Ralph Inducted into the WV Broadcasting Hall of Fame
I had indicated to Mike Buxser upon hearing that the committee had selected me for this honor, that I did not quite know what to say except that it is a huge honor and I am extremely grateful and appreciative. This is his response and It rings so true of his career and mine that are very similar in many ways, Mike also is a Hall of Famer.
Hey Ralph,
I don't think any of us got into this radio game because we hoped we would get recognition like the WV Radio and Television Hall of Fame. We had this passion to be on the air and lay it all on the line to deliver the best radio we could do. It consumed most of us and occupied our thoughts in almost every waking hour. Personal awards and accolades are great, but not why we do it. When you look at the small number of people who have received this award it brings into focus that your talents have been recognized for outstanding performance and you're being placed into a special place that will permanently recognize that career excellence. That's a pretty special achievement. You deserve it. Enjoy it.
Mike Buxser Vice President/Market Manager West Virginia Radio Corporation 1111 Virginia St. East Charleston, WV 25301 304 342 8131 304 344 4745 (fax) mbuxser@wvradio.com
I got to see this happen, amazing
The little Black Placque, Oh My!
No words can describe the feeling of having the body of work that you gave your life to, honored in this way.
The night was bittersweet. Many in this Hall of Fame have passed on but we loved them so much. Past friends and collegues that we walked this path with, live eternally in our hearts. What an incredible night for me.
Present was the legend himself, Rod O'Dell, the man that trained me on my first radio job at WWNR. How fitting that he was there at the beginning, and at the end of my active on air radio career. He IS the finest personality jock that ever lived. He taught me everything I ever needed to know about radio in about three months. Rod is my friend, mentor, and a huge star in my personal hall of fame.
