The Last Supper and the Last Breakfast

Jesus had the Last Supper and it appears Royce and Roger had the Last Breakfast Thursday, October 2, on 1350 WOAM. Of course, there’s no comparison. Jesus was crucified, dead and buried and rose again. Royce and Roger will go through that process except for the “rose again” business.

In response to the thousands of requests, well maybe hundreds, then again, the kind people who’ve called, sent letters and cards, I’ll tell you the rest of the story of why WOAM and sister station WPMJ went silent without any advance notice to anyone, including Royce and Roger.

Following another “award winning” three hours of “Breakfast with Royce and Roger,” station owner Bob Kelly called a meeting of his four part-time and one full-time employees. Royce and Roger, though not employees, were invited to attend. Kelly announced that Associated Bank had foreclosed on both WOAM and WPMJ.

Though Kelly didn’t say so, we assumed the foreclosure was for non-payment on loans. Due to foreclosure, Kelly said he would shut down the stations later in the day, which he did by taking the little guinea pig out of the round wheel that powered the stations.

Royce and Roger were disappointed, sadly disappointed for many reasons. We loved doing the morning show. It was pure fun. We’re still suffering withdrawal symptoms. We miss sports with Ed Murphy, Ed Dwyer, Phil Salzer, Bob Sulaski and Mike Olson. We miss the news with Alicia Butler, the blonde bombshell. We miss all of the phone calls from our many friends and loyal listeners. Some of those came from long-time friends and some from complete strangers.

We miss the interviews with people like Jonathan Winters, our comedic hero, Pat Hughes of the Chicago Cubs, John Rooney of the St. Louis Cardinals, Andy Williams, Charlie Spoonhauer, the Gatlin Brothers, Bobby Richardson, Milt Pappas, Fergie Jenkins, Ryne Sandberg, Art Holst, Jody Davis, Randy Hundley, Joe Girardi and so many other national celebrities, most of them Royce’s personal friends.

Speaking of personal friends, we’re indebted to all of our local friends who not only were regular listeners, but frequent guests. These included Harry Whitaker, coach Joe Stowell and his son Joe, Jr., Sheriff Mike McCoy, Pete Vonachen, Mike Dentino, Mayor Jim Ardis, Councilman Bob Manning, Tom Maher of the Illinois Veterans Affairs Commission, Ed Kouri, Matt George, veterans Dick Reynolds, Bob Lehnhausen, Jason Adams, Fred Elmore, John Malone, Bob Larson, Chuck Collins, George Shadid, Bob Michel, Norm Kelly, Dr. Laura Schelly, Phil Jordan, Colonel Bill Robertson and Suzette Boulais of Arts Partners. There are others I’ve omitted, but not from my mind and heart.

“Breakfast with Royce and Roger” started November 19, 2002, about a week before my father died. The show had one primary mission, and that was to make people laugh and have fun in the morning. Is that one or two purposes? Anyway, we also wanted to play music, good music; something missing on local radio. We featured Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams, “Fats” Elliott, I mean Domino, the Diamonds plus a real variety of tastes from country like Glen Campbell to a classic like Josh Groban. We inserted comedy from not only Royce, my long-time friend, but also Bill Cosby and new friend, Jonathan Winters.

Our exclusive interviews were coupled with exclusive reports from the Middle East. During heavy fighting in Iraq, we talked “live” with Lt. Colonel Bob Lickiss each Friday morning. And who can forget our lively interviews each St. Patrick’s Day with friends in Peoria’s sister city, Clonmel, Ireland.

Probably our most memorable interview was with Gary Griggs. Griggs was on the 64th floor of one of the Twin Towers when hit by one of the hijacked airliners September 11, 2001. He lived to tell the story on “Breakfast with Royce and Roger” each 9/11. It was riveting.

I can’t forget the two interviews we had with the late General Wayne R. Downing. It was a thrill to be in the same room with a real hero. His record of service to our country was remarkable.

We’ll miss the holidays this year on our morning program because we were the only commercial station playing Christmas music as a regular part of our show. And we didn’t wait until a week before Christmas Day to introduce the sounds of the season.

WE SHALL RETURN…….MAYBE

Perhaps you saw the television commercial with Royce and Roger that closed with the bold words, We shall return….maybe. The message was produced to thank all of our listeners and advertisers. With the sudden demise of WOAM we didn’t have a chance to thank everyone while we were still on the station where we had fun for nearly six years. So we produced the TV message. We still have hopes, as the TV message inferred, to return to the air waves, sooner rather than later. Heck, we’re no spring chickens. That’s why we’ve been busy discussing and studying some possibilities to return. It may or may not happen. Only time will tell. In the meantime, Royce and Roger thank our many friends, on and off the air, for their support. We’ll never forget you. We hope that we managed to bring a smile and a laugh or two along the way with a program that was, and will never be, unmatched in Peoria radio.

ELECTION CHATTER

I don’t know about you, but it seems like we’ve been subjected to election news and commercials for the past four years. From my perspective, I’ve never seen a national media more subjective and biased for a candidate for President. It was bad when Bill Clinton ran for re-election, but the plain bigotry and blatant bias for Barack Heussein Obama is ridiculous. They not only tell us what we’re suppose to think about him, but also what we’re not to think about him.

Never in my life-time have I seen a Republican or Democrat more unprepared, more inexperienced, and more unachieved than Obama. Never have I seen a candidate for President with more evil and dangerous friends than Obama from the unrepentant American terrorist Bill Ayers to the anti-American so-called preacher, The Reverend Jeremiah Wright. Here’s a man who worked for the corrupt ACORN organization and had close ties to the corrupt Chicago con artist, Tony Rezko. Many years ago I heard the accurate statement, “You’re known by the friends you keep.” These were and are friends of Obama. Read his own biography where he admits he smoked “pot” and snorted cocaine. And recently he let his real political philosophy known when he said, “We need to spread the wealth around.” Folks, that’s pure socialism pure and simple.

His judgment has been wrong on just about everything starting with the war in Iraq. He said the surge would not work and that the U.S. should retreat by March of this year. He could not have been more wrong. The surge did work, is working, and 14 of the 18 provinces are now under the control of the Iraqi forces. Women in Iraq are now able to vote, there are no more torture or rape rooms, and the dictator and his sons are no more.

The people in Iraq are now enjoying the same freedoms as enjoy in the U.S.

John McCain, a fighter pilot in Vietnam, who served with distinction even while a 3 ½ year prisoner of war, is experienced, a true leader, and better prepared to lead this nation. While Obama selected a Washington political hack who has misspoken more often than Charlie McCarthy as his running mate, McCain, on the other hand, selected a smart, experienced, articulate woman who has energized people with a freshness unparalleled in national politics. She has more of a record of governmental success than Obama himself. For me, it’s an easy choice for President and Vice President. God save America with John McCain and Sarah Palin.

THE ECONOMY

Anyone who has read or listened to credible resources knows the major reason for the drop in the economy rests with the failed policies of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. These quasi-government agencies loaned money for “affordable housing” to people who could not afford housing. Democrats Chris Dodd in the Senate and Barney Frank in the House, were the “gatekeepers” for these agencies. They were warned by the Bush Administration and by Republicans, including John McCain, to tighten controls. Those are facts for my liberal readers. Seventeen times Dodd and Frank were warned. Appearing recently on television, former President Bill Clinton admitted Democrats ignored efforts by Republicans to tighten controls on lending practices. Frank’s response was this was simply Republicans trying to keep poor people from obtaining “affordable housing.” Democrat Maxine Waters damned Republicans and others for their warnings claiming that “Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are safe and being managed effectively by Franklin Raines.” Notably Raines and another high official in Fannie Mae, James Johnson, are close political associates of Barack Obama. They were so close that Senators Dodd and Obama received thousands of dollars in political contributions. Of course, you won’t hear about this from any of the major news networks or newspapers. Oh yes, Raines was a budget official in the Clinton administration.

LOCAL POLITICS

There have been some very competitive political races these past few months and that’s putting it mildly. Democrat Colleen Callahan, once considered someone with class, turned nasty against her Republican opponent, Aaron Schock. She called for not one but two ridiculous investigations in her battle for the Congressional seat currently held by Ray LaHood. Interestingly, the one regarding his notary signature was dismissed by Democrat State’s Attorney Kevin Lyons and Schock neutralized her moaning over the costs for President Bush’s visit by offering to pay local expenses. Meanwhile, Callahan got a pass from local media types after she called for a national draft and then retreated quickly. Voters should remember she was thrust into the contest against Schock after former Bradley basketball coach Dick Versace dropped out and a state legislator, the party’s second choice, opted not to run. Callahan is a third stringer for Democrats and will lose November 4th.

The race for Schock’s state seat between Republican Joan Krupa and Democrat Jehan Gordon will be much closer than Schock vs. Callahan. Despite having an embarrassing arrest record for stealing as a shop-lifter and then failing to pay her court ordered fine for eight years, plus some publicity for lying about her education, Gordon will defeat Krupa.

After all, it is a Democrat district. The unusual and rather strange endorsement from former Peoria County Board chairman Sharon Kennedy, a Democrat, is of little if any value. The TV ads Jordon has been running against Krupa are about as false as anything I’ve ever seen and she used average people to perpetuate the outright deceptions.

Another close race will see Democrat Kevin Lyons squeak past Republican challenger, Darin LaHood for Peoria County State’s Attorney. And, I believe, whether he wins or loses, Lyons will eventually be appointed as a federal judge if Obama is elected President.

In Peoria County board races, Democrats will race to victory to maintain their overwhelming majority. The only close contest will see that old fox Eldon Polhemus defeat newcomer Brad Harding. Pat Hidden, from Bartonville, will win her race against Republican Lynn Smith and the Democrat turnout will allow Democrat Al Mayer, who runs for everything, to defeat Republican Jeff Lickiss. By and large, political affiliations mean little as long as Democrat Bill Prather is County Board chairman. Bill has been the most fair and balanced chairman in the history of board politics. Hopefully, he’ll be re-elected chairman in December.

NEW CAREERS?

If Royce and Roger are unable to return to radio, they have plans to open a new restaurant specializing in different types and flavors of baked beans. The planned name for the new eatery will be, “Tooters.”

THANKSGIVING WISHES

This issue is for the month of November so I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone Happy Thanksgiving and to give thanks for our many blessings. I’m grateful to Bob Kelly for giving Royce and Roger the morning time the past (nearly) six years to have fun with our friends on the radio. And I thank my wife for her support while she struggles with some health challenges. Most of all I thank God for His blessings. Life has been good. I hope the same is true for you.

THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH

“Take as a gift whatever the day brings forth.” —Horace