In The Words of Dick

ALTOONA, BLAIR COUNTY --  Anyone who knows Dick DiAndrea understands that sitting down to do a simple interview with him, is going to be anything but simple.

Even his own son JR  warned me, "It isn't easy to sit with Dad to discuss any topic, let alone his favorite...him!."

I asked my first question and 45 minutes later, Dick was ready for me to ask another.

Whether you think of him as a radio legend, or just a legend in his own mind, you have to respect the man who survived five decades in a business that can sometimes just be downright brutal.

I remember the first time I met "Big Dick" as he calls himself.  I was at Forever Broadcasting for a story and Dick invited me into his studio during his live show.  Previous to this I had heard that Dick had made comments on his radio show about me and I had never even met the man.  "Who is the Dairy Queen that WTAJ hired to cover Bedford County. She has huge teeth, I guess they grow everything bigger in Bedford". 

Knowing this is what he had said about me, I was a little nervous to go on his live radio show, but I did.  He sat back in chair and said "Wow, you are really good looking in person."  I just smiled at him and said, "Wish I could say the same to you." An instant friendship formed.  I learned as long as you can give it back to him, he respects you.  A lesson learned the hard way for some, but it was nice to finally meet the man behind the voice.

As I was writing the piece for the 6pm news, I realized there were quite a few funny one liners from Dick, you knew there would be.  So instead of letting them just "die on the edit room floor", we pieced them together for this little montage.

So "In The Words of Dick" you can learn a little more about radio life, his wonderful wife, and his bucket list of things he still wants to do.

Congratulations on this prestigious honor Dick.  We will look forward to the next 50 years!