RIP Don King/Macon

[fussbudget]

Don King, veteran broadcaster and longtime Macon DJ, has died at age 82. A Savannah native, King started at WBML-AM in 1955. He left WBML in the 1970's to host wresting at Macon's WCWB-TV (now WMGT) and eventually, he became "Wild Bill Peacock," hosting gerbil races on WCWB during breaks in Star Trek reruns. In addition to WBML and WCWB, King also did color for Friday night football games on WNEX-AM and at the end of his career, morning drive on WMAZ-AM. Don was inducted into the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame in 2009. He is remembered for telling listeners about the WBML studios in downtown Macon, "overlooking Walnut Street Lane," and later for being "Topside on Riverside," from the "Peek-A-Blue" building on the shores of the Ocmulgee River.
Don "people people" King was a talented, reassuring voice, now silenced but never forgotten.

 

[Witchlover]

I remember seeing some of those wrestling broadcasts, but the rest, I sadly missed out on. In this era of media homogenization, the likes of Don and Burl and all of the rest of their generation of broadcasters, unique personalities all, will never again be seen and heard.

 

[Bengalsfan]

I remember seeing some of those wrestling broadcasts, but the rest, I sadly missed out on. In this era of media homogenization, the likes of Don and Burl and all of the rest of their generation of broadcasters, unique personalities all, will never again be seen and heard.

Today, consolidators (I refuse to call them broadcasters) can't afford people like King. They are too busy paying down the notes and keeping shareholders happy. You see where newspapers are going today? That's the same road the consolidators are heading down.

 

[BSteve]

Always enjoyed Don's antics on radio and TV, He was a good friend. We'll miss him. As I said on Burls obit, "Radio as we knew it is fading away." too fast.

 

[kenglish]

Many an afternoon, after school, I stood in the sound-lock/hallway at the "Peek-a-Blue Building, watching Don do his afternoon show on WBML.
First time I ever saw him was in the old studios on Second Street, when my Mother won one of those stacks of five or six records, and we went down to pick them up. I got to know him when he did remotes from the "MusicMobile", and various other activities.
I spent many days watching him work, then going home and practicing in my basement radio station (100 mW, and a 300-foot broadcast radius).

He worked at WCWB-TV/WMGT after I left. He worked with my brother at WGNM until the TV station part was sold.
He was at my brother's wedding, and my Mother's funeral, where I last spoke to him (he told me a good story about Stubby Wilder).

In later years, he traveled all over, with his brother, Lynwood. Some of you may know that Lynwood was the Director on NBC's "Concentration" game show, and on many other TV shows out of New York.
Don will be greatly missed.

 

[Witchlover]

Every one of us remembers at least one of the Georgia radio pioneers who is directly responsible for our decision to pursue a career in radio. Sometimes we were fortunate enough to know and work with these men and women, and sometimes we knew them only by their work. Who is inspiring the kids today? Everyone on the air today sounds so much like everyone else ... and the opportunities are so few to meet and interact with these people that I doubt there is anyone to light the fire in the next generation of radio legends. Sadly we may be burying the last of our radio legends on a weekly basis.

 

[jackrandolph]

What sad news! Don was my first Program Director at WBML. He was a consummate professional, who showed kindness to a scared young kid, getting behind the mic for the first time, and that was forty years ago. Yikes, time flies, and after working at many, many stations, Don always shines brightly. Good memories are important, and Don will always be in the good guy column. RIP and prayers to his family.