HOPKINS COUNTY, KY – A Madisonville radio personality is no longer on the air.  Rick Stevens last day on WFMW was Tuesday.  Station general manager, Bob Kelly told iSurf News that, “It was a lay-off due to the economy.”

So, what is Rick doing now?  He spoke to iSurf News Thursday afternoon and said that, while he is looking for another full-time job, he is still employed as a bus driver for the Hopkins County School System.  He has been driving a bus for 15 years.

With the winter weather storm headed this way, Stevens said that, “For the first time in 23 years, I think I will sleep late then get up, fix some coffee and watch a movie.”

Steven's said that, “You know they say, when one door closes, another one opens.”  He said that maybe it is time for a change, but said, “It does feel a little odd not being on the radio anymore.” 

He began working in radio in 1987.  “I was working for a coal company selling mining equipment when the bottom fell out of the industry.”  Experiencing a lay-off then, Stevens said he just walked into the WFMW studios and asked for a job.  He said, “I just walked in and said, I want to be a D.J., who do I talk to?”

He found out, however, that there was more to it that just asking for a job.  Stevens told iSurf News that Program Director, Danny Kober gave him the news copy and asked him to record himself reading the stories.  After about 2 weeks of training, he was given an air-shift working nights from seven till midnight.

Stevens style and voice definitely fit the stations format of “America's Music” country theme.  He said, “I am a child of the deep south with a southern accent.  I remember as a little boy, I would listen to WQXT in Atlanta and dream of becoming a country music D.J.

Rick's first day on the air was pretty much a typical day for first-time announcers.  He said he will never forget his first experience.  He was given a weather copy and told to read the forecast on the air.  Stevens said, “I turned on the mic and said, Western Ky. Weather, and then I locked up.”  Stevens said he could not say another word.  “My heart leaped sky-high.  So I turned to the fellow training me and said, I can't do this.”  But he did.

Stevens talked fondly of his time on the air.  He spoke of a time when 70+ mile-an-hour winds blew through the community.  He said he was working the “Afternoon Drive Time” from 2-7pm.  “ storm hit around 6:45 that night,” he said.  “We received several phone calls from people who had experienced some damage.”  A part-time employee came in to take over at 7pm.  Instead, he and Stevens went down to the basement to ride out the storm.  Stevens remained at the station until Danny Kober came in the next morning.  Stevens said the power was off and he wanted to keep the generator going with plenty of fuel until Kober arrived.  The generator was helping the station remain on the air.

He said he will never forget another storm that affected the area and in a big way.  He said, “It is kind of ironic to be talking about the ice storm here on the anniversary of the event.”  Stevens said, “I knew people were going to panic, they didn't know what to do, where to get help, they needed someone to talk to.”  He said the ice storm was almost surreal-like a war zone. 

The station was able to operate with the assistance of the generator and on low power but Stevens said he knew it was very important to be on the air.
He said, “We didn't play music, that was not the right thing to do then.  I just kept the mic open, talking to people and telling them what was going on and where they could get assistance.  I felt my job was just to keep everyone calm.” 

Stevens said they had no heat, no lights, except for a flashlight, but they were on the air.  Hopkins County Judge Executive Donnie Carroll, Madisonville Mayor Will Cox, officials from the Madisonville Fire Department, EMA, and from KU & Kenergy would either come into the station or call to give daily up-dates of what was going on and where to get assistance. 

He said, “As the officials came into the station, I could tell they were just about wore-out.”  But he said, “I wanted to keep the spirits of our listeners alive.  I just told them, we are going to get through this.”

What does the future hold for Rick Stevens?  He said he wants to remain in the Madisonville/Hopkins County area, but probably not in radio.  He talked about how the industry is changing.  He said, “There used to be a time when the building was hopping with a lot of people.  You had DJ's on the air all day, a full staff, but not anymore.”  Today, radio is mostly automated with music and programs being downloaded by way of satellite or the internet. 

He said he met his wife, former Hopkins County Judge Executive, Patricia Hawkins here in Madisonville.  He said, “One day she made me Spaghetti and I fell in love.”

Stevens said he likes the area and the people and plans to remain in Madisonville.

Without a doubt, Hopkins and the surrounding Counties will certainly miss hearing Rick Stevens on the air.


Tim Moore – News Director
iSurf News