Dick Purtan
Encyclopedia
Dick Purtan is a former American
radio
personality. His last radio job was as the morning radio show host on Oldies 104.3
serving the Detroit, Michigan
U.S.
radio market. Purtan was also a disc jockey at WKNR-AM, WXYZ-AM, CKLW-AM
and WCZY-FM which became WKQI-FM
in 1989. Previous to coming to Detroit at WKNR "Keener 13" in 1965, Purtan worked at WOLF-AM in Syracuse, NY and WSAI
in Cincinnati; he began his radio career in his hometown of Buffalo, NY and also worked for a very short time at WBAL
in Baltimore
(only to leave the station after his witty, sardonic humor clashed with the station's conservative ownership).
Purtan is well-known for his philanthropic work. Each year, Purtan and his "Purtan's People" crew host a radiothon to benefit the Salvation Army's "Bed and Bread" program. Through Purtan's efforts, over 24 million dollars have been donated to the Bed and Bread program. The money has also been used to purchase additional Bed and Bread trucks which make daily deliveries of food to needy people in the Detroit area.
While in Cincinnati, Purtan gathered together $12,500 and promoted the Beatles in concert.
On the morning of February 11, 2010, Purtan announced his retirement effective March 26, 2010.
Dick Purtan continues to keep up with his audience through his blog every weekday and Facebook. He also started producing a weekly podcast, which can run anywhere between 12 minutes to a half-an-hour and have had on various "Purtan People."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
personality. His last radio job was as the morning radio show host on Oldies 104.3
WOMC
WOMC is a Classic Hits radio station broadcasting in the Detroit, Michigan, USA area. WOMC's transmitter and studios are located on Woodward Heights . near Interstate 75 in Ferndale, Michigan. WOMC broadcasts with an effective radiated power of 190,000 watts from an antenna height of 361 feet...
serving the Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radio market. Purtan was also a disc jockey at WKNR-AM, WXYZ-AM, CKLW-AM
CKLW
CKLW is a 50,000 watt AM radio station broadcasting on 800 kHz and located in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and serving Windsor and Detroit. Additionally, its signal can be heard as far west as Belding, Michigan; as far east as Batavia, New York; as far south as Edgewood, Kentucky; and as far...
and WCZY-FM which became WKQI-FM
WKQI
WKQI — branded Channel 955 — is a commercial pop/CHR radio station in Detroit, Michigan, owned by Clear Channel Communications. WKQI transmits its signal with an effective radiated power of 100,000 watts from an antenna 430 feet in height located at the intersection of Greenfield Road and 10 Mile...
in 1989. Previous to coming to Detroit at WKNR "Keener 13" in 1965, Purtan worked at WOLF-AM in Syracuse, NY and WSAI
WSAI
WSAI is an AM radio station broadcasting out of Cincinnati, Ohio. Its studios are in the Towers of Kenwood building next to I-71 in the Kenwood section of Sycamore Township and its transmitter is located in Mount Healthy.WSAI is known as "Fox Sports 1360," including The Dan Patrick Show and The...
in Cincinnati; he began his radio career in his hometown of Buffalo, NY and also worked for a very short time at WBAL
WBAL (AM)
WBAL is a news-talk radio station located in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. WBAL broadcasts on a clear channel frequency with 50 kilowatts of power. Owned by the Hearst Corporation, WBAL's tri-mast transmitters are located in Randallstown, Maryland...
in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
(only to leave the station after his witty, sardonic humor clashed with the station's conservative ownership).
Purtan is well-known for his philanthropic work. Each year, Purtan and his "Purtan's People" crew host a radiothon to benefit the Salvation Army's "Bed and Bread" program. Through Purtan's efforts, over 24 million dollars have been donated to the Bed and Bread program. The money has also been used to purchase additional Bed and Bread trucks which make daily deliveries of food to needy people in the Detroit area.
While in Cincinnati, Purtan gathered together $12,500 and promoted the Beatles in concert.
On the morning of February 11, 2010, Purtan announced his retirement effective March 26, 2010.
Dick Purtan continues to keep up with his audience through his blog every weekday and Facebook. He also started producing a weekly podcast, which can run anywhere between 12 minutes to a half-an-hour and have had on various "Purtan People."
Honors
- In 2004, Purtan was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame.
- Purtan was inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of FameNational Association of Broadcasters Hall of FameThe NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame is a yearly honor from the National Association of Broadcasters. One inductee from radio and one from television are named at the yearly NAB conference.-Radio:*2011 * 2010 Ron Chapman* 2009 Vin Scully* 2008 Larry Lujack...
in the radio division in 2006.
Work history
- WBALWBAL (AM)WBAL is a news-talk radio station located in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. WBAL broadcasts on a clear channel frequency with 50 kilowatts of power. Owned by the Hearst Corporation, WBAL's tri-mast transmitters are located in Randallstown, Maryland...
- WOLF-AM
- WSAIWSAIWSAI is an AM radio station broadcasting out of Cincinnati, Ohio. Its studios are in the Towers of Kenwood building next to I-71 in the Kenwood section of Sycamore Township and its transmitter is located in Mount Healthy.WSAI is known as "Fox Sports 1360," including The Dan Patrick Show and The...
- WKNR-AMWDTW (AM)WDTW is a Detroit-area radio station, operating at 1310 kHz with 5,000 watts. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications and airs mostly syndicated progressive talk radio programs....
(1965–67) - WXYZ-AM (1968–78)
- CKLW-AMCKLWCKLW is a 50,000 watt AM radio station broadcasting on 800 kHz and located in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and serving Windsor and Detroit. Additionally, its signal can be heard as far west as Belding, Michigan; as far east as Batavia, New York; as far south as Edgewood, Kentucky; and as far...
(1978–83) - WCZY/WKQIWKQIWKQI — branded Channel 955 — is a commercial pop/CHR radio station in Detroit, Michigan, owned by Clear Channel Communications. WKQI transmits its signal with an effective radiated power of 100,000 watts from an antenna 430 feet in height located at the intersection of Greenfield Road and 10 Mile...
(1983–96) - WOMCWOMCWOMC is a Classic Hits radio station broadcasting in the Detroit, Michigan, USA area. WOMC's transmitter and studios are located on Woodward Heights . near Interstate 75 in Ferndale, Michigan. WOMC broadcasts with an effective radiated power of 190,000 watts from an antenna height of 361 feet...
(1996–2010)