Bob Collins
Encyclopedia
Bob Collins was the morning man for WGN
-720AM radio in Chicago
. His show was the top rated morning show for WGN and kept the station at the top of the ratings. His show featured various conversation as well as some music
. He also made occasional appearances on WGN-TV
, hosting specials such as the Auto Show.
, Collins got his first job in radio at age 14. Known in his youth as "Buddy" Lee, he legally changed his name when his radio career began in the 1960s.
Collins attended the University of Florida
and worked for a radio station in Gainesville, Florida
in the early 1960s. Ultimately, Collins earned a degree in journalism from Florida Southern College
.
, at WKGN
Knoxville, Tennessee and then took a job as a disk jockey in Milwaukee at WOKY
and WRIT
. In 1974, he joined WGN-AM. In July 1986, he succeeded the station's legendary and top-rated morning-drive host Wally Phillips
. Collins would become Chicago's top-rated morning radio host until his death in 2000.
His folksy style appealed to a great many people, as his ratings numbers indicated. He was affectionately known as "Uncle Bobby". .
He enjoyed flying his Zlin 242 L airplane, riding his Harley
and the Chicago Cubs
. His interest in flying would prove fatal.
in Waukegan, Illinois
. The student pilot, Sharon Hock, was directly below him, and they were unaware of each others' presence until the collision. Collins attempted to steer his plane to a safe landing, but it crashed and burned atop a nearby hospital, killing him and a passenger. The student pilot also crashed three blocks away and died. There were no other injuries or fatalities in the air or on the ground. The official report indicated that the control tower personnel were unable to observe or communicate the perilous situation until it was too late.
Many of Bob Collins' friends and co-workers worked in Bob's memory to have radar and other safety tools installed at the Waukegan Regional Airport to prevent further tragedies.
WGN held a memorial radio show, much of which was captured for a CD that was sold to benefit his favorite charities, the WGN Radio Neediest Kids Fund and the Salvation Army
. Sprinkled through the CD was a list of funny and thoughtful observations from people of all ages, which he had read on what proved to be his final program that morning: "Things I've learned as I've aged". One of the last entries was: "Age 64 - I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you. But if you focus on your family, the needs of others, your work, meeting new people, and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you."
WGN (AM)
WGN is a radio station in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It is the only radio station owned by the Tribune Company, which also owns the flagship television station WGN-TV, the Chicago Tribune newspaper and Chicago magazine locally. WGN's transmitter is located in Elk Grove Village, Illinois...
-720AM radio in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. His show was the top rated morning show for WGN and kept the station at the top of the ratings. His show featured various conversation as well as some music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
. He also made occasional appearances on WGN-TV
WGN-TV
WGN-TV, virtual channel 9 , is the CW-affiliated television station in Chicago, Illinois built, signed on, and owned by the Tribune Company. WGN-TV's studios and offices are located at 2501 W...
, hosting specials such as the Auto Show.
Early life and education
Born Harold Wallace Lee and a native of Lakeland, FloridaLakeland, Florida
Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States, located approximately midway between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4. According to the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 94,406...
, Collins got his first job in radio at age 14. Known in his youth as "Buddy" Lee, he legally changed his name when his radio career began in the 1960s.
Collins attended the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
and worked for a radio station in Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
in the early 1960s. Ultimately, Collins earned a degree in journalism from Florida Southern College
Florida Southern College
Florida Southern College is a private college located in Lakeland, Florida, United States. It was selected by U.S...
.
Professional career
Collins worked early in his career for a radio station in Tampa, FloridaTampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, at WKGN
WKGN
WKGN is an AM radio station licensed to Knoxville, Tennessee. It first signed on the air in 1946. It currently has a Spanish format.WKGN has switched formats many times throughout its existence...
Knoxville, Tennessee and then took a job as a disk jockey in Milwaukee at WOKY
WOKY
WOKY is a Milwaukee, Wisconsin, radio station. They broadcast a classic country radio format emphasizing country from the 50s-80s...
and WRIT
WJYI
WJYI is a radio station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. It runs a Christian format with Contemporary Christian Music from Salem Radio Network's Today's Christian Music network. It also features brokered teaching and preaching programs from both local Churches and national ministries. It also airs...
. In 1974, he joined WGN-AM. In July 1986, he succeeded the station's legendary and top-rated morning-drive host Wally Phillips
Wally Phillips
Walter Phillips was an American radio personality best known for hosting WGN's morning radio show from Chicago for 21 years from January 1965 until July 1986, and was number one in the morning slot from 1968 until he left for an afternoon radio slot in 1986.Phillips was a pioneer of the radio...
. Collins would become Chicago's top-rated morning radio host until his death in 2000.
His folksy style appealed to a great many people, as his ratings numbers indicated. He was affectionately known as "Uncle Bobby". .
He enjoyed flying his Zlin 242 L airplane, riding his Harley
Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson , often abbreviated H-D or Harley, is an American motorcycle manufacturer. Founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during the first decade of the 20th century, it was one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression...
and the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
. His interest in flying would prove fatal.
Death and legacy
Collins died in the afternoon of February 8, 2000, after his and a student pilot's plane collided upon approach to the runway at the Waukegan Regional AirportWaukegan Regional Airport
Waukegan Regional Airport is a public use airport located in Waukegan, a city in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The airport is 35 nautical miles north of the central business district of Chicago. It was originally named Waukegan Memorial Airport...
in Waukegan, Illinois
Waukegan, Illinois
Waukegan is a city and county seat of Lake County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 87,901. The 2010 population was 89,078. It is the ninth-largest city in Illinois by population...
. The student pilot, Sharon Hock, was directly below him, and they were unaware of each others' presence until the collision. Collins attempted to steer his plane to a safe landing, but it crashed and burned atop a nearby hospital, killing him and a passenger. The student pilot also crashed three blocks away and died. There were no other injuries or fatalities in the air or on the ground. The official report indicated that the control tower personnel were unable to observe or communicate the perilous situation until it was too late.
Many of Bob Collins' friends and co-workers worked in Bob's memory to have radar and other safety tools installed at the Waukegan Regional Airport to prevent further tragedies.
WGN held a memorial radio show, much of which was captured for a CD that was sold to benefit his favorite charities, the WGN Radio Neediest Kids Fund and the Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
. Sprinkled through the CD was a list of funny and thoughtful observations from people of all ages, which he had read on what proved to be his final program that morning: "Things I've learned as I've aged". One of the last entries was: "Age 64 - I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you. But if you focus on your family, the needs of others, your work, meeting new people, and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you."
External links
- The WGN Radio Bob Collins audio archive Selected audio clips from Bob's show on WGN Radio in Chicago.
- WGN Radio reference
- A discussion of the official report on the crash