Spring Break
Walt Bodine: a long life of journalism
Kelley Kates
Issue date: 6/1/09 Section: News
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Many recognize Bodine from his show heard on 89.3 KCUR, but that is just one aspect of his long-lasting career.
Bodine has been a regular in the journalism business for nearly 60 years. He has worked for news stations such as Fox 4 and Channel 9, as well as various radio stations.
As for writing for newspapers, Bodine said, "You write everything that someone asks you to write if you can, and I did and I do, I still do even now. Now, right now in my older age, I'm blind. But that doesn't stop me from working or from doing what I do."
His current run at KCUR has lasted for 25 years and his show is broadcasted from 10-11 a.m. Monday through Friday.
Bodine got his start in journalism through broadcasting and announcing, but moved into news reporting.
"I just hired on as an announcer, and that's okay, except that very soon after that I found out that news was much more important and much more interesting, and I managed to work my way into the news room and from there on I've just gone step-by-step and here I am," Bodine explained.
"I've been interested in every job I've had I think with the possible exception of the first one," Bodine said.
Bodine had been going from radio station to radio station trying to get a job when he was tipped off about an opening at KDRO in Sedalia. He immediately went to the station and was given the job.
The unfortunate part of it for Bodine was that a portion of his show involved sports announcing.
"I remember the first day I was there, I came to my horror. I was looking at the log and I saw at the end of the log I was to preside over 15 minutes of sports. For a week, I struggled with it and on the final day of the week, on a Friday, they came out and presented me with my paycheck and said, 'That's all we'll need, thank you.'"
Bodine's father picked him up from Sedalia. Bodine said he looked off into the distance and thought, "Boy, for two years I've been trying to get a job and here I am, I finally got one and I'm canned in one week."
From there, Bodine received a position with better pay in Atchinson, Kan., where he soon became the program director at the station.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Mark Mattison
posted 6/04/09 @ 8:13 AM CST
In the late 1980s Walt donated a small collection of his recordings to the Marr Sound Archives at the Miller Nichols Library of the University of Missouri-Kansas City. (Continued…)
Testking
70-298
posted 6/05/09 @ 2:08 PM CST
In the late 1980s Walt donated a small collection of his recordings to the Marr Sound Archives at the Miller Nichols Library of the University of Missouri-Kansas City. (Continued…)
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