• 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

Rick Alan West passed away

Z

Zero Zagnut

Guest
from a friend:

I am sad to tell you that we have lost another Tulsa Radio vet.

Rick Alan West passed away this morning at his home.

Rick was the production manager for Clearchannel Tulsa and hosted
nights
on KQLL.

He was also part of the KRAV team many years ago. A great guy that
will
be missed.


http://www.kooltulsa.com/pages/raw.html
 
I have learned that KOOL's Rick Alan West has passed away.

I worked with Rick for several years when I was at KOOL and will miss him. He was a true broadcaster. He was a guiding hand early in my career and I benefited greatly having worked with him. His kids were always a priority in his life and for them I am truly sad today.
 
I'm shocked to hear this. Although I hadn't seen or spoken to Rick in a long time, I always considered him a friend. He was not only a friend but also a neighbor. He lived in one of the neighborhoods where I lived growing up. I used to see Rick and his wife walking by Darlington Park fairly often. During the brief "Y-92.1" era, he often wore a logo tee for the station when on his evening walk. It was about the only time I saw a Y-92.1 shirt, which I thought was a shame because I didn't think it was a bad station, especially from about 6 AM to noon when it ran local programming. My condolences to his family, friends and co-workers.
 
Matt Bradley said:
I have learned that KOOL's Rick Alan West has passed away.

I worked with Rick for several years when I was at KOOL and will miss him. He was a true broadcaster. He was a guiding hand early in my career and I benefited greatly having worked with him. His kids were always a priority in his life and for them I am truly sad today.
Click to expand...


VERY sad news. Rick was pretty young wasn't he? 50's? Am I wrong?

May we ask how he passed?
 
This is very sad news.

I first met and worked with Rick at KRAV in the late 80's and the a little over a decade later I had the pleasure of being his Ops Manager at Clear Channel. This was a great talent and a real gentleman. A true nice guy....and a friend.

I'll miss him, remember him always and keep Susan in my prayers!
 
Such a shame to lose a good man and a wonderful talent at such a young age. He was one of the truly "BIG" voices in Tulsa. His family is in my prayers.
 
My third-hand sources say his wife got up for jury duty this morning before Rick, and when Rick didn't show up for work today people went looking for him.

Reportedly it looked like he got up, got dressed, sat down on the couch... and never left it. (Heart attack?)

I assume that version is accurate, but if you hear something else from a reliable source, believe it. (And pass it along, if you can.)

Truly a loss, for radio in general and Tulsa radio in particular. I regret that I never got to work with him, but smile that I at least got to listen to him.

That link to the KOOL page is an emotional read now that he's passed away... it has some great history... and read that last blog entry... wow. :'(

Has anybody heard what KOOL will be doing tonight for his shift? What do you do? I know KMOD put together a nice tribute for Rockin' John, but I don't think it aired immediately after his death... and this has only been hours.

It's one of those nights that you HATE that "the show must go on."

R.I.P., R.A.W.
 

What a shocker with which to start a week! Rick was the first "another station" guy I met when I came to Tulsa in '81. He made me feel like I belonged here, and we remained friends for the ensuing 26 years. The three years we worked together at KOOL was a high point! Passionate pro, devoted dad, one of the good guys in the business. Losing him and Jan Dean in the same year is almost too much!

Heart's out to Susan, his children and all of us in Tulsa radio who respected him...which is everybody in Tulsa radio!!
 
The family of Rockin' John Henry would like to express our condolences to Rick's family and the Clear Channel family. Rick will always be remembered by us for his timely tending to his health issues immediately after Rockin' John's passing, and for his genuine kindness during our tragic loss from helping with Rockin' John's tribute to the heartfelt hugs. It was no secret that Rick and John were often mistaken for each other on air due to the similarities of their voices, those golden voices. Heaven is sweeter. God Bless Rick's family. Tulsa radio listeners have lost a jewel.

Our love and prayers,
The Rockin' John Henry family
 
A high-school friend, a fellow musician and an asset to the air-waves -- sadly I did not keep in touch with Alan, but I'll miss him just the same. My sympathy to his family and close friends. He will be missed!
John Latta . . .
 
A True professional. Great on the air and in the prod room. Had the honor to work with him
a few years back during my short stay in Tulsa. Kool 106-1 won't be the same without him.
 
I worked with Rick for several years at Clear Channel and loved the guy. Even though I was a sales guy he "acted" like he like me! ;D He was always a true professional and always had a joke or smart commit that made me laugh. I left Tulsa 10 years ago and live in St. Louis. Today Don King and Bruce Simons each called to make sure I knew about Rick. That means alot. Our whole staff there was so close. We have lost a family member and someone who made the rest of us look great to our clients and sound great on the air!
 
Rick is such a great person. I worked with him while he was Program Director at KVOO FM. He was very supportive, open and encouraging to me. I'll always have nothing but good memories of Rick. Wow, what a shock. My heart and prayers go out to his family and friends today.
 
NightAire said:
My third-hand sources say his wife got up for jury duty this morning before Rick, and when Rick didn't show up for work today people went looking for him.

Reportedly it looked like he got up, got dressed, sat down on the couch... and never left it. (Heart attack?)

I assume that version is accurate, but if you hear something else from a reliable source, believe it. (And pass it along, if you can.)

Truly a loss, for radio in general and Tulsa radio in particular. I regret that I never got to work with him, but smile that I at least got to listen to him.

That link to the KOOL page is an emotional read now that he's passed away... it has some great history... and read that last blog entry... wow. :'(

Has anybody heard what KOOL will be doing tonight for his shift? What do you do? I know KMOD put together a nice tribute for Rockin' John, but I don't think it aired immediately after his death... and this has only been hours.

It's one of those nights that you HATE that "the show must go on."

R.I.P., R.A.W.
Click to expand...

Alan had just come back from seeing his kids during the weekend. He was in good spirits and told mom that evening how much fun they all had. The next morning Susan left for jury duty, Alan was working a crossword puzzle. He later went to the Vet to get his dog and brought him home. He sat down on the luv seat to rest. Later during break (at about 11:00am) she called the radio station to speak to him. One of Alan's friends said they were worried because no one could reach him at home, on his cell, and he had not shown up at work. Susan rushed home to find his car there. Fearing the worst she call the station to see if one of his friends would come to the house. When they walked in together he was slump forward on the luv seat, phone inches away. The coroner said it was a heart attack since he had a by-pass on his heart 3 years earlier. It still comes as a shock to my family since he was doing everything the doctor said to do.. Eating right, walking every morning. Our family will never be the same. He was a fun and loving brother to have had. If I asked him for help on a project he was always there with a big smile ready to help. He was 56. :(
 
Billy, he was a true gem in this business. I had the pleasure and honor of working for him about 15 years ago. Everyone I know in Tulsa has had nothing but the most reverent words of praise and admiration to say about your brother. He was an extremely talented dude who treasured his family and there's now a huge hole in Tulsa broadcasting left behind by his passing that no one can fill. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.
 
Our prayers for Rick's family. He was a professional, and I certainly enjoyed listening to him when I was in town.
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom