Dana C. (Traffic Manager)
My heart is broken for the loss we feel around the radio station and my heart is broken for Elizabeth, Mike and Rob. He spoke so often and so highly of his family. He loved them dearly and they brought him such great joy.
He was such a warm man. So involved. So caring. So funny. He could throw out a one liner better than anyone! He taught me a LOT about the radio business and he taught me that even though the technology has drastically changed in our business, the listeners still want the same thing. They want to be talked "with," not "at." They want accurate information from a trusting, professional source. And they want to laugh a little, too. And man, did he have the talent to deliver all of that.
Just yesterday afternoon I was thinking how rested and happy he looked. Wish I would have told him! He had on a red sweater vest and looked so handsome. He was telling me stories about his recent holiday road trips with Elizabeth to see family and friends. He was also talking about how excited he was to get the Skycopter back up in the sky... it is down now getting some upgrades. His eyes lit up when he said how cool the new "toys" were going to be... everything in high definition and everything digital for a good, clean, crisp audio/video feed.
He said that Skycopter would be back up in a couple of weeks. I told him how much I was going to miss seeing him in the Q 105.1 studio every afternoon since he would be calling in his reports from the sky. He said, "It's OK. I'll fly over and honk so you'll know I'm here."
Who would have thought that would be our last conversation?
Oh... he's up in the sky, alright. That I know for sure! I hope he can find a horn to honk for me in heaven, too! I'll be listening...
OH! This takes my breath away and breaks my heart all at the same time. I cannot remember a time in MY ENTIRE LIFE that BOB RALL was NOT on the radio! What a huge loss for us all.
On a more personal note, how I loved my visits with him at Clear Channel, he was always so charming and funny and sweet--and he would ALWAYS put me on the air when there was bad weather threatening and let me yell, "RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!"
© 2012
