio (BTW I still have it) he was that third person and talking to him in person always was special.
Thank You Rick
Bud Kress
I have a Wonderful Memory to share also, When ever I had the chance to chat with Rick at the Station
at times I flashed Back to 1974 sitting at the Table with my Grandmother and listening to Rick On KRAK1140
on little white tabletop Motorola radio (BTW I still have it) he was that third person and talking to him in person always was special.
Thank You Rick
Bud Kress
9
98.5KZAP
Guest
I'm devistated to hear this. I really thought he'd get better. I worked as his board op for a year or so at KSTE back about 10 years or more ago, and we had a great time then. It was the days when Laura Ingle was just getting started in news, Pat Walsh was segueing into his BK sports thing and out of board opping at KSTE, and KSTE was still in Rancho. Rick used to crack me up when that stupid Corbett Canyon Wine spot would come on, and he would mimic it and I'd die laughing everytime. Our he'd make funny faces during the stopset to try to get me to laugh. Then I was fortunate enough to work right by his side every day for almost 2 years in the "Commander Bill Traffic Center" (which was actually a small cubby hole in the side of the BK newsroom that only one desk should have fit in, but sometimes we even fit 3 of us!) before I left. We had some contentious times when I would get on his air or vice versa because we sat only about a foot away from each other, but most of the time we'd joke around, or I would feel that familiar tap on my shoulder, and I would turn around and he'd have a cool video on his computer from ebaumsworld that he'd downloaded. I can't believe he's gone, and I'll miss him. My deepest sympathies go out to his wife and kids.
D
D
I remember when Rick Stewart worked at News/Talk KPLA-770, an unusual station that tried to compete with KFBK-1530 but failed. KPLA had studios in Sacramento but the transmitter was located in OAKDALE! KPLA was News/Talk from 1991-93, but they dropped all local news and talk in 1992 and was strictly syndicated talk. I might be wrong, but I think Rick was KPLA's News Director. Conservative Talk Show Host Geoff Metcalf got his start at KPLA also. Later in 1992, Rick Stewart got a job at KSTE-650, then owned by Fuller Jeffrey. Rick will be missed.
B
Brian_1055
Guest
Here's a page KFBK put up with info and clips...
http://www.kfbk.com/pages/helpstewart.html
http://www.kfbk.com/pages/helpstewart.html
J
jvparent
Guest
Rick Stewart represented class. He did it right...always a pro, but unafraid to reveal his humanity when necessary. God bless Rick and his family...
One of our friends is missing.
One of our friends is missing.
There was so much more I wish I could have said...when I called up the station the night I heard about Rick's passing.
The mind fills with so many words when I think of my long-time friend and colleague, and the five or so years we worked together on Ethan Way. Every single one of those words is positive.
When he came over with KSTE, after the move from Rancho, you couldn't help but be drawn to Rick. We had a very, very close cameraderie with the afternoon news folks, the anchors, reporters, editors and such. Rick very quickly became "one of us". We also quickly found what talent and professionalism he had, even those of us who didn't really know much about his career before he came over.
Some of my favorite Rick Stewart memories involve him throwing out a funny throwaway line at JUST the right time, to crack someone up, or just show that impish smile. So, while I'm upset at the fact that we lost Rick too soon, I'm smiling in memory of the hundreds of times he found something humorous - letting us know with that dry, sometimes even cynical delivery he had.
When I left the station in 2001, Rick was one of the people I missed the most. He was there by my side at the station, the entire time when I was going through some rough stuff that year.
There were times that perhaps he hadn't gotten the respect he deserved from people who should have given him that respect, but he never, ever complained. Once. I often thought that if they asked him to go out in the parking lot and fill the holes, he'd do so with the best delivery he could muster, then come back into the building and make a joke about the job he just did.
Bless you, my friend...you had a great journey, made a truckload of friends along the way, and deserve the highest tribute - even if you wouldn't want a big deal made about it.
Mike Ward
Reporter/Anchor, KFBK, 1994-2001
The mind fills with so many words when I think of my long-time friend and colleague, and the five or so years we worked together on Ethan Way. Every single one of those words is positive.
When he came over with KSTE, after the move from Rancho, you couldn't help but be drawn to Rick. We had a very, very close cameraderie with the afternoon news folks, the anchors, reporters, editors and such. Rick very quickly became "one of us". We also quickly found what talent and professionalism he had, even those of us who didn't really know much about his career before he came over.
Some of my favorite Rick Stewart memories involve him throwing out a funny throwaway line at JUST the right time, to crack someone up, or just show that impish smile. So, while I'm upset at the fact that we lost Rick too soon, I'm smiling in memory of the hundreds of times he found something humorous - letting us know with that dry, sometimes even cynical delivery he had.
When I left the station in 2001, Rick was one of the people I missed the most. He was there by my side at the station, the entire time when I was going through some rough stuff that year.
There were times that perhaps he hadn't gotten the respect he deserved from people who should have given him that respect, but he never, ever complained. Once. I often thought that if they asked him to go out in the parking lot and fill the holes, he'd do so with the best delivery he could muster, then come back into the building and make a joke about the job he just did.
Bless you, my friend...you had a great journey, made a truckload of friends along the way, and deserve the highest tribute - even if you wouldn't want a big deal made about it.
Mike Ward
Reporter/Anchor, KFBK, 1994-2001
Was really sad to hear of the passing of Rick. He was a Sacramento LEGEND, and wow what a voice. If I'm not mistaken he was given that honor by BILLBOARD magazine, I know KRAK was country music station of the year back in the 80's when I was at KZAP. He was the music director back then wasn't he......never did work with him but we knew each other and he always treated me with RESPECT, what more can a NY Italian ask for. Rick god bless you , hes already partying with his buddys johnny cash, waylon and the like.....my condolences go out to his family and friends.....I know Joey, Big Jim and Amy will miss him having worked together at the mighty KRAK, for all those years.....God Bless.....Bob Galli "The Godfather" Buffalo, NY
- Status