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WNAP's Don Michael Garrard

B

brian_stevens

The sad news from All Access is that one-time WNAP personality Don Michael Garrard has passed away from a heart attack. Garrard had most recently been morning man for Cox owned Classic Hits "96.9 The Eagle" in Jacksonville FL. Download scoped audio of Garrard on WNAP from March 1976 at http://www.sendspace.com/file/rrk3og.
 
In the Fall of 1974, I was working in Charlottesville, Virginia at WELK The Big 1400...and really missing Indiana. So, one Saturday night I drive west on I-64 out of town and up Afton Mountain in search of familiar radio far away. I park in the "Scenic Overlook" and start DXing. First, I pick up WLW. Then, fiftythousandwattsatelevenninetywowo and listened to them for a while. From there, I crank the knob about half a turn to the left and pick up Super 'CFL. There's a new guy on. I can tell because I hear him say his name at the top of the hour. "I'm Don Garrardieaux. It's 10 o'clock at the Voice of Labor."

The first song out of the id is Take Me Home Country Roads by John Denver. I listen to that and some more of Don. He's really good. How 'come he's only on weekends? I continue listening until the ozone shifts and it fades away.

Some months later, I make the move from Charlottesville to Indianapolis and WNAP. At about the same time, Garrard moves to Indy, too, dropping the "ieaux" from his CFL imposed air name. Shortly thereafter, the Buzzard is the proud sponsor of John Denver in concert. All of the NAP Jox are sitting in the front row for the show at MSA. And when Denver starts playing Country Roads, my mind does a flip as I realize I'm now sitting next to the guy I had listened to play that song a year earlier.

Don loved life. He loved and appreciated music and fine art. He loved beautiful women (and maybe one or two who weren't so beautiful). But, most of all Don loved to fly the plane. He flew it high and fast. And funny. He commanded the air. When you were with him, either on the radio, or down in the bomb shelter, it was impossible to have a bad time. He was inspirational, and he knew how good he was.

So did we.

Thank you for your ardent participation in our radio lives. And, now we bid you a fond adieu.
 
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