Thursday, June 23, 2005
Spike O'Dell
The Aurora, IL, home of WGN Radio morning host Spike O'Dell burned down this morning. No one was hurt...but, my understanding is the home was gutted. I've been told that Spike is currently out of town...on an Alaska cruise with some of his listeners.
Spike is a very nice man. I first met him in 1987, while working at the ill-fated and long-forgotten WRXR-FM here in Chicago. Spike had just arrived to do afternoons at WGN, after Bob Collins moved to mornings when Wally Phillips retired. Spike then segued seemlessly to mornings, following Bob's tragic death in a plane crash in Zion in February of 2000.
While no humans were hurt in the fire, there was one real life loss for Spike and his wife, Karen. Their beloved dog, Otis, whom Spike often mentioned on the air, apparently died in the fire. Yes, that is an actual picture of the real Otis. I'm sure he will be missed by Spike, Karen and their family.
Spike is a very nice man. I first met him in 1987, while working at the ill-fated and long-forgotten WRXR-FM here in Chicago. Spike had just arrived to do afternoons at WGN, after Bob Collins moved to mornings when Wally Phillips retired. Spike then segued seemlessly to mornings, following Bob's tragic death in a plane crash in Zion in February of 2000.
While no humans were hurt in the fire, there was one real life loss for Spike and his wife, Karen. Their beloved dog, Otis, whom Spike often mentioned on the air, apparently died in the fire. Yes, that is an actual picture of the real Otis. I'm sure he will be missed by Spike, Karen and their family.
