It has been said that one reaches the pentacle of entertainment success when fans don't recognize you by your full name but by a catch phrase or nick name.
Examples of this are "Bogie" for the great actor Humphrey Bogart. Then there's "The King" referring to the music icon of our lifetime, Elvis Presley.
This is also true with our soon to be newly inducted Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame recipient, Earl Freudenberg from Chattanooga.
When people see Earl they don't say hello Mr. Freudenberg or hello Earl, its "Hey Earl".
This all started on Earl's popular morning radio show "Sound Off".
There was a time when Earl and Luther Masingill dominated the morning radio in Chattanooga. Earl's Sound Off show was actually the first talk radio show in the city. It was mostly talk with some music. The topics ranged from politics, Tennessee and city history, community promotions, music, religion, gardening and life in general. When the callers called in they all started by saying "Hey Earl". This caught on to where people would refer to the show as not as "Sound Off" but the "Hey Earl" show. It further endured to where the man himself is known as "Hey Earl".
I had the privilege of being a guest on the show several times. I also would be with Earl during his beloved Forgotten Child Fund Drives. I also worked with Earl on his Military Day programs, the Red Bank Jubilee and funerals. I have never seen anyone as dedicated as Earl was to his different projects. He was always a concerned, compassionate professional.
Now because of Earl's deep Christian faith, he is the host of a Christian program on a world-wide Christian network. He has dedicated his life to helping others.
Earl has received many awards in his life for his military involvement, his community involvement and his radio shows but none of these can measure up to this most prestigious award, his induction into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame.
So it's: "Bogie"
"The King"
and now "Hey Earl".
Hey Earl, congratulations!
Judge Russell Bean