The Last 10 Years

The last ten years. Wow. I didn't even really think about this New Year being the end of a decade until Jennifer Powers mentioned it to me today. I remember 1999 very well. I was 21 years old. I was into my 2nd year working full-time here at WJVL and hosting the Night Show. Just prior to the New Year (2000), I was promoted to afternoons after Rhonda Moe took a "day-time" job to spend more time with her two boys.

In 2000, Jennifer Powers graduated from UW-Whitewater with her Communications Degree and took over the Night Show 'full-time.'

I'll never forget the events on September 11th, 2001. I was scheduled to work "Mid-Days" for Austin Ryggs who was off hosting the WCLO/WJVL Client Golf Outing that the stations had scheduled that day. I came into work around 8:30am when Ken Scott had just put ABC News on the air with continuous coverage of the tragic events. I didn't see the planes hit the tower. I didn't see them collapse. I heard it on the radio. Sitting in the studio I listened to the events play out over the airwaves. Shortly after 1pm, we pulled away from our "continuous" News coverage and went back to playing music. It was one of the strangest feelings I've ever had on the air to this day.

In 2004 I got engaged to Mary. The end of that year, I bought my 1st house. Mary and I were married in 2005. Our daughter Mallory was born in 2007.

2007 was my 10th year at WJVL. In December of of that year, we lost J.D. Barber. Prior to joining WJVL as the Saturday Morning host in 1999, I was a huge fan of his. I remember listening to his morning show on a Madison station during the middle 1980's when I lived in Stoughton before moving away to Northern Wisconsin. It's funny. I always get a kick out of people making a big deal the 1st time they meet me. I usually think, "What's the big deal?" Yet, I remember being the same way when I met JD. I was all excited and couldn't believe I'd be working with him. We became fast friends and I still miss him today.

2009 marked my 12th year at the station. It's been an interesting ride. I sure hope you've enjoyed having me as much as I've enjoyed being here. One never knows what the future holds. Jennifer Powers laughed as she reminded me she had gone full circle the last 10 years. She graduated college and started working at WJVL in 1999. A few years later, she took a Morning Co-Host job in LaCrosse, then worked in Madison. Now as 2009 ends, she's found her way back to WJVL part-time and is thinking of going back to school.

Happy New Year!

"When the world says "give up", Hope whispers, "try again".

~Anonymous