PEORIA, Ill. – A legendary career of nearly 40 years behind the radio microphone in Peoria concludes on Friday.
Rick Hirschmann of Midwest Communications sister station 93.3 the Drive is retiring at the end of the day on Friday.
Hirschmann began his radio career while as a student at Bradley University, where he tells WMBD’s “Greg and Dan” that an opportunity came up when he was an intern at Rock 106.
“The girl who was working overnights quit, or I was going to come back in the summer, she was going to leave to go to either WLS or WGN in Chicago, and the pre-cell phone and everything, and when we get home, there’s a message on our answering machine from Jeff Murphy, and says ‘Hey she quit, can you come on out?’,” Hirschmann said.
Hirschmann has spent his time in the River City on Rock 106 and 93.3 the Drive. He says his actual start in radio was a class trip to a station in 3rd grade where they let him read the weather.
Hirschmann also gave advice for people currently in, and looking to get into, radio on what to do to be successful in the industry.
“I’d tell you just be you,” Hirschmann said. “Just be you, bring your own thoughts and ideas into this, and make it great.”
Hirschmann is planning to move to South Carolina, where he says he’s taking a “leap of faith” with no jobs currently lined up. He says while he’s leaving a daughter and son in central Illinois, he’ll be moving close to his other children, his mother, and aunt in a place where he wants to end up.
WMBD Radio and everyone at Midwest Communications thanks you Rick, for all the memories.
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