Rick Knighten could use your help

[TzitTzit]

ALL MEDIA In-House PRESS RELEASE

Guys, one of our own is in dire straits and needs our help.

Rick Knighten, an amazing local DJ and vocal talent in our area for over 25 years, is in need of our help. Most recently, he is working at FM 101.9 and doing contract voice work for Ronnie Ward Automotive Group, Simmons Sporting Goods and Ebert’s Tire and Rim just to name a few. He is 49 years old and he has a sixteen old daughter named Kassidy. We are asking for your help. Rick has just been diagnosed with cancer. He is without insurance and in serious need of help financially.
First order of business involves raising money to get him to Houston. That’s the next step. You can give at any Progressive Bank branch in care of the Rick Knighten account. Next is fundraising. That’s where you come in!
We will be meeting on Tuesday, March 4th at 6:30pm at the Atrium in the Madison Room. We are asking all media to have someone attend this meeting. This will be our brainstorming session.
One of the ideas on the table already is from Marcy Peer. Here’s how it goes: We would build the campaign around Saint Patrick’s Day and weekend. The catch phrase would be, “It’s not luck, its love. Give your green, don’t wear it.” We need to expand on this idea and build a promotion.
As a manager, this has been my worst nightmare, thinking one of my own employees would fall victim to cancer and not be prepared to deal with it. In fact, would any of us be prepared? You would have to see the fear in his eyes that I unfortunately saw yesterday. Fear, not for himself, as he is a strong Christian man, but for his child Kassidy. That is his main concern. Any of us who have children can relate to this.
Rick is a wonderful friend as you all know. He is not the one to ask for help. We know you are going to step up and help. This is your call to action!!!
Please contact Brandie McDougal at 318-322-3063 or [email protected] if you or someone from your office cares to attend.

Thanks in advance,
God Bless!
Bradley Wilkinson

 

[Mike_Carson]

Rick Knighten is a great guy and I have had the pleasure of working with and for him a couple times over the past 10+ years. The man was there for me, not only as a boss, but as a friend on numerous occasions. His faith and dedication has been unyielding and I, along with everybody else, should say a prayer that it will remain the same through this devastating time in his life.

Though I have not spoken with Rick in the past year or so, this was shocking to hear! Let's all pull together and see what we can do to help a fellow "Jock Family Member" out.

 

[JeffJasper]

Rick is indeed a great guy. I had the pleasure of having him as my PD at FM102 in the early '80s. Then in the late '80s, Rick was instrumental in recommending me to Ralph Cherry at WNOE-FM.

It was great to work with Rick again at WNOE, and to be suspected as "another one of Jimmie Noe's 'spies' from Yankeeland (Monroe! LOL!)." Other "spies" thru WNOE included Russ Mitchell, Lorie Clary, Tracy Westerhouse, and Rick's cousin and my school bus mate, Bill Knighten. Funny, I'd worked for Noe and his pappy for years and at every one of his stations, and tho he knew I was one of the disc jockies, I'm convinced he never knew my name. Despite me saying it every 4 minutes for years on end. But it was a delight to tell an accusatory Susie Pratt that "Oh yeah, Jimmie Noe hangs on my every word." Puhleeeze. I'm sure Bo Walker remembers that little incident! ;D Now, I wonder what there might have been to spy on? Just looked like a normal dysfunctional radio station to me.... :

But anyway, back to Rick. I don't think I've ever met anyone more broadly talented. He kept FM102 rocking and on top of the ratings, making the station an easy, easy sell for the sales crew. But he was also a country and classical music fan, with some bodacious fiddlin' traditional and bluegrass country, and sweet bow work in the Ruston Symphony. And of course, we lifted our share of brews together along the way.

Like all of us, Rick has spent his time mostly in the trenches, but occasionally on the beach, and I suspect his recent return to KNOE-FM has put him in the difficult position of not yet qualifying for health insurance, just when he really needs it so desperately. It's my understanding -- having done spots for them while in El Paso -- that M.D. Anderson will treat cancer victims regardless of ability to pay. But you know the price of gasoline and airlines these days, plus the added costs of housing and meals away from home. Not to mention just trying to keep everything afloat financially on the homefront.

So please donate what ever you can to Rick's fund, even if it's only a $20 bill. He's gonna need all the help he can get. You can be sure Rick would do the same for you.

Thanks guys,
JJ