Roy Exum
When a sell-out crowd packs into Murfreesboro’s Embassy Suites hotel tonight, I think it is most delicious that the large majority of those present will not recognize any of the 2016 inductees into the Hall of Fame. But let any one of those seated at the podium recite something as simple as a Bible verse and people will immediately beam with joy. The Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame, with faceless personalities that are loved from Memphis to Johnson City, will be “on the air” tonight.
We will laud our best “town criers” and among the faces in the crowd will be the much-beloved Bill “Dex” Poindexter of US 101 (WUSY), the sheer genius “Hey Earl” Freudenberg of WDOD, and the irreplaceable Keith Landecker of Power 94 (WJTT). And just to add a little luster, Chattanooga’s US-101 – which I steadfastly believe is the best country music station in the nation – will be enshrined as “Tennessee’s Legendary Station” for 2016.
“Whoever would have thought a kid from Rossville, Ga. – who fell in love with radio at age seven – would have ever gotten this far? It goes to show there is something to be said about out-living your friends,” Dexter laughed easily. “The fact that US-101 is the ‘legendary’ winner really means more to me than the Hall of Fame. That’s something ‘we’ earned together and what fun this has been.”
For some years Dex stepped away from the mic to thrive in the records business but 23 years ago, Sammy George and Clay Honeycutt lured him back. He was quickly teamed with the late David Earl Hughes and, as they say when you’ve ruled the ratings so long nobody can remember when you didn’t, the US-101 success is because Dex has never let “what we did” be about him, despite the fact he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame four years ago.
“I think the one thing I have in common, or I hope I have in common, with Earl and Keith is the fact they are two of the most humble, genuinely nice air personalities I have ever known in my life. I don’t mind telling you; I’m humbled just standing next to them, seriously.”
So, Dex, tell me “The Story.”
“When I came back to US-101 I was working traffic and suddenly there was this horrible wreck at the Ridge Cut. I got David Earl live on the two-way and told him, ‘Tell people to avoid the Ridge Cut. There has been a terrible thing … poor guy got ejaculated from his car.
“There is dead silence and David Earl, laughing so hard his nose was running, managed, ‘Say what happened again?’ and I’m, ‘Hey, this is really serious … poor guy got ejaculated from his car! It isn’t funny …’
‘Might you mean to say ‘ejected’ from his car?’ and I respond, ‘That is what I said … ejaculated …’ David tried again, ‘Ejected, Dex!’ … When it dawned on me what I had done, I muttered a stunned ‘oh no’ and David immediately queued the top song of the week. When I got back to the station, David Earl was still short-of-breath from laughing and thank goodness everybody realized it was a mistake. I, on the other hand, still think of it as a very horrible mistake,” Dex laughed at himself, this on the eve of being enshrined into the state’s Radio Hall Of Fame.
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“The first job I ever had in radio was at WDOD,” said Poindexter, “and I vividly remember Earl coming home on leave and working there until he had to return to active duty. Earl is one of the most professional people I have ever seen in radio but he is also one of the kindest. He was one of my first ‘teachers’ and his 50-years ride at WDOD is a feat unto itself. He is a legend across Tennessee.”
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“There is a huge thing about Keith Landecker very few people know,” said Dex. “He does as much for his community, from basketball leagues to one-on-one with at-risk youth, as anybody anywhere in the state of Tennessee. He’s a great radio man – give him that – but the man is a giant at helping others. He was awarded the Jefferson Award about five years ago for public service but he ought to win it every year. What a tremendous human being.”
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The Unsung Hero? WDEF’s Chip Chapman is the executive producer of the state’s Radio Hall of Fame and this year may be his crowning glory. Proclamations are flooding the event and Dex, Earl and Keith carry “Radio Hall of Fame Week” plaudits from County Mayor Jim Coppinger, City Mayor Andy Berke, the State Senate and the State Legislature (Mike Carter, JoAnne Favors, Marc Gravitt, Patsy Hazlewood, Gerald McCormick, Rom Ramsey, Bo Watson and Todd Gardenhire.) From the floor of Congress Chuck Fleischmann and from the Senate Bob Corker have issued edicts. “I haven’t heard from the White House but there is still time,” laughed Chip.
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Dex, when you look at the people from across the state going into the Radio Hall of Fame, what is the one constant that makes each one great? “Knowing when to shut up and play the record.”
royexum@aol.com