Here's a bit more on Rife. His departure from WBEN was not voluntary. Rife learned about WBEN's move to replace him from a Jamestown listener who heard Larry King mention it on WJTN, where King was already airing. Rife did not retire. He went on to become a communications instructor at Medaille College. I had the honor of working with Rife in the early 1980s when my station accepted a couple of interns from his program -- each of whom have had successful careers (Eileen Buckley and Mike McKay). It was during that time that Rife hosted a weekend afternoon music show on WEBR 970AM. I lost touch with him after that. When he died in the early '90s, I got word of his passing while I was at a management workshop. I came in that night to prepare an obit because his distinguished career deserved such recognition. I will always hold Dick Rifenberg in high regard. He was one of the many announcers whom I looked up to while growing up, hoping for a radio career. So, I was especially grateful to work with him in a professional capacity years later.
