Dale Sommers
Encyclopedia
Bruce Dale Sommers known by his nickname "The Truckin' Bozo", is an American
radio personality
, best known for his long-running country music
show geared toward truck driver
s. Sommers hosted the show overnights from Cincinnati, Ohio
based clear channel
station WLW
from 1984 to 2004, with a small network of similarly high-powered stations across the United States. Sommers discontinued playing music on his nightly show and commenced focusing all his energies on truck news, news and talk from his listeners. Sommers made an attempt to retire from radio in 2004, but XM Radio was successful in getting him to do an afternoon truck show, which now airs on Sirius Radio and XM from 4–7 PM Eastern time.
in Camilla, Georgia
. Sommers was talking live on the air with regular caller Linda Driskill, known as "Mississippi Lady" to listeners, when he heard Driskill admonish someone not to come behind her counter. She then hung up the phone. Sommers was concerned for her safety, so he called the Camilla police (who knew Driskill from Sommers' show). The police responded to Driskill's store and quickly apprehended the robber.
or Cincinnati, Ohio
homes, other than an annual cruise.
ran a travel agency until May 2004 and retired from the travel business. Dale and Sharon spend approximately 9 months a year in Florida and the summer months in Cincinnati, Ohio. Sommers has a studio in his Florida home and also in his Cincinnati
home(4) so he can continue working from both locations. He has at least three sons, Steve Sommers (who hosts America's Trucking Network
), media executive Sean Compton
, and David Sommers, who runs the travel business his mother founded.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radio personality
Radio personality
A radio personality is a person with an on-air position in radio broadcasting. A radio personality can be someone who introduces and discusses various genres of music, hosts a talk radio show that may take calls from listeners, or someone whose primary responsibility is to give news, weather,...
, best known for his long-running country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
show geared toward truck driver
Truck driver
A truck driver , is a person who earns a living as the driver of a truck, usually a semi truck, box truck, or dump truck.Truck drivers provide an essential service to...
s. Sommers hosted the show overnights from Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
based clear channel
Clear channel
A clear-channel station is an AM band Radio station in North America that has the highest protection from interference from other stations, particularly concerning night-time skywave propagation. Usually known as class A stations since 1982, they are occasionally still referred to by their former...
station WLW
WLW
WLW is a clear channel talk radio station located in Cincinnati, Ohio, run by Clear Channel Communications. The station broadcasts locally on 700 kHz AM...
from 1984 to 2004, with a small network of similarly high-powered stations across the United States. Sommers discontinued playing music on his nightly show and commenced focusing all his energies on truck news, news and talk from his listeners. Sommers made an attempt to retire from radio in 2004, but XM Radio was successful in getting him to do an afternoon truck show, which now airs on Sirius Radio and XM from 4–7 PM Eastern time.
Catching a robber
"The Bozo" made national headlines when he helped to catch a robber at a convenience storeConvenience store
A convenience store, corner store, corner shop, commonly called a bodega in Spanish-speaking areas of the United States, is a small store or shop in a built up area that stocks a range of everyday items such as groceries, toiletries, alcoholic and soft drinks, and may also offer money order and...
in Camilla, Georgia
Camilla, Georgia
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,669 people, 1,994 households, and 1,405 families residing in the city. The population density was 929.4 people per square mile . There were 2,128 housing units at an average density of 348.9 per square mile...
. Sommers was talking live on the air with regular caller Linda Driskill, known as "Mississippi Lady" to listeners, when he heard Driskill admonish someone not to come behind her counter. She then hung up the phone. Sommers was concerned for her safety, so he called the Camilla police (who knew Driskill from Sommers' show). The police responded to Driskill's store and quickly apprehended the robber.
Health problems
Sommers suffers from severe Addisons Disease, for which there is no cure and it is treated by ever-increasing doses of steroids that help to keep the disease under control. Sommers is considered by those who are close to him to be a virtual recluse and is rarely seen out of his FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
or Cincinnati, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
homes, other than an annual cruise.
Comments on Mexicans
Mr. Sommers has raised some controversy among Mexican truckers for his apparent negative comments on the radio regarding cross-border trucking. He is often heard supporting bans on Mexican trucks in the United States.Family
Sommers is married to Sharon "Lumpy" Cox Sommers and they have been married 35 years. Sharonran a travel agency until May 2004 and retired from the travel business. Dale and Sharon spend approximately 9 months a year in Florida and the summer months in Cincinnati, Ohio. Sommers has a studio in his Florida home and also in his Cincinnati
home(4) so he can continue working from both locations. He has at least three sons, Steve Sommers (who hosts America's Trucking Network
America's Trucking Network
"Steve Sommers" redirects here. Not to be confused with Steve Somers, a New York radio host.America's Trucking Network is a nightly terrestrial and satellite radio broadcast based in Cincinnati, Ohio that was formerly syndicated across the United States...
), media executive Sean Compton
Sean Compton
Sean Compton is an American radio and television executive. He currently serves as President of Programming and Entertainment for Chicago based Tribune Company. Compton oversees programming for 41 television stations which includes a program services arrangement with LocalTV llc...
, and David Sommers, who runs the travel business his mother founded.