Driving to a wedding planning meeting today, I was reminded of this, the 20th anniversary of two huge events. First, and foremost, my son accepted Jesus as his Savior on this night two decades ago. That is everything.
But I want to focus on what else happened to me that day. For the first time, I stepped into the magical building on Church Hill that, today, houses ChildSavers, but, at the time, hosted WRVA and WRNL Radio and the Virginia Radio Network.
One Sunday in October, I happened to notice a help wanted ad in the Sunday paper (remember them?) that said WRVA was in need of a production director. Now, at the time, I was very, very happy as a pastor of a church in Prince George County, and the stay-at-home dad of a second grader and a two year old cutie in the midst of potty training.
I will squelch the theory now that I went for the job to avoid the potty training. :)
I decided to throw my hat into the ring, and, a couple of weeks later, was stunned to stand in my kitchen, on the telephone that was on the wall (remember them?), talking to Program Director Tim Farley.
He offered. I accepted. Let the pinching begin.
I took a tour on November 3rd and met most everyone. A week later, on a Wednesday, because I had promised to chaperone Robbie's field trip earlier in the week and kept that promise, I walked into the entrance from the parking lot into the storied building.
Tim Timberlake and John Harding were on the morning show. Big Al was cooking sports on 910. I went to the restroom, had a seat, and asked out loud (I think), "What in the world am I doing here?" I was a Miami Marlin utility player about to bat ninth for the New York Yankees, if that analogy makes sense.
My office was next to Lou Dean's office. How's that for pressure? I took a deep breath, and I jumped into the proverbial puddle with both feet. The holiday season was upon us, and there was no time to waste. I learned DGS, watched people use the digital editing equipment I'd never touched before, taught myself the rest of it through trial and error, immersed myself into traffic instructions and production orders and typing cart labels (radio people, remember them?).
Within two weeks, it was home. That production studio quickly became, to me, like the most comfortable pair of shoes you've ever worn.
And this MUST be said. I've worked at several different radio "groups" over 34 years. The least amount of egos were found on Church Hill. Most people would think it would be the opposite. But no way. Lou, Tim, Tim, John, Pam, Veronica, Deanna, Gary, Al, Bob, Bob, and I could go on and on, all were helpful, hospitable, and became friends.
Nancy and Carol became my rock. Jeanette, Amber....my mind is racing around the top floor of the building for all the great people who treated me so, so well. Joan, Todd, Ken, Carl, June, Holly, Missy, Maureen, Rick, John....
My blessing had an unfortunate side, as, nine months later, I watched Clear Channel (that's "iHeartMedia" for those of you under 25) completely dismantle a heritage station weeks before it celebrated its 75th anniversary on the air. That's a huge deal. The corporate suits completely ignored it, killed local talk at night, and thought Phil Hendrie was the answer.
WRVA has never recovered. In the last 20 years, our region has essentially been renamed "RVA". Everyone uses it from media to businesses, to even me (see: RVA Sports Network). This should position WRVA perfectly to be a go-to source for information, right?
Not when you load up on syndicated talk, lean to one political side, and get your local talent to talk more about Trump than what's happening in our city. But I digress.
Tonight, I focus on what began for me twenty years ago and how it continues to pay dividends long after I was let go in the great Clear Channel bloodletting of 2007. I have friends for life, experience I continue to use on podcasts from my home, football games on the radio, and other things.
And, as an added bonus, I can say my office was next to Lou Dean's office. Can you say that?
My deepest thanks to Mr. Farley, and everyone from Church Hill, for giving me an opportunity of a lifetime and making a dream truly come true. (My brother, myself, and my father in the WRVA production studio, circa 2000).
