Our Town with host Andy Ockershausen - Homegrown History: Recent Episodes
Andy Ockershausen host of Our Town
Matheos Mesfin, Founder and Executive Director of the Institute for East African Councils, on IEA Councils' mantra for their work~
"I always say that the mantra for our work is that there's no growth in comfort, and so the more concentration you have with the same kind of people, the more your comfort zone will cement. So we interject and we take them out of that comfort zone and say, "Go to school in rural Massachusetts."
Matheos Mesfin - Founder and Executive Director of IEA Councils with host Andy Ockershausen in-studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen, and this is Our Town with a very special conversation with a young man that I happened to... I mean literally this was an accident. I was at an affair in the city and Our Town about Washingtonian of the Year and Donald Graham, who has been a friend for 50 years, says to me, "There's a young man here that's being recognized today I want you to meet. He is going to make a huge impact on parts of Our Town." When Donald asks, we all react. I don't care what we do because he's such a big part of Our Town and a great guy and a wonderful man. I said, Donald, okay, what do you got?" He said, "This young man is from East Africa. He's a resident of the United States now, and he's got a program that we're rewarding here today at the Washingtonian." Matheos Mesfin is a young man who's well dressed. He looks like a million dollars. He's getting an award that day. I said, "Donald, when you ask, I can't refuse," and he introduced us. I was so overwhelmed by your presence because you make a great impact, a great presentation as a wonderful guy. Without even knowing you, I thought we had some good vibes, and with Donald involved I couldn't avoid it. So Matheos, welcome to Our Town. You're making an impact, and we love it. Matheos Mesfin: It's such a pleasure to be here. Thank you for taking your time inviting me, and I hope that we'll make this presentation worth it. Thank you so much. From Ethiopia to Our Town to Grinnell College in Iowa and back to Our Town Andy Ockershausen: You're from Ethiopia. Matheos Mesfin: Yes. Andy Ockershausen: You were born in Ethiopia. How long have you been in Our Town? Matheos Mesfin: I immigrated here in 2007, end of 2007. Andy Ockershausen: That's no time at all. It's 12 years. Matheos Mesfin: That's no time at all, absolutely, and so 12 years. Spent three years at a DC public school before I settled in Iowa for undergrad. Andy Ockershausen: The Grinnell College. Matheos Mesfin: The Grinnell College. Andy Ockershausen: That's a very famous school. Matheos Mesfin: Famous for its hipsters and its very liberal views. I settled there four years, came back, and I got my first job in DC in higher ed, and the rest is history. So I've been here ever since. Andy Ockershausen: You're the director at IEA Councils. Matheos Mesfin: Yes, yes. I- Andy Ockershausen: Did you create the position? On Founding the Institute for East African Councils on Higher Education Matheos Mesfin: I did. I did. I established the Institute for East African Councils on Higher Education. It is a mouthful, so the abbreviation's what we commonly refer to as IEA Councils. It really stemmed from the idea that this area as hub for a lot of East Africans. It has hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians, a very robust Eritrean, Somali, Sudanese students and just diaspora all together. So we have seen that these students have created these cultural enclaves and they're not really reaching their full potential because they're limited to what their communities say or how their communities define college and school all together. With that in mind, I saw my transition to Grinnell as a very unique opportunity, and with that came the obligation to make sure that these wonderful students also reach their potentials by matriculating to top notch schools. Andy Ockershausen: That is a wonderful, wonderful... I hope it's going to work through fairly well,
Jimmy Lynn on what went into his decision to stay in Our Town after grad school ~ "When I was coming out of AU after grad school, a couple mentors pulled me aside and said, you think you might need to move to New York or LA? I wasn't sure. And they said, you might be a small fish in a big pond. Why not stay here in DC where you can be a big fish in a medium sized pond."
Jimmy Lynn, Entrepreneur, Servant Leader and Georgetown Professor and host Andy Ockershausen in studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Our Town. This is Andy Ockershausen. And this is such, I say this in all sincerity, a great, great opportunity and a pleasure to talk to a friend for many, many years. At one time, a big part of WMAL radio. Things have changed, Jimmy. The big days that you and I grew up are gone. But to have you in this studio to me is special and Jimmy Lynn, welcome to Our Town. Jimmy Lynn: Thank you, Andy. It's so great to be back to see you. To see Janice. To be back at the studios from back in the 80s when WMAL and Q107 were the kings of media. Andy Ockershausen: Jimmy, at one time we were the kings of media and we're still ... And Janice is the queen of media now. Jimmy Lynn: We know that. Andy Ockershausen: But Jimmy, if you recall, and I know you do, you got started in the business here. You were fortunate at the time as I was, because I started as you did. I started at the bottom and worked my way down. And you have done so much with your life and I want to talk about it but your DC career, to me, is special. You're a local guy that grew up here and made something out of being a local. Doing Business in Our Town – Big Fish, Medium Pond Jimmy Lynn: Yeah. No, that was very important to me. When I was coming out of AU after grad school, a couple mentors pulled me aside and said, you think you might need to move to New York or LA? I wasn't sure. And they said, you might be a small fish in a big pond. Why not stay here in DC where you can be a big fish in a medium sized pond. And you and Charlie Brotman told me the importance of networking and relationship building, shaking hands, and once you look someone in the eye to do business.
So they said stay in DC. You're going to make friends. You're going to business together. You're going to celebrate together. You're going to go to funerals together. You have a chance to become the old boy network which you and Charlie were. Andy Ockershausen: Well, Jimmy, you're so right. And I had an opportunity yesterday to talk to a bunch of young people in something called Leadership Greater Washington. I happened to be one of the founders of the organization in 1986 and '87 was our first class. Nothing has changed, Jimmy. That's over 30 some years ago and it's still networking, getting around, connect the dots. There's no secret to be a success. Show up. Return your phone calls. Andy O, Jr. Jimmy Lynn: I don't think I've told you this but a couple of people have told me, Jimmy, you have one of the top five or top 10 rolodexes in the DC business community. And people used to call me Andy O, Jr. I always took that as a big compliment because you were the most connected guy in town. Andy Ockershausen: Well, because, I still use the old Rolodex. I can't use this thing that you have, Jimmy. And Janice does it. Ken does it. But I'm a dead duck. I can't do it. But my Rolodex is important to my life because I pop up names on there that I haven't talked to in years and suddenly there they are in my Rolodex. And people use me for references and I appreciate it so much. But Jimmy you learned the lesson. But learning it is one thing, executing it in which you did, your career, I never understood what a double alumnus is. American University Communications and Marketing Jimmy Lynn: I went to American University. I have my Communication degree as undergrad and then MBA in Marketing. Andy Ockershausen: I went to American University myself when I was an intern at WMAL.
Phil Hochberg on revenue generation in Major League Baseball today ~
"Well, interestingly, Major League Baseball is now suffering attendance losses over the past few years, but Major League Baseball is making more money than it ever had because of the media rights and everything . . . everything has just changed so much. It is no longer just radio. It is no longer radio and television. It is not radio, television and cable. It is the Internet. It is the streaming services. It is just everything."
Phil Hochberg - Former Voice of the Redskins and Lawyer with host Andy Ockershausen in-studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Our Town. This is Andy Ockershausen. In a conversation with not only a friend, but I would say a world known friend from doing his work as the public address announcer for so many of Washington sports teams that they could hear you all over the world because of the coverage. Welcome to Our Town, Phil Hochberg. Phil Hochberg: Thank you Andy. Thank you very much. Andy Ockershausen: And a local guy that made good. Phil Hochberg: Well, I don't know if I made good, the old Frank Sullivan line, the Frank Sullivan picture with the Boston Red Sox. He said, "I'm in the twilight of a mediocre career." So I don't know if made good is the right word, but, thanks a lot. Andy Ockershausen: Well, I had a friend said that but a difference is, I'm in the top three of the mediocres, you know, so I can live with that. But Phil, you went to high school here at Wilson? Wilson High School | American University | Syracuse | George Washington Law School | Federal Communications Commission Career Start Phil Hochberg: I did. I did. Andy Ockershausen: And I had thought you had gone and switched to the University of Maryland, but you didn't. Phil Hochberg: No. I went to Wilson and then one semester at American U, and then I transferred to Syracuse. Graduated from Syracuse, came back here, went to GW law school and began practicing law in 1965 with the FCC. Andy Ockershausen: TC or CC. Phil Hochberg: FCC. Andy Ockershausen: The Federal Trade? Phil Hochberg: The Federal Communications Commission. Andy Ockershausen: Oh, federal, I know it quite well. Phil Hochberg: Your friend Dick Wiley. Andy Ockershausen: Oh yeah. We had a ton of friends on the FCC that was involved. Dean Burch. Phil Hochberg: I guess you did. Harry was a communications lawyer himself. Andy Ockershausen: Absolutely. But Phil, I had really never knew about you in those days because my very relationship with you has always been through the sports world, not through the legal world, but you've had quite a career in the legal world as both a rep and an adviser, correct, to leagues and sports teams? Practicing Law 54 Years | Member of Firm to Sole Practioner | NFL, NBA, NHL, Nascar Phil Hochberg: I have represented, and still do represent the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League, NASCAR in a very limited area dealing with communications and cable, satellite, copyright, very limited. People ask me when I'm going to retire, been practicing now for 54 years, and I say that right now I'm looking at 2021 so that I can be able to say I've represented the National Hockey League for 50 years. Andy Ockershausen: Wow. Phil Hochberg: Which is a pretty good relationship with the client. Andy Ockershausen: Well, wait a minute. It's a good relationship anytime. That is great Phil. You obviously have delivered a service that they appreciate. It's been 50 years. Phil Hochberg: Yeah. Yeah. Andy Ockershausen: But you are representing them as a agent or representing them as a lawyer? Phil Hochberg: As a lawyer representing the league. Andy Ockershausen: The league, right. Phil Hochberg: In terms of regulatory and administrative issues and legislative issues affecting the National Hockey League and some of the other leagues too. Andy Ockershausen: But you operate as a member of the firm. Correct?
Lisa Baden on internal conflict of the overwhelming desire to be first to report, and the discipline to verify before:
So I had to confirm it and I was like chomping at the bit. We're calling M Dot. We're calling Transportation. We're calling the police. Well finally we got confirmation. Yes. A tar truck just turned over and that was hours of cleanup. I mean hours but so although I would love to be first, I desire accuracy more.
Lisa Baden, Traffic Reporter and Radio Personality, with host Andy Ockershausen in-studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Our Town. It's Andy Ockershausen and what an absolute treasure and pleasure it is for Janice and I to welcome a very, very famous person in our life and a life of broadcasting. Miss Lisa Baden. Lisa Baden: Aw. Thank you. Andy Ockershausen: Lisa, you know to see you in the flesh after all these years of watching you on camera, because I grew up in the business as you know and to see what you had you matured and all the good things you had done. I had the opportunity to hear I traffic reporter in Chicago and a policemen riding around in a helicopter. And I thought that would be a great idea. And it came back and with our program director we started, we got a policeman out of the DC police department, a sergeant, in the traffic division and put him in a helicopter. We paid for the helicopter. The city provided the cop and we did airborne traffic in like 1962 or 63 can you believe that? Lisa Baden: Really? Andy Ockershausen: That is many years ago. It's 55 years ago. We were doing it and it started the whole traffic war because after we did it, Captain Dan came along. Lisa Baden: That's right. Andy Ockershausen: You remember Captain... On Captain Dan Lisa Baden: Captain Dan. Sure. He landed his helicopter at my elementary school. And I'll never forget it. Andy Ockershausen: Was he great? Janice Iacona Ockershausen: That was the beginning of your career. You said that's what I want to be when I grow up. Andy Ockershausen: Well, he originally was in a helicopter and then we had him in a fixed wing, he had his own airplane. But we always believe Lisa, when we could afford it traffic and how important it is. And you've epitomized the importance. You did yours, your big stick here at WMAL WTOP. I mean, the call letters are magic. So Lisa, we're so happy to have you live and in color. Lisa Baden: Thank you. It's an honor to be here. Really is. Andy Ockershausen: Well, you grew up in the business and you've been at it a long time and the changes you have incurred are unbelievable to me. And I'm a native born raised or maybe you're not raised, but it's certainly a native. The city is exploded now. I hate to go out and traffic cause there's traffic everywhere. On Evolution of Traffic Reporting in Our Town Lisa Baden: Yes, it is everywhere. It's a matter of fact. The thing I hate the most about my job is what pays my mortgage. And that's the traffic. It's just crazy. Andy Ockershausen: And there's no drive time. We had a drive time in radio, it was between seven and nine when it was really...and no, no, now it's between five and 10 now. Lisa Baden: Right. Andy Ockershausen: Or more. And you've seen it. Lisa Baden: That's true. As a matter of fact, I was the first overnight traffic reporter in Washington, DC and that was for WMAL. Because they had the forethought. Thinking wait a minute we're missing the boat here. Because not everybody works nine to five. And there's a lot of people who work overnight shifts, in the government and everything. And it was amazing. So they started with overnight and I remember doing that for WMAL years and years... Andy Ockershausen: Was Bill Mayhugh still here? Was that what you were doing? Lisa Baden: Yes. Absolutely. Andy Ockershausen: Because when Bill first started, I found out through the grapevine, his popularity was with the military because there's so many people work all night in a greater Washington area.
Marianne Haney Brennan on the importance of manners today ~
"We need to get back to being kind to each other. . .we're in a sad state of affairs right now and it breaks my heart. And that's why I teach etiquette from A to Z. I don't care. You know what? Time goes on but manners don't change. Manners are manners. Whether they were the 1800s or they're the 2019."
Marianne Haney Brennan, Etiquette Coach, and host Andy Ockershausen in studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town speaking and I wanted to explain to her, this is not an interview. We are having a conversation. Marianne Brennan, welcome to Our Town. Marianne Haney Brennan: Andy I am so just excited to be here and honored. I can't tell you anything else other than that. Andy Ockershausen: Well I'm afraid to say Haney because nobody will know what that mean. Marianne Haney Brennan: Oh no, I love it call me Haney. Andy Ockershausen: But you know, Marianne Haney. Marianne is local, a local girl. As a matter of fact, she's fifth generation Washingtonian and her daughter is now six generation. I'm only third and I feel like a newcomer. Haney, it's amazing to see you and you look great. Marianne Haney Brennan is Fifth Generation Washingtonian Marianne Haney Brennan: Oh my gosh. Andy Ockershausen: And I've have known you for so long and follow your many different careers. But this one now is made for you, etiquette. Marianne Haney Brennan: Etiquette. It is. Andy Ockershausen: And you have a class in Georgetown. Where do you teach? Etiquette Coach | Custom Classes for Schools and Corporations Marianne Haney Brennan: No, actually I go all over. I custom make my classes. I'll do anything that parents want me to do. I've actually in the last six months been called in to places like Merrill Lynch and Smith Barney to talk to the young guys. Andy Ockershausen: To the guys. Marianne Haney Brennan: About proper dressing, shined shoes, all that good stuff that has seemed to be lost in the shuffle. Andy Ockershausen: I don't think so Marianne. Because guys need help too. Marianne Haney Brennan: Oh totally. Andy Ockershausen: As you well know, this etiquette is not just important to the young ladies, but I found it's true that most men are very rude and they need etiquette. And these companies you mentioned are big, big companies. Marianne Haney Brennan: Big companies, yeah. Andy Ockershausen: So you don't travel to school, you travel you. Epidemic of Undisciplined Children Marianne Haney Brennan: Well because I'm sort of connected in the Catholic school system, being a Catholic graduate, I know a lot of people in that realm. I was trying to get into some of the public schools, but it's a little tougher to get in there. There's so many rules and regulations and they all need it. Listen, we have an epidemic, epidemic of undisciplined children. And I don't want to sound negative or anything but- Andy Ockershausen: No it's not negative. It's important. Marianne Haney Brennan: I was sitting and having some yogurt around the corner here before I came over, and I'm watching people who are sitting with each other having lunch and they've got headphones on and they're not even in conversation. Andy Ockershausen: You're preaching to the choir with me. They don't pay attention. Marianne Haney Brennan: Not at all. No. And part of the problem is we're all moving too fast. We're moving too fast. We've got too many electronic things going on. Nobody wants to take time out to say hello or smile or be considerate. Andy Ockershausen: You know, I'll tell you my story in a minute, but we were just talking to Tom Davis who has been a congressman and did a great job for northern Virginia, talking to the fact that social media is really, the culprit has changed our world, forever. Marianne Haney Brennan: Absolutely. Absolutely. Andy Ockershausen: I don't think we'll ever go back. Marianne Haney Brennan: Absolutely.
Tom Davis on politics today in Northern Virginia~
They've done it to themselves because they've emphasized these social issues, in an area that's becoming much more widely diverse, instead of focusing on the bread and butter and the economic issues that basically decide the success or not of every jurisdiction. They just priced themselves out of the market. So even where they were right on a number of issues, you had young people, people of color, just pushing the mute button when you had the Republican label.
Tom Davis - Retired Congressman and Rector, George Mason University and host Andy Ockershausen in-studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Our Town and this is Andy Ockershausen and we're so fortunate to have a friend for many, many years who sort of disappeared part of our life, but thank God, not totally. Congressman Tom Davis, welcome to Our Town. Tom Davis: Andy, it's great to retire from my life of quiet anonymity to come on to your show. Andy Ockershausen: Tom, I can't tell you Tom, how much I miss you and seeing your career and being a part of your life, whether you like it or not, WMAL was because- Tom Davis: Absolutely. Andy Ockershausen: And I was involved with the Alexandria Group there and the good old days when we elected people, but you can't get a Republican elected in Alexandria now with a search warrant. But Tom, you've done so well. 14 years in Congress? Tom Davis - 29 Years of Public Service | Former United States Congressman and Fairfax County Board Member Tom Davis: Right, and I was 15 years on the County Board in Fairfax before that. Andy Ockershausen: You were? That's 29. That's half your life. Tom Davis: 29. Yeah, I know. Well it was more than half- Andy Ockershausen: The Arlington County board? Tom Davis: I mean, less than half my life now. Andy Ockershausen: That was the ABC guy? Tom Davis: No, this was the Fairfax County. Andy Ockershausen: Oh, Fairfax County? Tom Davis: Yeah, yeah. Andy Ockershausen: I remember my friend Bob Peck was on the Arlington Board for a while. Reminiscing - Local Political Races Tom Davis: Oh my goodness. I remember all those races, because I grew up on those races in Arlington. Andy Ockershausen: You're an Arlington guy, right? Tom Davis: In Arlington, yeah. I remember Hal Casto. Do you remember Hal Casto? He was on the Board. Andy Ockershausen: Very well. I remember the name. Tom Davis: Ned Thomas, they owned the cemetery. He was on the County Board. Andy Ockershausen: The cemetery? He lived on the cemetery? Tom Davis: He did. He did. Andy Ockershausen: He and his wife lived on a cemetery? The Cemetery Story Tom Davis: In fact, we ran a registration drive there one year on the cemetery, and we get to this really old tombstone to get it appropriately registered and we couldn't read the name. We're putting the flashlight on. We're trying to put a paper over it and engrave it, and figure out what's the name. Somebody comes and says, "Davis, we gotta get outta here. The cops are going to be here in a few minutes." I said, "Wait a minute. This man has just as much right to vote as everybody else in here." Andy Ockershausen: He's one of us, the good Republican. You couldn't find one now with a search warrant, I'll guarantee you. Tom, but you're a local guy. You grew up in Arlington. Tom Davis: Right. Andy Ockershausen: And that's a big part of your life is Northern Virginia. It's been there your whole life, your whole college career was in Northern Virginia. On Growing Up | Family and Education | Full Scholarship to Amerherst Tom Davis: Except for army, college, and basically law school. Yeah, that's it. Andy Ockershausen: Where was college? Tom Davis: Amherst, in Massachusetts. Andy Ockershausen: Amherst, a good school. Wow! Tom Davis: They gave me a full scholarship. It was not a hard choice. Andy Ockershausen: Amherst is one of the schools for the, you know, the silver spoon. Tom Davis: I was lucky.
Mahan Tavakoli on connecting and networking in Our Town region~
Leadership Greater Washington . . . brings people from different backgrounds, different industries, and different parts of our region together. But there's also a connection to meaning . . . All of us want to connect and network, want to do good and have meaning in our work lives, in our networking. So Leadership Greater Washington allows for the senior leaders in the region to address those issues and have meaning in terms of their involvement.
Mahan Tavakoli, Servant Leader, Strategic Leadership Ventures and Leadership Greater Washington, and host Andy Ockershausen in-studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town, and I have the opportunity to talk to a wonderful, wonderful man who means so much to this community, to Our Town. He was one of the leading business executives in my estimation. Mahan Tavakoli, welcome to Our Town. Mahan Tavakoli: Andy, thank you very much. I am super excited to be here with you as your guest. Andy Ockershausen: Well, yeah, I know you've been telling me that and I am so flattered because you're an important man, Mahan. You've made a tremendous impact on this town. So let's talk about pre WMAL, and pre Washington D.C. What was Mahan doing? Are you a native of D.C.? Mahan Tavakoli - A Washingtonian from Iran Mahan Tavakoli: Yeah, so Andy, my parents are from Iran and the first few years of my life I actually lived in Iran. Andy Ockershausen: Oh, you did? Mahan Tavakoli: I did. Yes and- Andy Ockershausen: Of all these years, Mahan, I never knew that. I never knew that. That's wonderful, I think for your parents. Mahan's Dad - A Servant Leadership Attitude Mahan Tavakoli: It is. It is. And we settled. My Dad traveled a lot for his work, but we settled right here in Bethesda on Wilson Lane. Andy Ockershausen: Wow, a thoroughfare. What business was your dad in? Mahan Tavakoli: He was with ITT when ITT was more of a telecommunications company. So he- Andy Ockershausen: ITT Worldwide. Mahan Tavakoli: They were worldwide. One of the best that eventually lost some traction. I tend to believe post my dad, they lost some traction. Andy Ockershausen: I heard a story about the man that was the president of ITT used to drive himself to work and brought his lunch. That's when he made that company great. I'll think of his name, very famous name, head of ITT, International Telephone and Telegraph. Nobody has a telegraph anymore, do they, Mahan? Mahan Tavakoli: No, they don't and Andy, what you mentioned is actually one of the things that had a big impact on my life. My dad also had a servant leadership attitude with respect to the role of the leader to the organization. So I think that had a big impact for me, as I ended up getting into the business community, I try to emulate a lot of what my dad had done. Andy Ockershausen: What a great role model though. Listen Mahan. Andy Ockershausen: When did you move to D.C.? You spent the first four years of your life in Iran? Mahan Tavakoli On Growing Up in Our Town Mahan Tavakoli: Yes. So right about middle school, right before middle school moved to D.C. Went to Washington International School right out there on Macomb Street. Andy Ockershausen: Oh yeah, that's right. Mahan Tavakoli: From there to Whitman, Maryland, Georgetown. So- Andy Ockershausen: A real local guy. Mahan Tavakoli: Absolutely. I said I'm not moving anywhere else for the rest of my life. I love it here. Andy Ockershausen: All these years I've known you, I never knew that, but I know you were involved in everything. So your dad must have taught you that to get involved and you have done that to a fare thee well. You brought so much to the table. Our Town Business Leaders Espouse Responsibility to Give Back to Community Mahan Tavakoli: Yeah, there's a big sense of responsibility, Andy, that I have. There is a great privilege that all of us have living in this region,
Deborah Marriott Harrison on Marriott's culture of putting people first~
And my grandfather started it by making a sign he put over the kitchen doors in the Hot Shops that says, "If you take care of the employee, the employee will take care of the customer and the customer will come back again and again." And we really pride ourselves in taking care of our associates.
Deborah Marriott Harrison, Global Cultural Ambassador Emeritus Marriott International (r) and host Andy Ockershausen (l) in-studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Our Town. And I'm so delighted to have in one of the most important people in representing the families and I could probably, the number one family in Washington was the Marriott family, and I'm so delighted to have Debbie Marriott Harrison on Our Town. Welcome to Our Town, Debbie. Deborah Marriott Harrison: Thank you Andy. I'm delighted to be here. Andy Ockershausen: Well, our relationship, my relationship personally goes back to Marriott for many, many years before you were born, probably. Because being a big part of Our Town growing up at WMAL and Channel 7 and the Washington Star is my background, and you know what the Star was like when you were growing up in Our Town and- Deborah Marriott Harrison: Yeah, my brothers used to deliver the paper. Andy Ockershausen: I say, right. It was Our Town. It was a small town. What's happened now has been an explosion. But thank you for remembering that there is a WMAL that was in Our Town and thank you for what you have done for the Marriott Corporation and particularly when you worked at ... your story was working at the Key Bridge Marriott? Marriott's First Two Hotels - Twin Bridges and Key Bridge Hotels - A Bit of Our Town History Deborah Harrison: Yes. Andy Ockershausen: How many years? Deborah Marriott Harrison: Oh, just one summer after I had finished my freshman year. Andy Ockershausen: Oh, you just did it in the summer time. Deborah Marriott Harrison: Yes. I just did it for the summer and that was our second hotel and it is still our oldest hotel in our portfolio because the first hotel was the Twin Bridges Hotel. Andy Ockershausen: Do I remember that well. Deborah Marriott Harrison: Yeah. Opened in 1957 near the 14th Street Bridge and we sold that in the late 80s and there's nothing on that lot right now. It's an empty lot. Andy Ockershausen: The Windjammer Club. Deborah Marriott Harrison: Yes, The Windjammer Club. And- Andy Ockershausen: It was a bottle club I remember that well. Deborah Marriott Harrison: Sirloin and Saddle, the restaurant. Andy Ockershausen: Well, the motel opened up where it used to be a national airport and before national airport there was another field there- Deborah Harrison: Right. Hoover. Andy Ockershausen: Were Marriott had a catering business. Deborah Marriott Harrison: Yup. Hoover Field. And the Pentagon is, and the Pentagon is there now. Andy Ockershausen: And yeah. Right. And so that was the beginning of the catering business, but the hotel business, your grandfather opened that hotel, I remember it had a sign. It was the only sign I've ever seen on the 14th Street Bridge and the Washington signs, at the exit to get to the Marriott Hotel. Can you ... you were too young to know that. Deborah Marriott Harrison: I don't remember that. You're right. I don't remember. That's really neat. Andy Ockershausen: There was some political pressure to get that done. But it was done. The only motel that was highlighted on the bridge leaving town, was the Marriott Twin Bridges. And there were twin bridges and then Marriott got into the hotel business and then opened up in Rosslyn. Was that your next big hotel? Deborah Marriott Harrison: The next one, two years later was the one was Key Bridge in Rosslyn overlooking Georgetown and the river. Andy Ockershausen: And it was a real, a motor hotel. It was a small structure. Marriott Started Out in the Hotel Business with Motor Hotels
Caroline Carter, Author of Smart Moves, and Founder and CEO of Done in a Day, Inc., on the process of transitioning from home to home~
"But the reason I wrote the book was to allow people to say, okay, I get it. We all dread this process but we don't have to. Okay. There is a way that we can go through this and make very solid emotional, financial and physical decisions that will affect us over time."
Caroline Carter, Founder and CEO, Done in Day, Inc. | Author, Smart Moves with host Andy Ockershausen in-studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Our Town and this is Andy Ockershausen to talk to a friend of many years who has shocked me beyond belief because I lost track of her, what, 10, 15 years ago in our neighborhood and now she's turned out to be a fabulous writer, I think. Caroline Carter, welcome to Our Town. Caroline Carter: Thank you, Andy. I'm pleased to be here. Andy Ockershausen: It is unbelievable what you have done in this book. Like you're new to me and yet you're not. You're ... we're friends for many years, but you've established a life about moving and everybody in the world eventually is going to move. Smart Moves - Demystifying the Moving Process Caroline Carter: Absolutely. Andy Ockershausen: So everybody's a potential client or potential to need your help and your book is fabulous. Caroline Carter: Oh, thank you. I'm so glad. Thanks. Andy Ockershausen: I'm not anxious to move because the problem of doing it, it's scary, but what you have written and for me to understand, man, it's terrific. Just terrific, Caroline. Caroline Carter: Well, I appreciate that. I think that the purpose of writing the book was to demystify this process. You know, when you say to someone or when you look at this statistic, for instance, that the US Census Bureau says that the average American moves 11 times throughout their lifetime and that's a lot of moving. Andy Ockershausen: That's just average. Caroline Carter: That's just average but Americans move more than any other culture. Andy Ockershausen: I saw that. Caroline Carter: And if you say to someone, you know, what do you think about moving? Well, the first thing they say is, I dread it. I absolutely dread it. So part of the reason why I wrote Smart Moves was to demystify the process for people. Andy Ockershausen: And showing the mover how to save time and money while transitioning your home and life. Caroline Carter: Exactly. Andy Ockershausen: Now that's important. The life thing. Caroline Carter: Sure. Andy Ockershausen: You've almost been, and in a lot of your work and your career, you've done some marriage counseling too. Caroline Carter: Oh, well no, no doubt about that. No doubt about that because everybody ... this is a very emotional process. Andy Ockershausen: It's always a strain on marriage, isn't it? A strain? Moving is a Strain on the Entire Family Caroline Carter: Well it's a strain actually on the entire family, including the pets and I say that because selling your home, okay, preparing it to sell and moving is one of the most stressful life changing events that a family can go through and everybody acts out because they don't know what to expect. They don't ... it's like being on a roller coaster, right? You kind of do in general know what to expect, but every ride is different and we all will go through this packaging of our homes to sell if we want to sell it at top dollar right, and then moving. But the reason I wrote the book was to allow people to say, okay, I get it. We all dread this process but we don't have to. Okay. There is a way that we can go through this and make very solid emotional, financial and physical decisions that will affect us over time. Andy Ockershausen: One of the not surprises because I can understand what you do after reading the book and the fact that you're not in the sales business, you're not trying to help somebody sell their house. You're having to get them ready to sell that.
Tom Sherwood on what he tells journalism students when asked about making Journalism a career:
I tell every journalism student intern that I meet that one thing about being journalist, it opens doors to everything and anything that you want to see or do. I mean, I've been places and seen things . . . I never would have access to had I not fallen into the news business."
Tom Sherwood, Analyst, WAMU's Politics Hour and Former WRC TV Politics Reporter and host Andy Ockershausen in-studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Our Town. This is Andy Ockershausen, starting part of what we hope will be a long fifth season. We are especially, especially... I mean this because I've been trying to get this guy for two years, and he finally agreed to do it, to be part of Our Town, because he's such a big part of Our Town. That's my friend, and ex-neighbor, and a guy I've admired for so many years. Welcome to Our Town, Tom Sherwood. Tom Sherwood: I see you had to read my name, so, so much for that introduction. Andy Ockershausen: Well, I could have called you Tom intro. Sherwood: Well, that's true. Yeah, Intro Tom. Andy Ockershausen: Intro Tom. Tom Sherwood: Thank you very much for having me. I'm sorry I couldn't come. I was busy in TV, but I'm happy to be here today. Atlanta and South Carolina | Tom Sherwood's Southern Family Andy Ockershausen: Now, he was a TV guy and he's still a TV guy as far as I'm concerned, because they miss him. Tom has a new life, and I'm so delighted that he stayed in our town, because he could have moved on. Tom, you're a media guy. You grew up in a lot of media. How did you ever get an accent, like a southern accent? Tom Sherwood: Well, having my mother give birth to me in Atlanta helped. I'm a southern family, through thick and thin. Family members came from South Carolina. I think they were indebted people from England, who came over to America to- Andy Ockershausen: To pay off the debt. Sherwood: To pay off the debts. Andy Ockershausen: Oh yeah. Tom Sherwood: And some of them... My great- Andy Ockershausen: Was it Oglethorpe, or something like that. Sherwood: Yeah, it wasn't any name like that. It's Sherwood. But anyways, yes. Andy Ockershausen: Sherwood Forest. Tom Sherwood's Distinct Voice Tom Sherwood: I have nothing to do with my voice. My brother, he's a year older. He has a completely different voice. Andy Ockershausen: People recognize the voice, Tom, of course because you've been in broadcast air for years, and years, and years. Sherwood: Yes, I would never rob a bank- Andy Ockershausen: With a TV career. Tom Sherwood: The police will say, "Just go pick up Sherwood," because they would know what the voice was. Andy Ockershausen: Why would a young boy from Atlanta, Georgia... How did you end up here? You went to high school and college in Georgia? On Growing Up in Atlanta, Georgia and Working for the Atlanta Journal Constitution Sherwood: Well, I went to high school, and I kind of went to college. I think I was a freshman for six years at Georgia State. It didn't really work out. Andy Ockershausen: That's in Atlanta, right? Tom Sherwood: Yeah, we have very similar things. You got your start as an intern, or an office clerk at WMAL? Andy Ockershausen: I got started at the bottom. Sherwood: Right. Well, right out of high school- Andy Ockershausen: Right out of high school. Tom Sherwood: I worked as a copy boy- Andy Ockershausen: Eastern High School. Sherwood: For The Atlanta Constitution. Andy Ockershausen: There you go, a great, great newspaper. Tom Sherwood: Yes. I saw an ad in The Atlanta Constitution, "Copy boys wanted," they didn't hire girls. I was a department store called Richs, which is like Woody's here in town. I looked up, and I could see The Atlanta Constitution sign. I thought, "This is kind of cool. I'll go see if I can work at the newspaper." They said, "Can you start tonight?" Andy Ockershausen: That is incredible.
Stephen S. Fuller, Ph.D. on Amazon and future job and economic growth in Our Town~ They worked together to make this happen, and it will benefit the region broadly, but it isn't the final, it isn't all that is coming. This is just the beginning. We expect there to be almost 400,000 new jobs in the next 15 years and this is just 25,000 of them. Stephen S. Fuller, Ph.D. and Our Town host Andy Ockershausen in-studio interview Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen and this is Our Town. I have been so excited to know that we could talk to this man and we could talk to him away from his usual role as the head of some meeting or group because I have been following him through the Washington Board of Trade since he first worked for GW. It was way back in the '60s I guess. Steve Fuller, welcome to Our Town. Stephen S. Fuller, Ph.D.: Pleasure to be with you. Andy Ockershausen: You know, we think Our Town and we created the show - my Janice recreated it. We had a television program on channel 50 called Our Town. So Janice dug it up three years ago and said, "Why don't we do it again?" about the people that have impact in Our Town and we think Our Town is Upper Marlboro, it's Vienna, Virginia, it's as far north as Baltimore, it's as far south as Richmond. That's Our Town. We go all over and Steve Fuller, you've had such an enormous impact on that geographical selection, Our Town. Rutgers and Cornell Stephen S. Fuller, Ph.D.: Well, I've been studying it for 50 years and I try to share some of my knowledge. So this is a great opportunity. Andy Ockershausen: I love your resume. I love your background. You grew up in New Jersey, I would take it. You went to Rutgers. Stephen S. Fuller, Ph.D.: I did go to Rutgers. Andy Ockershausen: That's a state school, isn't it? Stephen S. Fuller, Ph.D.: A state school. It's the sixth oldest university in the country. Andy Ockershausen: It's older than Princeton. Stephen S. Fuller, Ph.D.: 1766, Queens College, it was then. Andy Ockershausen: Queens College. Well, wasn't William and Mary King's College at one time in Southern Virginia? I think it's something like that. There were only one of each, I know that. And you graduated from Rutgers in '62, but then it took you seven years to graduate from Cornell. Stephen S. Fuller, Ph.D.: Well, I worked, I went out and worked. Andy Ockershausen: Oh, it didn't say that. Stephen S. Fuller, Ph.D.: I took a few jobs. Andy Ockershausen: The way I read your resume, you graduated in '62 and then went to Cornell, high above Cayuga's waters, right? Stephen S. Fuller, Ph.D.: That's right. Andy Ockershausen: And that launched you into a career by going to Cornell. Was that a special school for you? Stephen S. Fuller, Ph.D.: I went there to get a PhD in Urban and Regional Planning and Economic Development, and I was there just for two years. Then I came to Washington in 1967, because I lucked out to get some financing from a small agency to fund my dissertation research on rural redevelopment. Andy Ockershausen: Wow! On Coming to Our Town Stephen S. Fuller, Ph.D.: So I came down here with the promise of one year paycheck to do my research and write my dissertation, and then they hired me to stay on for a year and after that I went to GW in '69. Andy Ockershausen: And you became whether you planned or not, you became part of Our Town, a big part of Our Town. Stephen S. Fuller, Ph.D.: I did. Andy Ockershausen: And you had had all the training to better urban development and training about how to judge markets and growth and so forth. So you were prepared to help at GW. Were you're the first one in that category at George Washington? George Washington University Opportunity - New Urban Regional Planning Department Stephen S. Fuller, Ph.D.: There was a new department at George Washington that offered a master's degree in Urban Regional Planning, and it just started up in 1968 and they needed a third faculty member,
Our Town podcast Season 4 through a millennial's eyes. Liz Bubes shares her views on Season 4 of Our Town podcast interviews~
"Well, as a millennial and for someone who had never heard of a vast majority of these people but learned way more than I thought. . . I think that the highlight of Our Town podcast for me was having Monique Samuels on and getting on the Real Housewives of Potomac. . . Getting all the cameras all set up, and getting mic’d up and you know, being near a celebrity."
Our Town Season 4 Wrap Up - Andy and Janice Ockershausen in studio, Looking Forward to Season Four
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town podcast and unfortunately this is the last of our Season 4. Our Town, we'll be starting Season 5 sometime in this late Summer, early Fall. But this has been a wonderful, wonderful ride for us, especially since Janice has been in charge of the whole program. But to have Liz Bubes take over and work with us as sort of our finding producer. It's just been a great, great Season and I'm so glad that the three of us . . . the four of us with our extraordinary producer Ken. Ken Hunter: Can't forget me, that's right. Andy Ockershausen: We've been trying to forget you, but it still works. But Lizzy, thank you for being here and Janny you're the best, honey. Highlights - Season 4 Our Town Podcast Guests Janice Iacona Ockershausen: Yeah, so what we wanted to do is we wanted to do a Season wrap up, and during this wrap up we just wanted to give our impressions, all of us, Liz, Andy, Ken, and I, about what was meaningful and what we learned in this Season, Season 4. So, I just wanted to start with Liz because she had a great impression... Andy Ockershausen: What was that great impression Liz, in Season 4? Monique Samuels Liz Bubes: Well, as a millennial and for someone who had never heard of a vast majority of these people but learned way more than I thought. . . I think that the highlight of Our Town podcast Season 4 for me was having Monique Samuels on and getting on the Real Housewives of Potomac, Andy, that was definitely a thrill. Getting all the cameras all set up, and getting mic'd up and you know, being near a celebrity. Andy Ockershausen: All of us being on Bravo was a big hit, it was amazing. Liz Bubes: I kept waiting for that episode to come out. Janice Iacona Ockershausen: I remember that day because they brought their camera crew and they took over the studios, both studios. Liz Bubes: We had to get a bigger studio, just for Monique Samuels. Andy Ockershausen: And her part. Liz Bubes: And her 9 producers who flocked along with her. Andy Ockershausen: And the amazing thing about Monique, she's not the biggest celebrity. You would think so because of Bravo, but her husband is a much bigger celebrity. But nevertheless, she was so great and great to have and Janny who impressed you in the beginning of this thing? Steve Buckhantz Janice Iacona Ockershausen: A couple of people that stand out because we're in the broadcast business and they're friends, but I remember Steve Buckhantz. I listened to Steve occasionally when he was doing the Wizard's games, what was most impressive was his personal journey, the journey he went from town to town as he was developing.. Liz Bubes: I agree he is a very inspiring person. Janice Iacona Ockershausen: Yes... Andy Ockershausen: He worked to get where he is at. Janice Iacona Ockershausen: He certainly did... Liz Bubes: And now he kills it at what he does. Janice Iacona Ockershausen: But he's a good storyteller, so when you hear the clips of him talking about the Wizards game, it's play by play, that's something else. But he as an individual storyteller was excellent. Liz Bubes: Right. Al Koken Janice Iacona Ockershausen: Al Koken is another example, hard working guy, worked his way to Washington, has got a great role now.
Monique Samuels on being the only one on Real Housewives of Potomac with babies~
"I can't wait for someone else to have a baby on this cast. I can't be the only one because it is very difficult trying to navigate, just making sure that your family feels whole and they don't feel like they're being left out and then trying to give your all to the show as well. I've never had a nanny until I joined the show. So I had to spend more money. Get somebody to take care of my babies while I'm off filming and doing other things that I need to do. So it's been a transition for our family but I think we're handling it pretty well."
Monique Samuels - Real Housewives of Potomac and Not for Lazy Moms founder - with host Andy Ockershausen in studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Our Town, Andy Ockershausen with the unique Monique Samuels. Monique an absolute super pleasure for us to have you as part of Our Town. Monique Samuels: Thank you, I'm so excited to be here. I'm so honored to be here. Andy Ockershausen: You have your television show, you have a career that's so important to Our Town because you put us on the map and we know about Potomac but you've made it bigger than that. M Samuels: Ah, thanks. Andy Ockershausen: But to see your star is rising in the ten years you've been doing the show. Has it been that long? Monique Samuels: No. Not this long for the show. The show, let's see, this is year four for the show; year three for me. Andy Ockershausen: That's it. M Samuels: Yeah. Growing up in Pleasantville, New Jersey Andy Ockershausen: Monique you're so unique and I use that word and you're not from Washington D.C. I found out in your resume you're from Pleasantville New Jersey. M Samuels: Yeah. Andy Ockershausen: I think I know ... Isn't Pleasantville close to the bridge? Monique Samuels: Yep. It's right outside of Atlantic City. Andy Ockershausen: And it's wonderful in that part of New Jersey, right? Monique Samuels: Yeah, it's pretty cool. I'm not mad at it, it raised me pretty good. Andy Ockershausen: But that's important, it's your roots. M Samuels: Yeah. Andy Ockershausen: In New Jersey and Pleasantville. M Samuels: Small town. Andy Ockershausen: Now why would a woman with talent obviously looking for help want to go to Pittsburgh to Duquesne? College | Pittsburgh, PA | Full Academic Scholarship | Duquesne University Monique Samuels: Yes, so I wanted to be a lawyer and Duquesne had a great law program where you could do your undergrad in three years and your fourth year of undergrad is your first year of law school. So that was my plan. I got a full academic scholarship to Duquesne University, that was another reason why I went. Andy Ockershausen: That's a good reason. Monique Samuels: Oh, yeah. They paid for everything. Andy Ockershausen: They paid the full scholarship? That's great. Valedictorian to Salutatorian, Senior Year High School Because of Unexpected Rule Change Monique Samuels: Yeah, full academic scholarship. I graduated from Pleasantville High School, I was the Salutatorian ... Andy Ockershausen: First time I've ever seen that word in writing. Does that mean your second in your class? Monique Samuels: Yes. Which is interesting story ... Andy Ockershausen: Tell me that. Monique Samuels: I was really the Valedictorian all four years of high school I was always number one. My senior year, they normally lock in the ranks after the first semester, because you know you have two semesters. So after first semester they lock in the ranks. My guidance counselor told me, he said, "Well, you technically only need one class so that you can just be enrolled for the second semester ...
Tyler Balderson, Tree Hugger and Arboriculturist at Bartlett Tree Experts, on the importance of knowing your trees~
"Being a board certified master arborist, the most important part is to be able to identify the tree. Each tree has either its mechanism of growth, or its concerns that I need to identify for the client, but there's also bad trees, there are trees we don't want on your property, and we call those invasive species. . . they can impact the health and growth of a tree that we do want."
Tyler Balderson - Tree Hugger and Arboriculturist, Bartlett Tree Experts and host Andy Ockershausen in-studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Our Town, and this Andy Ockershausen. And I'm just so excited to welcome a very special guest, my favorite tree hugger. And I use that term in all affection. This man is a very, very famous forester. He's famous because I think he's famous. We found him as the local manager at Bartlett Tree Experts about probably 15 to 20 years ago, Tyler. It's been a great relationship. Tyler Balderson, welcome to Our Town. Tyler Balderson: Thanks for having me. Andy Ockershausen: Isn't this a great town to have Our Town? Tyler Balderson: It's a great town. Andy Ockershausen: Even though we're familiar with you with Anne Arundel County, that's part of Our Town. We've always considered it that. Odenton where you had some ... that's where your office is, in Odenton. Tyler Balderson: That is correct. Andy Ockershausen: But you're a local yokel. Tyler Balderson is Homegrown, A Local Yokel Tyler Balderson: I'm a local yokel. Born and raised. Andy Ockershausen: In Bethesda. Tyler Balderson: In Bethesda, yep. Andy Ockershausen: Went to the school in Bethesda, and your family ... and your father, Andy, is a business man in Bethesda, he had your company before you were born, I would imagine. Tyler Balderson: He did. He's a landscape architect. He's been practicing it for over 40 years now. Andy Ockershausen: And he decided that you'd be a tree person, but you're not an architect, you're a forester. Balderson is a Natural Born Tree Hugger Tyler Balderson: That is correct. Yeah, I was born and raised in a nursery, where he founded our house, and so born and raised around trees. Naturally, I'm going to take care of them. Andy Ockershausen: Did you cut down trees to build your house? Tyler Balderson: No. I'm a tree hugger. I don't cut trees. Andy Ockershausen: You did just the opposite. You would've loved George Washington, right, he cut down a tree and his parents put him in trouble. Tyler Balderson: That is correct. Andy Ockershausen: That's part of Our Town, too, Mount Vernon, you know. First Professional Gig - Elm Trees at Mount Vernon Tyler Balderson: Mount Vernon, we take care of the trees at Mount Vernon. Andy Ockershausen: Is that right? Tyler Balderson: Absolutely. Andy Ockershausen: Your company does? Tyler Balderson: Yep, I personally have been injecting those elm trees for years before, when I got started in tree care, so I personally had taken care of those trees for Mount Vernon. Andy Ockershausen: When you were in Bethesda? Tyler Balderson: Mm-hmm (affirmative), Bethesda, yep, when I first started out. Andy Ockershausen: Well, you've always lived in Bethesda before you went to college, correct? Tyler Balderson: Correct. Our Town Legacy - Three Generations Andy Ockershausen: And the family is back, and your grandfather was born in the city, correct? Tyler Balderson: Correct, yeah. Andy Ockershausen: Within the city limits.
Peter Abrahams on a priority for him right now in his new role as Publisher of the Washington Business Journal~
"I'm on a listening tour, really, talking to a lot of the business leaders in the city. Trying to get to meet with our clients, our stakeholders, really understanding what's important to them. I have some ideas . . . "
Peter Abrahams - Publisher, Washington Business Journal and Andy Ockershausen in-studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: Well this is Our Town. This is Andy Ockershausen with an old friend. He'll never be old, and he's a wonderful friend. His name is Peter Abrahams, he's just taken over the job at head of the Washington Business Journal, but I knew him when he was selling magazines here in the studios of WMAL. Peter, welcome to Our Town. Peter Abrahams: Thanks Andy. Good to be here. And by the way, you said I'm an old friend, let's just be clear. I'm not that old. Andy Ockershausen: Yeah, I've been around a long time. Peter I've had some people that are older than me, believe it or not, in this business. Peter Abrahams: I do believe that. You're not that old. Andy Ockershausen: I'm not going to be either, Peter, but I'm so happy to have you and have you back at Our Town, but we met long before I found out that you were an important guy, through a mutual friend that grew up with you in Boston. Is that correct? Peter Abrahams On How He and Andy Met Peter Abrahams: You know, as I was thinking about seeing you today, we have known each other for so long- I'm trying to remember how we actually met the very first time because I didn't, but it's been 25 years. I mean you were one of the very first people I met when I landed here. My first time here was in '89 and I can't even remember, but through the years, it never goes about a month or two months without seeing you running around somewhere. I mean running, you don't walk, you tend to move pretty fast so, and I have short little legs, so it was always hard to catch up with you. Andy Ockershausen: Yeah, but you make an impression everywhere you go, Peter. I always was so impressed, Scott Langerman went to- Peter Abrahams: Oh, was it Scott? Yeah. Andy Ockershausen: School with him and then Longwood somewhere up with the rich people in the Boston area. I knew that. Peter Abrahams: Yeah, Chestnut Hill, Baker Elementary. Andy Ockershausen: Isn't that something? It's incredible and then you run back into him in the Capitol, but Peter, having you and seeing you operate because I went to a lot of things, as you did, and that was so important, you made an appearance in Our Town, and people knew Peter Abrahams. And you have represented an important part of Our Town with your publication. Peter Left Our Town, But Not Actually Peter Abrahams: Yeah, you know it's funny, people always ask me that and they ask me, I didn't actually leave. I was still here, but I was never here. I was spending about three days a month here over the last couple years. I was- Andy Ockershausen: Kept your home here? Peter Abrahams: Kept my home here. But I really wasn't here and so a lot of people have welcomed me back. I didn't leave, but it's interesting because when you talk about the impression, for me, this area has always made an impression upon me. So, I feel fortunate coming back because I've been welcomed back, which was surprising, and you know, I am going to take that people think I physically left. It's great, because they're buying me coffees and they want to see me. Andy Ockershausen: Oh wow. From Boston to Washington, DC - Abrahams Instantly Felt at Home Peter Abrahams: But, you know, when I moved here, I was in Boston, it was shortly after school. I ran my own business, which failed, I was bankrupt. Got in my friend's car and we drove down here.
John Lyon on finding his way after WMAL ~
"For two years . . . I floated around . . . It wasn’t the same, what I’m used to all these years being here. Strangely enough, I connected with Montgomery County to work in the Victim Assistance Program. I was on the air at WGAY on a Sunday morning. . . I picked up this card and the card said, 'Volunteers needed for the Victims Assistance Sexual Assault Program of Montgomery County.' . . . put that one in my pocket. The next day I called the number on the card . . ."
John Lyon, Retired Announcer and WMAL Swingman, and host Andy Ockershausen in-studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Our Town. This Andy Ockershausen, and what a pleasure and what an extreme, extreme happiness for Janice and I to be with the original WMAL Swingman. We call him The Swingman 'cause he could swing on every show on WMAL. John Lyon, welcome to Our Town. John Lyon: Thank you very much. I've been looking forward to this. Andy Ockershausen: I first remember that people said, "It's not Lyons." John Lyon: That's right. Andy Ockershausen: John Lyon, and when he came . . . I was at WMAL. I'd been there so long I was part of the furniture or the fixtures. When John first came as a young man, but he left as an old man, but he never really left. I'm sure he's got WMAL in his heart. John Lyon: Oh sure. Sure. Andy Ockershausen: Like we all do, John. Channel 7 - Lyon's First Audition in DC John Lyon: It's ... I came here in 1967. Auditioned after three years at a station in Peoria, CBS station there. The odd thing about that was the guy that I replaced in Peoria was the same guy I replaced here. I'd been there three years and I said to the boss ... His name was Bob Beneke, I don't know if you remember. Andy Ockershausen: I remember the name. John Lyon: Bob Beneke. When he left here, he got out of the business. He went into some financial dealings and stuff. Andy Ockershausen: Well, you were hired as an announcer, correct? John Lyon: I was hired- Andy Ockershausen: Not as a talent and not as a performer but an announcer? John Lyon: I'm not sure now. Andy Ockershausen: Well ... That's where ... Jack Weaver and Frank started as announcers on WMAL. John Lyon: Yeah. We had a TV audition, Channel 7 audition and Frank Ford maybe- Andy Ockershausen: Absolutely. John Lyon: Was the Director- Andy Ockershausen: He's our guy. John Lyon: It was me and like six other guys for this audition and I had to borrow some dough to come out here. I had to borrow money to come out here. I had four kids back in Peoria, that I said to the boss, "Look, I've been here two or three years now. I'm kind of getting to the end of the scale, you know?" I said, "Is there any chance you can give me some more dough?" "No, that's it," he said, "You've come to the end of the road." He said, "That's how we kind of do it here. We're a medium-sized market." Andy Ockershausen: It's a market price. John Lyon: We got a chance to do a lot of stuff there. Did TV, nighttime radio program, and he says ... I said, "Well, okay. I'll be honest with you. I'm gonna start looking for work." He says, "Okay, good luck." I put audition tapes out to all the stations where I thought I could fit in, mainly in the Midwest 'cause that's where I was. Andy Ockershausen: Sure. John Lyon: I went to WGN Chicago, WCCO Minneapolis - Andy Ockershausen: Powerhouse. Fate? - Lyon Intended to Work in Midwest, DC Never Crossed His Mind John Lyon: KMOX St. Louis, WOW Cincinnati, 'cause I thought, "I know these stations and I think I could work there." Well, I didn't hear anything from any of 'em. Somehow a tape ended up out here in Washington, D.C. I had no idea where Washington D.C. was. I said, "Point to the east and keep going." That's what I did and I think it was Harold Green called me and he said, "We're gonna have auditions", on whatever the date was. I said, "I'll be there." I made arrangements and I went and got a few bucks together and came out...
Ray Benton on the current state of Tennis~
"A lot more to be done. We've gotta rebuild the base of our sport. I mean, tennis participation's been going down in the United States for 40 years. It's ridiculous."
Ray Benton - Mr. Tennis - CEO of Junior Tennis Championship Center (JTCC)
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen, and this is Our Town. I'm welcoming an old friend who's not old. He's a young man. He's the CEO of the Junior Tennis Championship Center in College Park, Maryland, but before that, he was Ray Benton and will always be Ray Benton, Mr. Tennis, to me. Ray, welcome to Our Town. Ray Benton: Thank you Andy. Great to see you. Andy Ockershausen: Well, you know, you've done so much, Ray, in your career and realized that you're from Iowa. I keep wondering, how did you get connected with all the people you got connected with in Washington? You went to school there. You were born there in Iowa? Ray Benton: No, but I lived there since I was eight years old. Andy Ockershausen: Is that it? Ray Benton: I wish you'd say Iowa with a bit of respect. You're very degrading. Iowa Undergrad and Law School | Vietnam | Wharton Business School Andy Ockershausen: I remember State Fair was a great movie about Iowa. Now how did you get to Pennsylvania, to Wharton? Ray Benton: Well, I grew up in Iowa City, where the University is, of course. My parents were actually professors there. Andy Ockershausen: Wow. Ray Benton: And so I went to undergraduate and law school there, and then I decided that I'd rather not go to a place called Vietnam. So I went to business school at Wharton and got drafted right out of there. Andy Ockershausen: Did your time anyway. Ray Benton: I did my two years. Andy Ockershausen: But the war was winding down, I'm sure. Ray Benton: No, no, no, no. Andy Ockershausen: It was still hot when you- Ray Benton on serving in Army as Legal Clerk in Alabama during Vietnam War Ray Benton: I was on orders for Vietnam as an infantry rifleman in 1967, which is like a death sentence, but I was very fortunate I had been working as a legal clerk in the legal office at Fort McClellan in Anniston, Alabama. Andy Ockershausen: Alabama, yeah. Ray Benton: And I was waiting for my commission in the JAG, and all of a sudden, pending my security clearance, so all of a sudden I was on orders as an infantry rifleman, which I had just taken advanced infantry training. And my commission to JAG came through, which had been four years, and I said, "I really don't wanna spend four years, and I really don't wanna go to Vietnam as an infantry rifleman." And my boss, who was the judge advocate said, "God, I'd like to keep you." I said, "Why don't you make me a legal clerk?" 'cause I was an infantry rifleman just- Andy Ockershausen: That was your MOS, right? Ray Benton: My MOS, and 11B10. And I was just waiting for my order to become an officer. Andy Ockershausen: Right. Ray Benton: And so he looked in the Regs, and he found 90 days on the job training, I can make you a legal clerk. And I had been there four months. So he made me a legal clerk, which got me off the orders, and I dropped my commission. Andy Ockershausen: Did you ever get the commission? Ray Benton: No, no. I dropped it because I didn't wanna spend four years. So by then, I'd been in for, what? Four, eight months, so I can get it out as a enlisted man for another 16 months. Andy Ockershausen: And you did? Ray Benton: I had a great time. Andy Ockershausen: In Alabama, or they move you around? Ray Benton: No, no. I was in Alabama the whole time. I'd go to work at five in the morning, be done at one in the afternoon. Andy Ockershausen: And play golf. Side jobs while in Army in Alabama - Tennis Pro and Subsitute Business Law Professor Ray Benton: And after one o'clock, I was the varsity tennis coach at Jacksonville State University. I was the head Tennis Pro at the Anniston, Gadsden Country Clubs and a substitute Business Law Professor.
Cathy Hughes, the first African-American woman to head a publicly traded company and voice for Black community in Our Town, tells Donald Graham what she learned from her "Take It Back" protest in 1986 against the Washington Post for its disrespect of the Black community with its choice of the first Black person for its Sunday magazine cover~ "But let me tell you something that I've learned from this demonstration. It is not your job to tell the story of me and my people. It is my job to tell the story of the Black community." I said, "So I thank you." I said, "Because throughout this demonstration, the best thing that was learned was that to have my own voice for my own people is the most important thing I could do."
Cathy Hughes, Media Mogul, Urban One and host Andy Ockershausen, in-studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Our Town. This is Andy Ockershausen. I don't know how this has come about, but this lady has been the most important person I can think of in the broadcast world for many, many years. And being part of that world has been so important to me, to know her, to watch her, to get so much excitement from her, who started a radio company, a world of her own, Cathy Hughes. As they say, "Mrs. Hughes is in charge." Welcome to Our Town, Cathy Hughes. Hughes and Ockershausen - Mutual Admiration and Respect Cathy Hughes: Andy O. Now, the part you forgot in the introduction was that during those formative early years, you helped train me. You were my advisor. You were my mentor. You were my, "Let me call Andy O. and see what his opinion on this would be." Andy Ockershausen: You bring tears to my eyes because to see what you have accomplished, to be a part of it even from an outside, Cathy. But I recall your complaint to me, and you were right at the time. "We've got to be careful with AM, because FM is eating us alive." Cathy Hughes: Yes. Andy Ockershausen: You thought WMAL, because of the power of the AM station, could help bring people's attention to WOL at 1450. On Buying WTEM AM980 and Unhappy Washington Football Fans Cathy Hughes: Yes, absolutely. It's so interesting now, because we just bought an AM, WTEM 980. All right. I was like, "Alfred, did you read the articles?" Okay. But it's such an institution. Andy Ockershausen: Absolutely, Washington Redskins means so much to both of us, Cathy. Cathy Hughes: If they go back to being a team. Did you happen to see Sunday there was no one in the stadium. I've never seen that in all- Andy Ockershausen: That's a message. Cathy Hughes: Oh, my God. All these years I've been in Washington, D.C., even when they were losing before, the fans- Andy Ockershausen: There's a big difference. Cathy Hughes: Yeah, the fans would go there and drink beer and eat vinegar french fries. They would be happy, unless we won, but they certainly did not desert the team. But Sunday, you could have shot a cannon up in that stadium and not hit anybody. They wouldn't be happy, unless we won, but they certainly did not desert the team. But Sunday, you could have shot a cannon up in that stadium and not hit anybody. Andy Ockershausen: Cathy, it's been building up, and it may have come to a head now. There's something that strategically, drastically wrong with that organization. Where fish always stinks is at the top. Cathy Hughes: That's true. Humble Beginnings in Omaha, NE Andy Ockershausen: And this top brings down whatever has brought it down. I don't know what can be done about that. But you have proved what the top can do and that is the top. A poor little girl from Omaha, Nebraska. When I found that out, I couldn't believe you were from Omaha. I said, "What is that girl doing here in Washington?" Cathy Hughes: Yeah, yeah. Grew up with the Fondas. The whole Fonda family's from there. Andy Ockershausen: Oh, big, big time. Cathy Hughes: Yeah, the whole Fonda and also Marlon Brando's mother ran the ...
Roger Mitchell, Jr, MD on hope, and why becoming a minister is so important to him ~
"It's not enough for me just to speak to families. It's extremely important for me to be on sides where we can really promote hope in a way that frees people so that we can make the best choices in this city."
Roger Mitchell, Jr., MD, Chief Medical Examiner, Washington DC, with host Andy Ockershausen in-studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen and this is Our Town. I say this from the bottom of my bottom heart, it's so delightful to have Roger Mitchell on Our Town. Do you realize Roger that you are one of the most important persons in the city of Washington? You're the Chief Medical Examiner for the Capitol City of the United States if not the world. What a title. Roger Mitchell, Jr, MD: Listen, I made it to Our Town and the word on the street is if you can make it to Our Town, then you might very well be an important person. I'm excited about being here, Andy. Andy Ockershausen: This program's so important that we don't have any commercials, but we do have some, but these are people in Our Town but Roger, you have such a career. What you've done is amazing to me because you're a learned man and you paid the price to learn what you're doing. But that is a great title, Chief Medical Examiner. Roger Mitchell, Jr, MD: Yeah, Chief Medical Examiner. I'm a young chief, too. Andy Ockershausen: I bet you are. Roger Mitchell, Jr, MD: There's not many young chiefs out here and it's just good. I've been here about five years now. Andy Ockershausen: But you're not a native. You didn't grow up here of course, but you went to Howard University. THE Howard University and New Jersey Medical School - Smart and Lucky Roger Mitchell, Jr, MD: I did go to Howard, THE Howard University. Andy Ockershausen: You went to New Jersey for medical, are you from Jersey? Roger Mitchell, Jr, MD: I am from Jersey, born and raised. New Jersey Medical School is a state school. It's Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. It's fantastic. Andy Ockershausen: Fabulous institution, Rutgers, too, right? Gotta be smart. Roger Mitchell, Jr, MD: You gotta be smart or lucky. Andy Ockershausen: It's a tough school. You're both! Roger Mitchell, Jr, MD: I think on the bottom of my certificate, it might've said lucky but we won't look at the fine print. Andy Ockershausen: Luck follows speed, Roger. That's something I learned many years ago. You gotta be fast in this world. Roger Mitchell, Jr, MD: That's it. Andy Ockershausen: But, you have a background in forensic medicine which, to me, is so impressive and you continue to do it today. OJ Trial Takes Forensics to New Level - Mitchell Becomes Interested in Forensics as a High School Junior Roger Mitchell, Jr, MD: I started forensics early. You remember the OJ trial, right? Andy Ockershausen: Oh yeah. Roger Mitchell, Jr, MD: The infamous OJ trial, right? Andy Ockershausen: Oh my, yeah. Roger Mitchell, Jr, MD: And so, forensics really, in this Country, was catapulted into the forefront. Andy Ockershausen: I believe what you're saying. Roger Mitchell, Jr, MD: This Country really wasn't thinking about blood stain pattern and proper evidence handling really until the OJ trial. And so, when I was, I think I was in my junior year- Andy Ockershausen: In medical school? Roger Mitchell, Jr, MD: No, it was in my junior year of undergrad at Howard University and I was doing- Andy Ockershausen: Our Town. Roger Mitchell, Jr, MD: Washington, D.C., yes, your town. Andy Ockershausen: Great,
Mary Gavin, Chief of Police Falls Church Police Department, on what's it's like to work in law enforcement ~
"Once I got into the profession, I tell you I loved it. It's like the front seat of life you see people at their very best. You see a lot of people at their very worst, but the camaraderie within the profession, is very real and genuine."
Mary Gavin - Chief of Police Falls Church Police Department with host Andy Ockershausen in-studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Our Town, Andy Ockershausen, and I have the pleasure today to talk to a wonderful lady who is a cop. I used that term in admiration. She's a wonderful, wonderful example of somebody that really worked hard to get what she's got. She's the Chief of Police for Falls Church. Mary Gavin welcome to Our Town. Mary Gavin: Thank you, Andy. Thank you for that nice introduction. Andy Ockershausen: Well, it's so incredibly important that we try to be diversified in our life and we try to diversify with our podcast and you know we had Chief Newsham on and we had Tom Manger and I said, we got to have a female because that's the right thing to do. Lo and behold, there you were with WRAP. And, I found you through the Washington Regional Alcohol Program, which I was one of the founders of when we started the thing 40 years ago. Can you believe that? It's been a great effort and WRAP has done a good job, Mary. Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) Saves Lives Mary Gavin: WRAP has done a phenomenal job. WRAP saves lives and we just had our recognition back last week, last Friday. Andy Ockershausen: Yup. It was a breakfast and I didn't go ... Mary Gavin: It's one of the most meaningful award ceremonies we have. Andy Ockershausen: Maggiano's. Mary Gavin: Yep. Yep. Maggiano's and we get to celebrate as a region. All of the successes of the effort against the- in the fight against drunk driving and we also get together with those that have lost loved ones and reflect on the lives of those in this region that oh so tragically have been taken from us. But the best part of it is actually the camaraderie between all of the departments, the Chiefs, in recognizing the young officers that are out on the front-line every day making arrests and making people safe. Andy Ockershausen: Well, it's an incredible organization to bring all these people together and yet knowing it and being a part of it for all of these years. I've been lucky to know all these people. We still have an enormous problem with drunk driving. It just drives me crazy, but I don't know how you stop it. It's just incredible people still get in a car drunk. Takes Commitment from Every Discipline to Drive Drunk Driving Numbers Down Mary Gavin: You're right and it takes the whole town, the whole region ... Andy Ockershausen: Everybody. Mary Gavin: And from every discipline, from the entertainment world to like Lyft has come into this, Uber has come into this, Budweiser, Miller, Coors. There's a lot of entities that are involved and that's what it takes. It takes every discipline to kind of think through what's their responsibility in driving the numbers down and creating ... Andy Ockershausen: It's incredible. Mary Gavin: A safety net . Andy Ockershausen: Mary, I'll give you a little trivia. Our first real sponsor of drunk driving was Anheuser Busch. They jumped in it with both feet in the early 70s and they knew it was in their self protection to protect themselves with this drunk driving thing. But Mary, I'm so interested in you because not only are you a female and a cop, but you're an important person. You're Chief of Police and you also served in other jurisdictions. So you really have an overview of Our Town. And I think that's fortunate. You went to school here. You went to grammar school and high school. Correct? In Virginia? Mary Gavin - Fairfax County, Virginia, Born and Raised Mary Gavin: I did. I grew up in Fairfax County, born and born in Fairfax Hospital and raised in Fa...
Tom Quinn on the service provided by the Special Operations Warrior Foundation ~
"So whenever today, if you’re a Navy Seal, or Army Special Forces, or Ranger, or Air Force Combat Air Control, or a Marine Special Ops, you know that you have our enduring promise that we will educate your children if you don’t come home. And it gives them a great deal of confidence going in to the hotspots that they go into."
Tom Quinn - Former Director, Federal Air Marshals Service and Ret. Secret Service with host Andy Ockershausen in-studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen, this is Our Town, and I have a great pleasure to talk to the great Tom Quinn today. For those of you who don't know, he is a man, the first one started with the Air Marshals. Tom Quinn led that effort to put air marshals on airplanes. Is that right, Tom? Tom Quinn Re-enters Government to Head Up New Federal Air Marshal Service Tom Quinn: That's right, Andy. I came back into government to stand up the Federal Air Marshal Service as a federal law enforcement organization, based on the National Transportation Security Act that was passed after 9/11. Andy Ockershausen: And so you had to start from scratch to hire people, to provide protection on American aircraft. Did you do any foreign aircraft too, or just US? Mandate to Grow Service from 33 to Several Thousand Security Officers Tom Quinn: Just US-flagged air carriers and there was a small federal air marshal contingent that was ... they were security officers in the FAA, very small number. On 9/11, there were 33 and that's all. Andy Ockershausen: In the whole flying industry, 33 marshals. Tom Quinn: 33. And the mandate was to create a Federal Air Marshal Service of several thousand to provide a deterrent on US-flagged air carriers, both domestically and internationally. It still is a robust organization today. Andy Ockershausen: How many marshals would there be today? Tom Quinn: The number's classified, but suffice it to say, there are several thousand operating from field offices that we created, all over the country. And their mission is essentially to promote confidence in federal aviation through the deployment of federal air marshals to detect, deter, and defeat hostile acts on aircraft, airspace, and airports. Andy Ockershausen: It must be one of the more successful ventures ever attempted by the federal government because, and maybe I'm wrong, but I don't recall any hijacking since these marshals have been in place. Monumental Task - Six Months to Get the Job Done Tom Quinn: Well, there certainly hasn't been any hijackings. They are a significant deterrent along, with the rest of what TSA does in terms of the screening. None of us like it, but it is a fact of life if you're going to fly. And the Federal Air Marshals really is the law enforcement component of that. But if you can imagine standing up an organization with a time certain. The commitment to that was made to the president, President Bush, 43 at the time, was that they would be stood up by the end of July of 2002. So from the time TSA was created, the Federal Air Marshal Service was essentially being stood up. You had roughly six months to select, hire, train, and deploy several thousand into offices that didn't exist around the country, with no leadership to speak of in terms of the numbers of- Andy Ockershausen: Nobody's ever done it before, correct? You didn'tt have any model to follow. Tom Quinn: And, you know, how do you go about ... Most federal law enforcement agencies, the Secret Service, for example, the FBI, if they had a thousand agents to hire in a year, it would be a monumental task for an established organization. We were a new organization with little or no management,
John Matthews, WMAL News Director, on the benefits - all of these years - getting up and being at work by 4:30 in the morning at the latest~
"I don’t know what morning drive traffic is like and I don’t know what afternoon drive traffic is like and I consider that a blessing. I love the hours that I work. And that’s when decisions are made. The decisions except for breaking news, the decisions on stories that you’re hearing at 6:00 at night were made at 5:00 in the morning."
John Matthews, WMAL News Director, and host Andy Ockershausen in-studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Our Town, Andy Ockershausen with a special guest who's really not special. He's a big part of the woodwork here at WMAL, he's a big part of the station and it's success, a big part of my life because I've known him since he was a kid, and I hired him at WMAL, it's maybe one of the biggest mistakes I ever made, but I lived with it for years and all of a sudden John Matthews became a star. John, welcome to Our Town. John Matthews: Oh my goodness. You are really blowing it up this morning. Andy Ockershausen: Your skirt, blows your skirt up. Whatever blows your- John, what a great thing though that you came here as a kid, a young man out of school. Why did you pick Syracuse to go to school? Education - Syracuse University John Matthews: Well there's a couple of reasons. Number one they had a great broadcast program, but number two my sister went there before I did. Andy Ockershausen: Your talented sister. John Matthews: My talented sister, Julie. She was there before I went and being she's a couple of years older than me, I really hadn't toured a lot of college campuses, so when she went there, one of the only college campuses I'd ever seen was in Syracuse, New York, Syracuse University, so I ended up going there and they had a great broadcast program too. Andy Ockershausen: Where did you grow up, in Washington or Frederick? On Growing Up in Our Town John Matthews: I grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland. Andy Ockershausen: Oh you did? Right here? John Matthews: Oh yeah. Absolutely. Andy Ockershausen: Your dad was a builder and lived here. John Matthews: My dad was a builder. He built the first house that he ever owned, he built in Silver Spring. And I grew up- Andy Ockershausen: What was your relationship to Frederick? Your grandma- John Matthews: My grandparents lived in Frederick. Andy Ockershausen: That's what I thought. John Matthews: Lived in Frederick, Maryland. And my dad grew up in Gallipolis, Ohio. And- Andy Ockershausen: I know it well. John Matthews: Yeah. He grew up in Gallipolis, Ohio, and moved his family here, moved us here. Andy Ockershausen: Were you born in Ohio? John Matthews: No. I was born in Richmond, Virginia. I was born in the- Andy Ockershausen: That's on the way to Ohio, of course. John Matthews: He had a construction job down there. And he was a builder and he had construction work down there. He had my two sisters and I and shortly after I was born, I was less than a year old, we moved up here to the D.C. area and we lived in Langley Park and Takoma Park in apartments. We moved to a house near downtown Silver Spring and then my dad built a house in the White Oak, Hillandale area of Silver Spring and that's where I grew up. Andy Ockershausen: John, that's great to hear you, think I've known your dad for 40, 50 years, I didn't realize all these things. I knew he was a local guy, and I consider Frederick Our Town because we had more listeners in Frederick than Frederick stations had at one time. John Matthews: Sure. Andy Ockershausen: There was a reason for that, our signal. But John, you've had a great experience in Our Town. The moves, obviously you learn things, you knew things, and did you try any other school before Syracuse? John Matthews' WMAL Internship John Matthews: Not for college. I went to Springbrook High School and then I went to Syracuse and then I got my internship at WMAL.
Richard Wiley on what's next in high def TV ~
"Ultra high definition is great. Then there's an even ... double that, coming up in Japan. Super high vision. So, it's just going to keep going. The only problem is, there's only so much that the human eye can absorb."
Richard Wiley Chairman Emeritus Wiley Rein LLP and Former FCC Chairman, with Andy Ockershausen in-studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Our Town. This is Andy Ockershausen, and we're introducing to our podcast one of the more famous regulators in the history of broadcasting. The man was a Commissioner, he was a General Counsel, he became Chairman of the FCC. He is one of the most important people in the history of broadcasting, and we're so delighted to have Dick Wiley here in Our Town. Richard Wiley: Andy, thank you. It's a pleasure and a privilege to be with you once again! And we're still clicking, you know? Andy Ockershausen: You're clicking, I'm clicking, thank God Janice keeps me clicking. But Dick, you've had such an illustrious life, career, and everything, before you went to straight-when you left the government. But you were such an important part of the growth of broadcast to me, and Our Town, and in the world. And what you did as Commissioner, and if you remember the days that I would call on you with Dick Chapin- Richard Wiley: Absolutely. Andy Ockershausen: ... from Nebraska. We were always interested in what the Commission was doing, and what you were doing. And it helped our industry tremendously. Richard Wiley and others at Federal Communications Commission Worked to Eliminate Outmoded Regulations in the 70s Richard Wiley: Well, we were trying to eliminate some of the old, outmoded regulations. The industry had changed and grown, and prospered, and the regulations remained the same. So, you and Dick were bringing in good ideas to try to make some changes. Andy Ockershausen: And before you would make them, Dean Burch was trying the same thing- Richard Wiley: Absolutely. Absolutely. He was my predecessor. Andy Ockershausen: Yeah, well he was your predecessor- Richard Wiley: Great guy. Andy Ockershausen: But he was never General Counsel like you are. Richard Wiley: No. Andy Ockershausen: I remember when you were the General Counsel- Richard Wiley: I was his General Counsel. Andy Ockershausen: That's it. That's correct. That was quite a team at the time, because you were on the same team, everybody's trying to get rid of these ridiculous restrictions. In addition ... Restrictions are good but when they're ridiculous, they're awful. Richard Wiley: Well, as life goes on, the industries change, technology changes, the regulation can't stay the same. And I think that's what we started. They've certainly gone much beyond where we were in the '70's. This was the '70's, Andy- Andy Ockershausen: Oh, I know! I remember that. Oh my God. But there was such a growth period in the industry in the '70's- Richard Wiley: Really was. Andy Ockershausen: ... was incredible, with the networks and- New Technologies Entered Market in the 70s | Satellite | Cable | Internet Richard Wiley: And other technologies were coming in at the time. Satellite, you know- Andy Ockershausen: We didn't know what they were. Richard Wiley: ... television, and cable, you know - nobody wondered whether cable was going to do anything, became of course, a very dynamic industry. And now we've got the internet, which has changed everything. Andy Ockershausen: Just the modest changes that we made in radio at the time, because everything was on a little disc and we had no tapes. It was ancient. Now all that is gone, Dick. Everything is gone up here somewhere, and we don't know where it is, but it works. We could watch a tape in a tape recorder, but we can't watch it now. Richard Wiley: Absolutely. Andy Ockershausen: But Dick, tell me now, you've had such an illustrious career,
Eshauna Smith on how it is that Urban Alliance students are able to compete in the workforce~
When they take on the Urban Alliance internship, they are working nine months of their senior year. It is 600 hours of work. It is every day after school. They're going three hours a day during the school year, and then in the summer it becomes a full-time job. They do this during their senior year where there are many other obligations and things, everything from college applications to prom to all kinds of senior dues. They make a huge commitment, and they follow through with it.
Eshauna Smith - CEO of Urban Alliance in-studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town. Speaking to an absolutely gorgeous young lady who has one of the high profile jobs, to me, in Our Town, and that's Eshauna Smith, the head, the CEO of Urban Alliance, or The Urban Alliance, I think is the correct pronunciation. Is that right, Eshauna? Eshauna Smith: It's Urban Alliance. Andy Ockershausen: I don't want to say the? Eshauna Smith: You don't want to say the. Andy Ockershausen: Okay. Eshauna Smith: Our website is www.theurbanalliance.org, but the organization is Urban Alliance. Andy Ockershausen: Well, it was a new word to me and I learned it through the Washington Board of Trade's publications that I read religiously, because it's about Our Town. And what you're doing is so great for Our Town, what the Urban Alliance is doing. How old is the Urban Alliance? Eshauna Smith: Urban Alliance is 22 years old. We began here- Andy Ockershausen: About your age. Eshauna Smith: Well, double. I am 43. Andy Ockershausen: No way. Urban Alliance - When and How it Was Started Eshauna Smith: To make it official, yes, I am. But Urban Alliance was born 22 years ago in Washington DC in 1996. And it was born at the hands of a young person, or several young people who spoke about the need for jobs in the city, and to have jobs while in high school, and to have jobs that helped them to connect what they were learning in the classroom to the real world. And one of those young people happened to say, "What I really need to make my experience better is a real job." And we were lucky that one of our founders said, "Great. I am gonna help you to find that job." Andy Ockershausen: Who might that be? Eshauna Smith: Well, that maybe- Andy Ockershausen: A banker? Eshauna Smith: He is now a banker, but at the time, he was a young attorney with the Department of Justice who had been at an event around stemming youth violence, that was pretty rampant in 1996. And not that the youth were doing that, but just the city was having a lot of challenges where young people were being victims of violence and lots of things going on to that extent. And he happened to be a young attorney at this event where youth were speaking up about what would make this better. And so Andrew Plepler is our founder. He is today a banker, but at that time, he just wanted to help. And when this one young woman said, "What I really need is a job," and when he said, "I will get that for you," she then responded and said, "And I have five additional friends who need jobs." Andy Ockershausen: Wow. That's a landslide for jobs. It's always been about jobs. And what the Urban Alliance seized upon something, or did seize upon something, is we have a connection problem, I think, in Our Town. I think there are jobs, but we've gotta put the people with the jobs. And I hope that's what the Alliance is focused on. We go way back to summer jobs for needy youths. And Marion Barry started in the early 70s. We were involved with him and with George Allen and the Redskins, and it was a great thing to see for Our Town. But that was just summer. What you've done now is expanded, and you need a job, not just in the summer. Urban Alliance - Focuses on First Time Job Experiences and Support Eshauna Smith: That's right.
Al Koken on what started his career ~
"All because I jumped out of an airplane."
Al Koken, Capitals Reporter and Host, NBC Sports Washington, and host Andy Ockershausen in-studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is a special, special treat to me on our podcast, a man, and I know that's a cliché and I'm going to say it anyway, needs no introduction, but he likes it. So I'm going to introduce you to a wonderful, wonderful great broadcaster, Smokin' Al Koken. Al Koken: We're using my biblical name then? Is that what we're doing? Andy Ockershausen: Who came up with the "Smokin'"? Glenn Brenner and a True Badge of Honor - "Smokin'Al Koken" Al Koken: It was given to me, and I wear it with a true badge of honor, by the late great Glenn Brenner. Andy Ockershausen: Glenn did that? Al Koken: When I was working with him at Channel 9, it was back in the day. Remember when the third-string quarterback held the clipboard, as opposed to being inactive? Glenn called me the clipboard guy. If he was on vacation, Ken Mease would go Monday through Friday, and I'd fill in for Ken Mease. I was kind of their third guy. Back in the day when the Redskins were on CBS as opposed to Fox, after Redskin home games they would do a Redskin post-game show with Glenn in the studio, and I would be down at RFK Stadium interviewing players. During one of the broadcasts, we come back from commercial, they're going to come down to me, and I'm going to interview a player. Glenn comes back and says, "All right, let's go back down to RFK Stadium and rejoin," and he paused. I'm thinking, did he forget my name? He goes, "Smokin' Al Koken." I kind of laughed, you know. Andy Ockershausen: First time you heard it? Al Koken: Yeah. Of course, the next day, because it was given by Glenn Brenner, people, "Hey, Smokin' Al Koken. Smokin' Al Koken." That's how it stuck, but because it was given to me by somebody who I respect and love so much- Andy Ockershausen: Everybody. Everybody loved Glenn. Al Koken: Yeah, I treat that like a real badge of honor. Andy Ockershausen: One of the things, and, this isn't at all for you, Koken, but it's important. One of the things Janice and I would really look forward to, because they were friends, was the Redskins show on Saturday night. Well, they taped it on Thursday, but John Riggins and Sonny, of course, and George. Before that it was Glenn. It was all those guys. It was about fun. It was a fun show. Stuff I'm watching now, not fun. Al Koken: Right, and directed by our great friend, Ernie Baur, and produced by Ernie Baur. He was a guy who always made sure that the best of what Glenn did, which was off-the-cuff, ad libbing, as you said, having fun, that had to shine through. You couldn't sit there with John Riggins and Sonny Jurgensen and ask serious questions and get people to watch for 30 minutes. You had to have fun with it, and the more off-script they went, the better the show. Andy Ockershausen: You were right, and it doesn't happen anymore. But Al, you are a Missourian. You're from Missouri, but you've gotta be shown. St. Louis. I remember you, we're trying to get you on the phone. They said, "Don't call him during the World Series. He's in St. Louis." That's was the first time I knew you were connected by a lot of things to St. Louis. St. Louis, Missouri Fan - Baseball, Football and Hockey Al Koken: Grew up in St. Louis, and obviously I was a huge St. Louis Baseball Cardinal fan, football fan, St. Louis Blues. That's where I really fell in love with hockey, seeing the St. Louis Blues for the first years of expansion. They came in 1967, and I remember my uncle had some season tickets, and going down and seeing the games, and just mesmerized. I tell everybody- Andy Ockershausen: You lived in the city? Movie "Back to the Future" Based on University City Al Koken: Lived just on the edge. It's called University City. In fact, I'll give you a very quick story about University City.
Bob Milkovich on the good fortune to have have worked for top-notch "Flagship" companies~
"I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have come here and worked and met people like you, and Ernie Fears, and Tony Renaud at WMAL. And then I went to work for Oliver Carr Company. And then I was able to go and work for Goldman Sachs. Then from that I went to First Potomac Realty Trust and now I'm with Rand* Construction and Linda Rabbitt."
Bob Milkovich, CEO of Rand* Construction in-studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen, this is Our Town, and this is sort of like nostalgia day for me and for Janice and for Ken, because, one of our great, great, I mean that, great, great friends, from the early days of the success of the greatest radio station in the world was a man named, a young man named Bob Milkovich, who I had heard of and discovered when he was a quarterback for the University of Maryland. Len Klompus told me about him. At the same time he had us hire Ken, not Ken, Ken Beatrice. He came down from Boston, and Bob Milkovich, welcome to Our Town. Bob Milkovich: Well, thank you Andy. Thank you Janice. It's so good to be here and I feel so welcomed. I'm back in a place that I called home back in the early '80s when I first came here as a college intern. And I- Andy Ockershausen: From the University of Maryland. From the University of Maryland to WMAL Bob Milkovich: University of Maryland. I actually was introduced to the station by Johnny Holliday so there's a, you know, a- Andy Ockershausen: We're all in this thing together. Before that there was ... What's his name from University of Maryland? Janice: Tim Brant? Andy Ockershausen: Timmy. Tim came here but the athletic director- Bob Milkovich: Russ Potts was a big promotion guy. Andy Ockershausen: Russ Potts. He was a promoter wasn't he? Bob Milkovich: Russ Potts. Andy Ockershausen: Oh my God. Bob Milkovich: He was a big promoter and, you know, he always had promotional campaigns well ahead of his time. Some of the people we were talking about earlier, Andy. Andy Ockershausen: Oh my God. Bob Milkovich: Everybody was kind of ahead of their time. Andy Ockershausen: I kept asking how he got to be an athletic director but Dick Dull, all those people were friends of ours, Bob. But Milkovich is here that's because we're so excited, he has become and just been named the President of the Rand Company, which for Washingtonians, that those of us that know about it, is great, great position, and great for Bob Milkovich to run this company. Bob Milkovich - New Position as CEO of Rand Construction Bob Milkovich: Yes. Thank you, Andy. I'm honored. Linda Rabbitt- Andy Ockershausen: She's a wonderful, wonderful woman, Bob. Linda Rabbitt, Chairman of Rand* Construction Bob Milkovich: She is and I enjoy working with her, and she is so talented, and her community involvement is above everybody's standard. Andy Ockershausen: I started with Linda ... She went to college with some friends of mine that went to University of Michigan and they were all in the same sorority. So I go back to her with the early '80s. About your time as a matter of fact, when she worked for Steve Harlan. She was Steve's assistant well before she got into the building trades. But Linda is a magnificent example of a female that really made it big. And she was doing it back in the early '80s when not many other females were doing what she was doing. Bob Milkovich: That's right. That's right. And, you know, back at- Andy Ockershausen: Starting her own company, Bob. Bob Milkovich: She did, and after I left radio I actually went to work with the Oliver Carr Company which I'm sure you know Oliver well. Andy Ockershausen: Oliver T. Bob Milkovich: Oliver T. Yeah, he's very civic-minded and quite a visionary. Andy Ockershausen: Ollie, great guy. Bob Milkovich: And, you know, interestingly enough, the intersection of all of us. Linda, actually,
Patrick Burke on the toughest thing he ever had to do in his career ~
"Tell somebody that their child or their husband or wife or a loved one wasn't coming home because of a traffic fatality. And that's 100% preventable. It still is, these incidents, and there's so much more we can continue to do to make sure that people aren't drunk driving or paying attention to what they're doing on the roads."
Patrick Burke - Executive Director Washington DC Police Foundation and host Andy Ockershausen during in-studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town. I'm so, so, so happy for a lot of reasons to welcome a very important man in the city of Washington and Our Town, a public servant. I mean, he has been in the police department or connected with it for 27 years on the force. But even since he left the force he's been still in law enforcement. He's just a terrific guy, an important part of Our Town, and a member of the ... He was [sic] the Executive Director at the Washington DC Police Foundation. Pat Burke, welcome to Our Town. Patrick Burke: Thanks, Andy. Good to be here. Andy Ockershausen: You have been amazing to me in all the things I've seen you do over the years. I remember you in uniform, I remember when you started wearing neckties like the rest of us. Now, none of us wear ties anymore, Pat. Isn't that great? Patrick Burke: It is great. It's nice to not have to worry about that every day. Andy Ockershausen: But you always dressed like $1 million, and you had that clean white shirt. and I wouldn't say this unless she was here. I would have loved to have Cathy Lanier. I know you worked close with Cathy. She was such a big, important part of Our Town because of what she did. Patrick Burke: And she's back in town pretty regularly. Her mom still lives out in Maryland, so ... Andy Ockershausen: She had a house in Maryland, I know. Patrick Burke: She still does, so she's still back in town pretty regularly, and she'll actually be at an event in December back in DC. So glad to hear she's doing well with the NFL, and we're glad to have Chief Newsham here, as well. Andy Ockershausen: Well, Cherrie Doggett is having a cocktail Christmas party, and I'm sure she's invited. Cathy was always there, and we got to know her through Bud, as we got to know the police department. But Pat, you're a New Yorker. Not from Buffalo, but from Rochester. Patrick Burke Hails from Rochester, New York Patrick Burke: As I tell my wife, who's from New York, New York I'm from the real part of New York, Western New York. And most of my family is still Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse. But I have to say, as much as I love them, there's six inches of snow right now in Rochester, and I'll see my mom and dad in the spring. Andy Ockershausen: Yeah, but it'll be gone by July. Patrick Burke: By usually March. I remember Lake Ontario was frozen through St. Patrick's day. Andy Ockershausen: Yeah, they close the lakes off, and everything up there was frozen. But Pat, how did you end up in the police department? You went to school in New York in the State University of New York? In 1989, Burke Chose DC Police Department over Law School Patrick Burke: Yep, I did my undergrad at University of Buffalo, started grad school up there, actually came down to look at American University in DC, law school, and one of my good buddies was working vice for the second district. They said, "Pat, save money. Join the PD." It was the height of the crack epidemic in 1989, so he said, "Come on down and save some money." So I joined the police department. I fell in love with it, and 27 years later I woke up and I had a great career, and my last nine as Assistant Chief. Andy Ockershausen: Well, it's not over. You've still got a great career. But what you're doing is great for the police department and great for Washington PD, but your wife, you say from the other New York, she's a New Yorker? A Long Islander?
Bobby Goldwater, Innovative Sports Executive and Consultant, on when he realized he could come up with a strategy to bring a Major League Baseball team back to Our Town~
"The first five people, Andy, that I met with inside baseball, did not know a basic fact about Washington DC and the light bulb goes off, this is a marketing project. I can do that."
Bobby Goldwater, Innovative Sports Executive and Consultant, and host Andy Ockershausen in-studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Our Town. This is Andy Ockershausen and a conversation with a very dear friend and a very important person to me and to Our Town. His name is Bobby Goldwater. Many, many times. I have thought to ask you this question, are you related in any way to the Arizona Goldwaters? Senator Barry Goldwater Distant Relative Bobby Goldwater: Yes. I am told, that there is a distant relation. My sister, once upon a time did a family tree. We are, this is what she told us, fourth cousins twice removed, from the Arizona Goldwaters. I never met Senator Goldwater. My father and my brother did, but I did not. Andy Ockershausen: Well, a fabulous human being, to me- Bobby Goldwater: Yes indeed. Andy Ockershausen: ... and a member of Our Town, he lived in Our Town in an apartment complex, and I used to go into the drug store, he went into the druggist all the time, but I met him and then I had the misfortune fortune, I was a delegate to the Republican National Convention to support Barry Goldwater because he was such a, at the time a fresh breeze and a thing. He was a Westerner as you know, and he lived it and breathed it. His family lived it. I went to his department store in Phoenix one time, just to make sure it was there, but he didn't have anything to do with it. I think his brother ran that. The Goldwater's Fine Department Store Bobby Goldwater: Well, the family did, and the first time I was in Phoenix I said to myself, “You know, I've got to go to the department store because it has my name on it.” So I went in, I did some shopping, and I hand my credit card to the clerk, and she sees my last name, and she calls the assistant manager, and the assistant manager is going, “Oh, Mr. Goldwater, Mr. Goldwater, was everything okay?” I'm trying to convince her that I am not that Goldwater, I am not part of that part of the family, and I couldn't convince her so I just let it go. She was very nice, she couldn't have been nicer, but it was just funny, but I took a shopping bag with my family name on it. It was great. Andy Ockershausen: And your own Goldwater. Bobby, that's a great story, but that was a big part of your life. The name I'm sure when you were growing up in the business and you're a New Yorker. Scarsdale High School. Scarsdale High School Alumnus | Scarsdale, New York Bobby Goldwater: Yes sir. Andy Ockershausen: That's a very wealthy neighborhood, Scarsdale, I would say. Bobby Goldwater: People think that, yes. Andy Ockershausen: Scarsdale High was sort of like Hollywood High on the east. I mean they had all the celebrity. And you went to Miami University of Ohio, which is a long way from Scarsdale but not. Scarsdale is the upper grade high school as I remember. Bobby Goldwater: Mm-hmm (affirmative), it is. Andy Ockershausen: And the University of Miami is fabulous. Miami University of Ohio Alumnus Bobby Goldwater: Miami University. Andy Ockershausen: I mean, I mean- Bobby Goldwater: We're very sensitive about that. Andy Ockershausen: And they make a big thing of that too. Bobby Goldwater: Yes, we do. Andy Ockershausen: Donna Shalala, right? Donna Shalala Attended the University of Miami Bobby Goldwater: Yeah. She was at the University of Miami- Andy Ockershausen: I know that. Bobby Goldwater: ... in Florida. Other Ohio Universities Andy Ockershausen: But Ohio is such an important part our culture because there's an Ohio school, it's not Ohio State, right? Bobby Goldwater: Nope. Andy Ockershausen: University of Ohio.
Sue Palka, Fox 5 DC's Chief Meteorologist, on what makes a successful on-air weather forecast~
"It's a combination of a teaching experience, from my teaching years, which were only about seven years. I remember that you have a main idea that you have to deliver, and I feel like I've failed as a forecaster if you don't know the weather when I'm done."
Sue Palka and Joe Palka with host Andy Ockershausen in-studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town. It's such a pleasure. I mean, it so sincerely to have two of my favorite people in broadcast and life in Washington, DC, Joe and Sue Palka. Welcome to Our Town! Sue Palka: Andy, I know you say that to every guest, but we are delighted to see you because you're the real star of this podcast and we are so excited. Joe Palka: That's true, how many people say to you that you are my hero, Andy, and you continue to be my hero, you really do. Andy Ockershausen: It sounds like hero worship, but it's true. They don't worship me, they worship those call letters. Joe Palka's First Impression of WMAL Personalities, 1980s Joe Palka: It's true, but well, they were great call letters. The most outstanding among a handful in the entire country. And boy, I can remember when I was a young broadcaster back in the 70s and early 80s and I would think of WMAL. Around 1980 when we were first married, we came to visit some people in Washington. I was still in Erie at WRIE, and I heard this guy, John Lyon on the air in the afternoon, and he was, he picked up a guitar and he started singing. I'm just, "Oh my God." And then there was a guy Tom Gauger on and he was playing piano with somebody from the philharmonic. Then I found out that John Lyon was just a fill in, I thought, this is the greatest radio station I'd ever heard in my life. Andy Ockershausen: Joe Palka, you are a fountain of information. What you have done and you've accomplished is amazing, 'cause your wife has out gamed you, like my wife has out gamed me. That's so great, I'm so proud of Sue Palka, what she has accomplish and what Janice Ockershausen has accomplished, and we're lucky to have two great women in our lives. Joe Palka: Who had no taste in men, right? Andy Ockershausen: That's right. Sue Palka: Well, I'll tell you, honestly- Andy Ockershausen: Well I'll tell you, reading about you guys in Erie, Pennsylvania, the snow capital of the world, they tell me. Sue Palka: My gosh, they had 13 inches of snow on November 10th this year. My dad- Andy Ockershausen: In Erie. The Palkas Live in Our Town Thanks to Andy O Sue Palka: -and he said, I gotta get out of here. They had over about 200 inches last year. But before we get into Erie, Andy, I've got to just say Joe and I would not be in DC if it weren't for you. And I never forget that. And when you invited us on the podcast, I told Fox 5, "I'm absolutely doing this, I have to do it because I owe Andy." We would not even be here if it weren't for you and WMAL offering Joe the job. Joe Palka: Let's toss a couple of bones to a couple of people who are no longer with us, Jim Gallant and Eileen Griffin. Now they were also responsible for my departure, but guess what, had they not brought me here, our life would have changed entirely. Andy Ockershausen: Everything was timing. Was on my way out when you came in, but that happens too. Joe Palka: Yeah, well, God works in funny ways. Andy Ockershausen: But that's life. But to have Sue remain in our lives has been terrific for Janice and I cause we knew her as a fresh face kid doing weekends, and all of a sudden she's a major, major star. And I say that, I know what I'm talking about. I know what the public reflects about Sue Palka. Joe Palka: Well, I have a feeling that had television not been invented in 1985 when Sue first started, they would have invented it just for her. Sue Palka: Oh, stop. Joe Palka: Oh no, you were a school teacher.
Dana Lawhorne, Sheriff of the City of Alexandria, VA, on the 1998 Woodrow Wilson Bridge jumper negotiations ~
"We went out there. Derek Gaunt’s talking to the guy. As a team leader my responsibility is to watch him and sort of manage what’s going on. Anyway, we’d been out there about six hours, sun went down. We got a little cold, but it was a threat that he’d had a gun. That’s why we backed off."
Dana Lawhorne, Sheriff of the City of Alexandria, VA and host Andy Ockershausen in-studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town. I'm delighted, I say that all the time Dana, but I really mean it in your case because you approached me and we were at a Heroes meeting and you brought up WMAL and the fact that you grew up with it, and that impressed me more than your badge and more than your stars because you are part of Our Town. I'm so delighted to have you with us. Dana Lawhorne: Thank you for having me. What an honor and a privilege. My life is complete. Andy Ockershausen: As a listener and a purveyor of the scene you knew what WMAL was about and I was impressed that you can remember those people and those names. Alexandria, VA Born and Bred Dana Lawhorne: Yes, I grew up in Alexandria, been there my whole life. The house I live in now I look out the back door and see the house that I grew up in. Every household ... I'm 60 so you're going back to the early '60s, every household was on AM630. That's how I just kind of thought that that's what everybody listened to. Growing Up with WMAL AM630 Dana Lawhorne: I'd always wake up in the morning to Harden and Weaver, so when you first wake up you're kind of in a daze and I'm like, "There's them guys again." I said that. My mom must've rented my room to somebody. I thought they lived in the house actually. I just thought they were part of the family. I grew up on AM630 and all the greats, the personality radio back in the day. The radio was based on personalities. Andy Ockershausen: Your family named you Dana. To me, when I grew up Dana was a girl's name, but I love it. Dana Andrew was my first experience of an actor. Remember him? Dana Lawhorne: Oh yeah. Andy Ockershausen: Great actor. What's In a Name, Literally! Dana Lawhorne: I can tell you two things about that real quick. I suspect that's where they got the name. I was born in 1957 and that was his heyday. I mean he was big. Andy Ockershausen: Oh boy. Dana Lawhorne: I'm a big Dana Andrews fan. That's the story I like to tell. Growing up there were no male Danas. They were all girl Danas. Dana Lawhorne: It was tough. It was tough. Andy Ockershausen: I'll bet it was. Dana Lawhorne: Let me tell you, and it's still tough at age 60. Andy Ockershausen: It's tough in Alexandria too. Lawhorne Finds the Humor in His Name Dana Lawhorne: Look, they still think I'm a girl. I go to the doctor and I'm the only one sitting in the waiting room. They walk out and they go, "Dana Lawhorne," they like looking all round they go, they turn around and they go to the back. I'm like knocking on the door, "I'm Dana Lawhorne." They're like, "Oops." They do. They go, "Oops, sorry." I'm like, "I'm used to it. Don't worry about it." Andy Ockershausen: I knew it. It had to be. Dana Lawhorne: All the coupons I get from CVS, the rewards, they're all for ... Andy Ockershausen: Dana, you impress me so much in our conversation. You really knew about Our Town. You know about growing up here. You knew how important WMAL was to everybody, not just to Alexandria. You grew up as a cop in Alexandria, so you had a dose of what we were and what we were doing. You're such a great friend of WMAL. We appreciate you. AM630 WMAL Good Memories of Days Gone By Larry Krebs Dana Lawhorne: Somebody told me about your podcast show and I longed for the days of true radio talk, if you ask me, where the talk radio was based on personalities. You were just part of our home.
Steve Buckhantz on one of the biggest scoops in Washington football history~
"I broke it and it was before it was supposed to come out. But it did and it was a fabulous day for us, for all of us because it was just so filled with adrenaline."
Steve Buckhantz, TV Play by Play Announcer for Washington Wizards in-studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen, and this is Our Town. Janice said to me one day, "Andy, you're a has been, but maybe you could get back into action by doing a podcast." And I said to her, "What is a podcast?" That was it, seriously Steve. Two years ago, and she put me on the road to recovery. Janice is a- Janice Iacona Ockershausen: So do you want to introduce Steve so people know who you're talking to? Andy Ockershausen: I'm sorry. Buckhantz needs no introduction. I thought everybody knew he was here. I told everybody he was. Steve Buckhantz: If it were TV they'd know, but radio has no pictures. Andy Ockershausen: Steve Buckhantz is such a absolute icon, and that's a terrible say for a man this young, but it was a time there was Glen Brenner, and there was Gordon Peterson, and there were names everywhere. They're all gone now. Thank God we still have Buckhantz, and we have Buckhantz and the world champion, I hope, Wizards some day. Steve Buckhantz: That's nice of you. That's nice of you, Andy. I go back in DC to 1984 is when I came back here, but I'm born and raised here as you know. Steve Buckhantz: Washington-Lee High School Alumnus Andy Ockershausen: Washington-Lee High School. Steve Buckhantz: Washington-Lee High School. Born at Columbia Hospital for Women, which is no longer. Andy Ockershausen: Aha, so was I. Steve Buckhantz: Yeah. A lot of people were. It's incredible isn't it? Andy Ockershausen: Had one of my sons born at Columbia. Steve Buckhantz: Yup, they- Andy Ockershausen: It was for women at one time, but then it turned into general. Steve Buckhantz: Yeah, that's what they called it, and they tore that down after I was born I think. I don't think they wanted to make the same mistake twice. Andy Ockershausen: The weather department bought that building and tore it down and built a new one. But Steve- Steve Buckhantz: Yeah. Raised in Arlington and W&L High School, a very famous high school, which they're getting ready to change the name of, but a very famous high school that- Andy Ockershausen: They're dropping Lee? Other Well-Known Washington-Lee High School Alumni Steve Buckhantz: Well, they're not dropping it. They're getting rid of the whole Washington-Lee, and I don't know what the new name will be, but at any rate you had Warren Beatty and Shirley MacLaine grew up in Arlington and went to that high school. Sandra Bullock was nine years after me. Janice Iacona Ockershausen: Ken Hunter. Steve Buckhantz: Ken Hunter, yes. Forrest Tucker from F Troop, great sports athletes like Jake Scott who was a super bowl MVP went to W&L. Eric Sievers, John Lippold was a kicker. Reggie Harrison was great running back. Andy Ockershausen: God, Steve, you've got them all. Steve Buckhantz: John Hummer who was a great basketball player here, he and his brother Ed at Princeton, and John went on to play for the Buffalo Braves. Andy Ockershausen: I'm gonna one up you with a guy that you don't know, but his name was Myron Gerber. His father was, they started Drug Fair. How about that? Steve Buckhantz: Oh really? How about that? Andy Ockershausen: He was Washington-Lee, he went to Naval Academy. Steve Buckhantz: Stanley McChrystal. Andy Ockershausen: A Jew in the navy. He was the first one, I'm serious.
David Blair, Entrepreneur and Political Activist, on his experience running for political office for the first time ~
"It's an incredible experience. It's a life changing experience and the amount of gratitude that I feel for having been through that process, no regrets with running. It was that phenomenal...It was the hardest thing I've done. I ran a public company for 15 years and I thought that was hard. . .."
David Blair, Entrepreneur and Political Activist, and host Andy Ockershausen in studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen and this is Our Town. And I am so delighted to welcome a young man to Our Town, who I met on cold morning for breakfast at a place in Bethesda, and welcome to Our Town, David Blair. David Blair: Thank you Andy, it's great to be here. David Blair's Experience Running for County Executive Andy Ockershausen: It was such a great morning 'cause Doro Koch and Eric Shuster, Eric said "you gotta come and meet David Blair". I didn't know you from the man in the moon, and Doro called and said you gotta do it and her sister in law, and we met for breakfast and they announced to me that you were planning to run for Montgomery County Executive. And I was impressed. David Blair: That's right. I remember that breakfast well. Andy Ockershausen: And you did. David Blair: Yeah. Andy Ockershausen: And you couldn't have had a better supporter than Doro Koch and Eric Shuster. David Blair: Mm-hmm (affirmative). Andy Ockershausen: 'Course it didn't help you win the seat. Or win a position, but you must have had a wonderful time, David. David Blair: It's an incredible experience. So it's a life changing experience and the amount of gratitude that I feel for having been through that process, no regrets with running. It was that phenomenal. Andy Ockershausen: Well for no other reason than just in the race, that politicians deserve a lot of credit. I don't wanna, it's bigger than credit, but they really throw their lives into it. It's not a causal job. It's full time. David Blair: It was the hardest thing I've done. So I ran a public company for 15 years and I thought that was hard and we used to say oh wow, we have to work for a week on this project or we have to pull an all nighter. Running for office was up early, 7 a.m., home you know 9 or 10 o'clock and then it was seven days a week. And so one of the challenges was you never got a chance to exhale. Like you would look at your calendar at like 10 o'clock the night before the next day and you just went all day. It was an extremely hard thing to do. Andy Ockershausen: But you were managed, 'cause you have to do that. Before we get to your political career, I'd like to talk about the early David Blair. David Blair: Sure. Andy Ockershausen: Are you a native of Montgomery County? Blair is Lifelong Resident of Montgomery County, MD - It's in His Blood David Blair: I am. Born and raised here. Andy Ockershausen: And where'd you go to high school? David Blair: So I was born in Silver Spring. Most of my life I was in Darnestown, as a kid growing up and went to the Darnestown elementary school and there was a middle school out there and I ended up going to high school at Bullis which is in Potomac. Andy Ockershausen: Yeah, great school. David Blair: Yeah, it was. Andy Ockershausen: It used to be in the city years ago, but that was before your time. David Blair: That's right. Andy Ockershausen: But Bullis is a fine school and a lot of great graduates of Bullis that went to college and so forth. And then you decided to stay in Montgomery County. I mean you opened your first business in Montgomery County? David Blair: I did. So I went to school at Clemson University in South Carolina. Andy Ockershausen: Oh that's right. Oh we gotta hear about Clemson here again. David Blair: Well now it's easy to talk about them because of the football team. Andy Ockershausen: Wow. Follows His Dad's Footsteps
Hillary Howard, Reporter, Co-anchor, WTOP, and "It's Academic" Host on what it means to her to host "It's Academic" ~
"I really am. It's an honor to be a part of a legacy program with those wonderful people who produce it, and the kids. And that we're giving props to education. Knowledge is sacrosanct."
Lew Strudler credits the late George Michael and Ken Beatrice for much of the success of the Caps 1982 "Save the Washington Capitals" 30-day campaign~
"If it wasn’t for the two of them at that particular period of time, who every night got on the air for that 30 days. They came out to The Capital Center at that point, helped us when we were doing all kinds of special events to get the city involved, especially the corporate city..."
Lew Strudler, Vice President Global Partnerships, Monumental Sports and Entertainment, and Andy Ockershausen in studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town, and I've had the opportunity to talk to a man I've known for many, many years. A big part of WMAL incidentally, never as an employee, but as an in-house important friend: Lew Strudler, Vice President of Global Partnership for Monumental Sports. Lew, you could've knocked me over with a feather when somebody told me that. That's your title. Lew Strudler: That is my title. Andy Ockershausen: It's incredible, and I go back to you when you were working for the Wizards. You could've even been a player. I don't remember, and that was in the early '80s. Lew Strudler: In '82, I go back. It wasn't even the Wizards, it was the Bullets and the Washington Capitals when I started in July of 1982 with Abe Pollin. Andy Ockershausen: You know the Washington Capitals at one time was a basketball team, you knew that of course. Lew Strudler: That goes ways back even before that. That is correct. Andy Ockershausen: I mean, a very good basketball team. Lew Strudler: That's when you were a young boy, absolutely. Andy Ockershausen: At Uline Arena, I remember it all, Lew, but you're a big part of Our Town because of your association with Abe and with the organization for many years in my position at WMAL. You were the image of talking to people with Abe. Talk to Lew and then you'll get to Abe, and that was very important to our growth at WMAL. Lew Strudler Signed on with Abe Pollin and Company to Create with 30-Day Campaign to Save the Washington Capitals Lew Strudler: I started with Abe and he called me in the summer of '82 and was really distressed about the financial state of the Washington Capitals, and at that point in time, wasn't sure he was going to keep the team in Washington. And he called me to come onboard and put together a campaign called Save the Washington Capitals. Andy Ockershausen: Who were you with then, Lew? How Lew Strudler Met Abe and Irene Pollin Lew Strudler: I was working at the National Mental Health Association. I was their Director, but I was really staffing Rosalynn Carter in terms of her doing special events, fundraising events around the Country as First Lady, and Abe and Irene Pollin were on the Board of Directors of the National Mental Health Association, and that's how I got to meet them for a good period of time. Andy Ockershausen: You know, when we had Irene here as one of our first guests on Our Town, because she represented Abe and the city so well as a big part of us, but you bring up names, Lew, that were so important, but where did you start? Did you start in Hyattsville? You didn't start life- Lew Strudler: I was in Landover. I was working in DC. I grew up in New York City. Andy Ockershausen: That's what I thought, you were a New Yorker. Lew Strudler: I was a New Yorker and I came down here, was working at the Mental Health Association for about four years, and then got a phone call one night from Abe Pollin to come and have lunch with him on a Wednesday, and he started talking to me about the state of the Capitals and how he was either going to sell them, disband them, or give it a 30-day effort to try to make it work. And he asked me at that point in time would I come onboard totally outside the world of sports, even though I loved all sports, if I'd come on- Andy Ockershausen: But you were not in sports at the time. Lew Strudler: No.
Neal Augenstein on how he views his job, as a reporter ~
"Story telling is just what we do. Reporters have to boil things down to make it so anybody can understand it... if I could figure out the simple things. If I could understand something, if I could ask enough questions so I could understand the concept, it will be something that I could pass along to the audience. That's what I've tried to do. I don't mind looking like an idiot, and asking my question, if I can come away from there being a temporary expert on whatever it is."
Neal Augenstein, Reporter and Tech Editor WTOP, and host Andy Ockershausen in studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Our Town. This is Andy Ockershausen, and I am so delighted. I say that because I mean it. To talk head-to-head, person-to-person with a man that I've listened to on the radio for so long, and has the most memorable voice, and that is a supreme compliment, Neal Augenstein.Neal Augenstein: Thank you, Andy. Has it really been that long that you've been listening? It really sounded like it's been years and years and years- Andy Ockershausen: Well, it has been because I've been around a long time. I grew up in the radio and television business, but my love has always been radio. Voices are so important to me and so important to talent. You have an enormous talent and one of them is your voice. Neal Augenstein: Thank you.Andy Ockershausen: You know that. Jim Farley Made an Investment in Augenstein's Talent and the Rest is History Neal Augenstein: To be honest, it's actually a miracle that I'm even on the air. I spend so much time in my career having bosses tell me, "you don't belong on the radio." When I started here at TOP in 1997, I had a lisp, and I couldn't say the letters 'L' and I couldn't say the letter 'S'. One of the things that Jim Farley did before he would hire me full-time is he said, I'm going to send you to a voice coach." He sent me to Ann Utterback. Andy Ockershausen: I've heard that name. Neal Augenstein: ... who historically, she's a voice coach- Andy Ockershausen: You were probably fortunate that Farley recognized your talent, and then wanted to expand on it, rather than just let you go. He's an amazing man. Neal Augenstein: I was very lucky that he made ... I considered it an investment in me. I also worked for a couple of years with a speech pathologist who helped make it a little easier for me to say those 'S's' and 'L's'. Even to this day, I have to think about it when I say them, but thankfully, I guess I had other talents or other tools in story-telling that were able to compensate. Andy Ockershausen: I compliment you on the ability. I don't want to say story-telling so much as you sell what you're covering by emphasizing it. I noticed that and I appreciate it so much. I know your work and I know how busy you are, but you still sell that story. "Storytelling is just what we do." Neal Augenstein: Thank you. Really, story telling is just what we do. Reporters have to boil things down to make it so anybody can understand it. In fact, when I started in this business, or actually before I started in this business, I went to American University and got a degree in broadcast journalism. I realized that I really did not like politics. I thought to myself, "I must be in the wrong business." Andy Ockershausen: In the wrong city, that's for sure. Neal Augenstein: Certainly, in the wrong city. Eventually, when I got the chance to do some news, I thought to myself, "you really don't know very much about politics, and you're not that interested in it," but if I could figure out the simple things. If I could understand something, if I could ask enough questions so I could understand the concept, it will be something that I could pass along to the audience.
Joanne Alper, Retired Judge, 17th Judicial Circuit Court, Arlington, certified Mediator Supreme Court of Virginia, and trailblazer for women in the legal profession on private mediation in divorce cases ~
"But it's still more humane than throwing it all up in front of a judge who's a stranger. This way these people make their own decisions. So I've become a huge fan of the process."
Hon. Joanne Alper (Ret.), Trailblazer, and host Andy Ockershausen in studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen and this is Our Town. I have greatest, greatest news for you that has ... I hope you're regular listeners because you're gonna hear from a unique, wonderful, special individual and a very dear friend, who happens to be a sitting judge, but she doesn't sit any more because she's too busy now. But Joanne Alper is a legend in Northern Virginia legal cycle. Joanne Alper: Thank you. Andy Ockershausen: What do you think of that? Joanne Alper: Well, that's ... I never thought of myself as a legend. Andy Ockershausen: But you are. Think about it, Joanne. You're a trailblazer. Maybe it wasn't meant to be that way, but isn't that not the way it's happened? Trailblazing Joanne Alper: To some extent, yes. As a woman lawyer starting out in the mid-70s, it was like being a trailblazer. There were very few of us. You could probably count on the fingers of one and a half hands how many women there were. Andy Ockershausen: The only other female I ever knew in the law was Betty Thompson, who is a very dear friend of yours, I know. Joanne Alper: Yes. Yes. Brooklyn Born Andy Ockershausen: But you have a wonderful story about how you got started and we wanna hear that, but before that ... I didn't know you were born in Manhattan. Joanne Alper: Born in Brooklyn, actually. Andy Ockershausen: Oh, you were? But that's part of New York City, of course. Joanne Alper: Yes. Andy Ockershausen: A lot of people don't realize it. They think it's another world. But, Joanne, and your dad and mom are New Yorkers? Joanne Alper: That's right. Andy Ockershausen: And you're a native New Yorker? That's a great song, incidentally. Joanne Alper: I grew up in New York. I was a native New Yorker, but I've obviously lived a whole lot more of my life in Virginia than I ever lived in New York. Andy Ockershausen: Well, we consider that Virginia's . . . Our Town, you understand that, though? Joanne Alper: Yes. Andy Ockershausen: So even it's Arlington or Vienna, it's Our Town. And Joanne, you've lived that in Long Island with your parents. Joanne Alper: That's right. G.I. Bill Benefits, Baby Boomers, and Growing Up in Valley Stream Andy Ockershausen: Your dad was in WWII, correct? Joanne Alper: Yes. He was a veteran of World War II. Andy Ockershausen: So he probably got the G.I. Bill? Joanne Alper: That's right. Andy Ockershausen: When you think about it, you're too young. Janice in the military. She's too young. I lived through what the G.I. Bill meant to America. It was incredible. Joanne Alper: It was. My dad- Andy Ockershausen: It jump-started our country. Joanne Alper: My dad grew up, his parents were immigrants from Russia. Came over in 1912 or '13. He was born here. Some of his older siblings were born in Russia. But he, by getting the G.I. Bill and having the money, he could have gone to college, but he met my mother and wanted to get married. So he took the benefits he had after a few years of living ... When I was about three years old, they bought a house out on Long Island in a new development that everyone in the neighborhood were G.I.s who were doing the same thing. So we were all about the same age, all baby boomers, sort of growing up together. Andy Ockershausen: Very even, correct? I mean, the whole neighborhood and the environment was even. Joanne Alper: Exactly. It was amazing. In fact, as I said, we just had our 50th high school reunion two weeks ago, and just to see some of these people that I've know...
Bill Lord's underlying reason for writing, "50 Years After Vietnam: Lessons and Letters from the War I Hated Fighting"~
"I think a lot of us retired and thought, 'I've to get this off my chest.' Because remember, I got back from Vietnam on a Friday and started school again on the next Monday. I put it out of my mind. Honestly, I didn't talk about it much at all. Lots of people didn't even know I'd been to Vietnam."
Bill Lord, Author and Retired News Director at WUSA and WJLA, and host Andy Ockershausen in-studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen and this is Our Town. One of the great privileges we have in Our Town is to talk to a lot of people who've made a great impression on Our Town. May not have been natives, but they've been here long enough almost to be involved with natives. The gentleman with Bill Lord. Bill Lord wrote a book called "50 Years After Vietnam" and it's a fabulous book, I read an excerpt from it, and I want to talk to you about ... you started your war here at Channel 7, Bill and welcome to Our Town. Bill Lord - University of Washington Huskie Football Fan Bill Lord: Thank you, I'm happy to be here. Andy Ockershausen: Well, looking back at your career though, I see you're University of Washington, a Huskie. Bill Lord: I am a Huskie. As a matter of fact, an intense football fan even to this day. Andy Ockershausen: Most magnificent stadium in America, I think, is on a lake. Bill Lord: It is, it's beautiful. Andy Ockershausen: It's a fabulous place. Bill Lord: One of my old houses used to look across the lake into that stadium from a couple miles away, but it was a beautiful, beautiful place and I have only the fondest memories of it. Andy Ockershausen: Now they got to play Washington State though in the big game, I think it's two weeks coming up. Bill Lord: We always were pretty confident going into the Apple Cup. Andy Ockershausen: That was a gimme wasn't it? Bill Lord: But it's no more. They are really good. Washington State is really good and it's a crap shoot. I mean honestly, whoever wins that game goes to the championship game and I would not bet, as much as I love the Huskies, I wouldn't bet on them in this one. Andy Ockershausen: No, heard they'd probably play Stanford in the championship game. That's what it looks like now. Bill Lord: Yeah, yeah. Andy Ockershausen: Well Bill, you're from Seattle area or- Bill Lord: No, I grew up in the Seattle area. Andy Ockershausen: ... Seattle's Best. You are! Bill Lord: Thank you. No, it was a great place to grow up and we had nothing but great experiences there. The University of Washington was a wonderful place to go but once you get into the media, you move. Andy Ockershausen: How'd you get in it though? I mean, you started at KRIO? Bill Lord: No, I started in Medford, Oregon but honestly, I got- Andy Ockershausen: I know Medford, Oregon. Reporter for the University of Washington Daily Bill Lord: ... I got into it at the University of Washington because I was just back from Vietnam, I was in school, and I was looking for a way to kind of being involved in things. But we were so splintered in those days, if you think the nation is divided now, it was completely divided then. Andy Ockershausen: Absolutely, I lived through it, I know what you're saying Bill. Bill Lord: And I actually found, by working on the University of Washington Daily, that I could be involved in all of the events of the day without having to be the advocate for some radical cause. I think it was like I kind of found my calling there and you know, for the next 50 years I spent working in news rooms. Andy Ockershausen: You started as a writer with the- Bill Lord: Yeah, I started as a writer on that paper. Andy Ockershausen: ... street writer? I mean, you were a reporter? Bill Lord: Just regular old reporter. Andy Ockershausen: Slogging around the streets of Seattle? Bill Lord: Well we didn't do that much slogging around.
Steven Portnoy, CBS News Correspondent covering the White House, on WMAL's influence in Our Town while under host Andy O's direction~
"But it speaks to the influence that the radio station had in this marketplace. I mean this radio station was listened to inside the White House. Harden and Weaver were part of, I’m sure, Ronald Reagan’s morning."
Steven Portnoy - CBS News Correspondent and host Andy Ockershausen in studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town and I've been ordered to do a great intro for this man, but he doesn't need a great intro because he's a great broadcaster and a great radio guy and I'm so delighted that one of the WMAL graduates has made it big, big, big time is Steven Portnoy of ABC. That's the American Broadcasting Company, which is now Disney. Welcome to Our Town, Steve. Steven Portnoy: Thank you sir. It's good to be with you. I should amend that. I was with ABC for many years and now I'm with CBS. Andy Ockershausen: What? Steven Portnoy: So now I've worked for two networks. Andy Ockershausen: You dumped our network? We're still ABC people here. I don't know why, but we are. We go along with the flow of course, but Steven, you've had a great, great career both, while you were here and why you left here and now you're with CBS. But you can look back and think of the great days of WMAL because you were at the tail end of it, but you were here never the less. Steven Portnoy's Connection to WMAL and Other WMAL Alumni Steven Portnoy: Well, I feel like I was saying earlier to the lovely Janice here. I feel like I've come back to college because I spent my formative years in our business right here in these studios here at WMAL Radio. Actually, talking through these same Sennheiser microphones. But I was here for about three and a half years for WMAL Radio news department and then, made the move to ABC network news and was on this radio station still for another 11 years or so. So I have a pretty long connection with this station, and it is- Andy Ockershausen: You moved down to downtown with another WMAL graduate in charge of news. Janice Iacona Ockershausen: Robin Vierbuchen Sproul Andy Ockershausen: Robin Vierbuchen Sproul started right here in that news room right behind you. Steven Portnoy: Robin Vierbuchen Sproul. Charles Gibson also another- Andy Ockershausen: Oh yeah, Charlie. Steven Portnoy: ... very famous voice who rose through the ranks from WMAL to ABC News. Andy Ockershausen: Let me tell you how important I was. I'll fly in a red eye from Los Angeles and I needed somebody to give me a ride and pick me up. So the news director sent Charlie Gibson. Giving me a ride from the airport. He never forgot it. He loved it. He talks about it now and he remembers the good old days. People love to help each other. Steven Portnoy: Sure. Well, I mean, very famous names have passed through these halls. I mean, we can talk about the legends of WMAL radio. We just lost one, Bill Mayhugh in the last couple of weeks. Andy Ockershausen: I know, so sad. But Bill hadn't been well for a while and Shirley had died before him. But we were just talking with the chief of police at Montgomery County about Johnny Holliday. Another one of our guys out of this studio and working with Janice in the morning. They're still around, thank God. Steven Portnoy: Well, Harden and Weaver. We had Trumbull and Core. Big names. Janice mentioned that I came in sort of at the tail end of that epic era of WMAL Radio. Andy Ockershausen: Era, right. Portnoy Begins His Career at WMAL at the Tail End of Station's Epic Era | From General Mass Appeal to Narrow Interest Level Steven Portnoy: When I first joined,
Dave McConnell on women in politics ~
"They have gotten a raw deal in politics, in the Senate, in the House, for a long, long time and I'm glad to see things are changing."
Dave McConnell, Capitol Hill Reporter for WTOP and host Andy Ockershausen in studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: I'm Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town and I'm getting a wonderful, wonderful, opportunity to talk to an old friend. He's really not old but he's been around longer than I, almost as long as I have, Dave, which is pretty spectacular. Dave McConnell, the star of WTOP, the number one reporter on the Hill. You've been there longer than anybody. Dave McConnell: I probably have by now on the radio television side. I think there are a couple of print guys that have longer times in than me. Hill Reporting | Joe McCaffrey Andy Ockershausen: You have ingrained yourself so much into that Hill, and I have been a fan of yours since. Thank God you got that good WMAL training before you went out on the street and work with a lot of professionals. And all these years you work with a lot of pros. It helps you, David. Dave McConnell: It does. Andy Ockershausen: It keeps you on your toes. Dave McConnell: Absolutely. Andy Ockershausen: I'm sure you remember it was our friend, Joe McCaffrey. Dave McConnell: I do indeed. Andy Ockershausen: He got into the newspaper business and we lost track of him. I don't know. He died or whatever. He was down in Virginia somewhere. Dave McConnell: When I first came to the Hill I used to see Joe, yeah. He was still there. Eddie Gallagher | Mark Evans Andy Ockershausen: Yeah. Well, I think he got out of the army here and didn't leave. WTOP, one of my favorite sounds. I remember when it was WJSV. I remember the lineup was Eddie Gallagher. Who was following them? The morning man was, oh God. Well Eddie did that moonlight show. What was it called? Dreams or something? Dave McConnell: Well, there was- Andy Ockershausen: Mark Evans! Dave McConnell: Yeah, that's right. Mark Evans. Housewives protectively. Andy Ockershausen: HPL, right? Dave McConnell: Yeah. Andy Ockershausen: I was a CBS guy and I was at his funeral and had a chance to talk about him a little bit. Jim Gibbons, who had been working for us along with. But WTOP was such a powerhouse with that 1,500 signal and nobody could compete with that. Then FM came along. Then FM was made by WTOP-FM, by switching at FM station. They bought the station, right? Dave McConnell: Yes. Andy Ockershausen: WGMS. Dave McConnell: Our original FM station, we gave away to Howard University. Andy Ockershausen: And Mrs. Graham? Dave McConnell: Well, Katherine Graham, Larry Israel, was running the station then I'm thinking. Larry Israel | WTOP Went All News and WMAL Made Deal for Games Andy Ockershausen: Yeah. I was talking about Larry, paying him a compliment because I got to know Larry quite well because it was a small town then, Dave. Ain't that way anymore. Dave McConnell: No. Andy Ockershausen: You knew everybody, everybody knew you. Management, talent, whatever. We were all together, you know the hangouts were the same; the Dancing Crab, or Duke's Restaurant, or whatever it was. It doesn't exist anymore, the camaraderie. But Larry Israel called me one day and said that they were broadcasting Maryland football, and he said, this is like 1968-70, said, "We're going all news and I'm not gonna be able to do any more play-by-play because you can't do both. You can't be all news and do play-by-play." It was his theory. Dave McConnell: Mm-hmm (affirmative) Andy Ockershausen: And I supported that because he's right, you can't have a baseball game on and say you're doing all news. And he couldn't have a football game. So, he tipped us and we called over there and made a deal to take the games off of WTOP. And that's when people were close, I don't think that exists in radio anymore. Lot of competitiveness, but work together. Dave McConnell: Well, yeah,
Monsignor Salvatore Criscuolo, St. Patrick's Catholic Church Pastor and DC First Responders' Chaplain, on his experience at the historic church in Washington DC ~
"It's been an amazing experience and to this day, I have been there since 2004. I will work around in the church every so often by myself and I look around and I look after the heavens, and I say to the good Lord I still can't believe you put me in charge of this. So he has a great sense of humor. "
Reverend Monsignor A. Salvatore Criscuolo and host Andy Ockershausen in studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town and this is our first opportunity to talk to this gentleman on the air, and I'm so delighted, because the Reverend Monsignor Salvatore is today with us and he is the head man, I say the head man, the head priest from St. Patrick's. I think St. Patrick's could be the oldest Catholic church, is that correct? St. Patrick's Church - Washington DC Monsignor Salvatore Criscuolo: It is, Andy. It is the first church established in the federal city, goes back to 1794. Andy Ockershausen: It's just an incredible history of St. Pat's. Monsignor Salvatore Criscuolo: It is. Andy Ockershausen: It was a celebrity church too, for awhile. A lot of people got married there, but I guess they moved to new parishes and so forth, but I've known St. Pat's ... I'm from Northeast Washington. My grandfather was here, he was a baker. I never knew him, but someplace at 5th and G, and I think his parish might have been St. Patrick. Monsignor Salvatore Criscuolo: 5th and G, it probably would have. Andy Ockershausen: That's close, isn't it? Monsignor Salvatore Criscuolo: Very, very close. Andy Ockershausen: There wasn't a lot downtown in those days, and there wasn't much to downtown. But Sal, we're so delighted to have you and to talk to you. In addition to your work with the clergy. You are the chaplain for the police and fire departments of the greatest city in the world, Our Town, Washington, DC. Monsignor Salvatore Criscuolo - Chaplain to DC's First Responders Monsignor Salvatore Criscuolo: I am. I've been very blessed for the last 32 years to serve the First Responders in the District of Columbia, as well as some of the federal agencies that are here. Andy Ockershausen: Do you do work, any county work? Do you help out if they need you? Monsignor Salvatore Criscuolo: I don't do anything in the county. There's enough going on in Our Town. But I work with Metropolitan Police, is when I first came on, back in 1986 as their chaplain and then it's expanded over the years where I work with Capital Police, the Park Police, Secret Service, do some work with ATF, Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Andy Ockershausen: You've got a lot of people depending on you in bad times. Because that's when they call for you mostly, in bad times, correct? Monsignor Salvatore Criscuolo: Well, thank God, they don't only call in bad times. They call- Andy Ockershausen: I know that. You're an entertainer, I know that. Monsignor Salvatore Criscuolo: ... when there's graduations and when there are promotions. They also call when they want to get married, they call when they want to have their children baptized. So it's a parish, it's just it's a unique parish. Andy Ockershausen: The whole departments are your parish. Monsignor Salvatore Criscuolo: Right, right. Andy Ockershausen: And the same thing with the Fire and Rescue people? Ordained in 1978 and Assigned to Our Lady of Sorrows, Takoma Park, MD Monsignor Salvatore Criscuolo: Correct, yeah. So it's an amazing ministry that when I was ordained back in 1978, never thought that I would be doing this kind of ministry. In my first assignment in Takoma Park, the volunteer fire department in Takoma asked me if I would come and be a chaplain to their fire department. Andy Ockershausen: Did you have a parish out there? Monsignor Salvatore Criscuolo: I did. I was brand-new,
Chief Manger responds to comments about his demeanor and personality ~
"I tell this to the community all the time, that when we hire cops, we're looking for people that are good communicators. And have a spirit for public service. I will tell you that any empathy or compassion that I have, I got from my parents. And I credit my mom for a lot of the way I am and the way I approach situations, and the way I approach people."
Chief Manger, Chief of Police, Montgomery County MD, and host Andy Ockershausen in studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Our Town. This is Andy Ockershausen. And as I have the great, great honor to talk to a gentleman that I've admired from afar for many, many years. Chief J. Thomas Manger of Montgomery County. And the first question, Chief, is what does the J stand for? Family Legacy Chief Manger: It stands for John. I'm actually named after my dad, and I'm very proud of that. Andy Ockershausen: You're a junior? Chief Manger: Actually I'm the third. So, named after my father and grandfather, and I have even saddled my son with the same name. Andy Ockershausen: But you were born ... You went to the University of Maryland, were you born in Maryland? Growing Up in Maryland - Baltimore and Silver Spring Chief Manger: I was born in Baltimore. Andy Ockershausen: Oh, in the city? Chief Manger: Yes, I was. And grew up in Baltimore City until I was 14. And my dad got a job with the federal government, and then that landed us in Silver Spring. Andy Ockershausen: And then how did you ... Well, I don't wanna ask ... I'll get to that, but you eventually came back to Maryland, but you went across the river to Fairfax. Chief Manger: I did. Andy Ockershausen: Opportunity? From Maryland to Virginia - A Career Opportunity Chief Manger: It was. I ... When I graduated from the University of Maryland, I applied to every police department in the Baltimore and the Washington, DC region. And when ... I was actually going through the process for a number of different police departments. And Fairfax County just happened to hire me first. They called me and offered me a job, and I said okay. I actually had never been to Fairfax before I went there to take the test. But made a 27 year detour to northern Virginia. Andy Ockershausen: That's incredible, but I guess your Virginia experience was ... Did you a lot more good in Maryland than you realized at the time. But- Chief Manger: Well, I did okay. Andy Ockershausen: You were a cop then. Chief Manger: I was. Andy Ockershausen: On the beat. A Cop on the Beat in Fairfax, VA Chief Manger: I was. And spent a lot of time getting to know the folks in the community over in different areas in Fairfax. I worked almost every district station in the county. And then was able to come up through the ranks and in 1998 was appointed the police chief there. Andy Ockershausen: That's incredible. What a career. And that's in northern Virginia of course. And you then knew all the other jurisdictions and so forth, but what made you decide to go to Montgomery County? Back to Maryland - A New Opportunity in Montgomery County, MD Chief Manger: Yeah, I think it was again, it was just an opportunity. I mean, I was eligible to retire from Fairfax after I had 29 years service credit. And so, I loved the DC area, and I was working with Chuck Ramsey and a lot of folks that people would certainly recognize their names. And so, I had no desire to leave this area. It's where my family was, my parents were here. And- Andy Ockershausen: It's your home! Chief Manger: It was. And is. And so, I thought, gee I can go to another job that I would enjoy and only have to move 20 minutes away from where I was living. So, it worked out very nicely. Andy Ockershausen: Well,
Tycely Williams, President of Junior League Washington, discusses her comfort level in connecting with people ~
"Growing up in the deep south, we spent lots of times on a porch and there wasn't television or radio. You were encouraged to connect person to person and there was oral history and the elders who would recount stories in comical ways. Things were animated and it was just lovely and lively, like our exchange has been today. So I just grew up in a culture that created that type of environment and as a result, I just feel very comfortable connecting with people."
Tycely Williams, Development Consultant to Non-Profits and host Andy Ockershausen in studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town, and I am so excited to be here at this time in this place with this lovely lady. I'm gonna tell you about it, but this is so special to me and to Our Town. I met Tycely, and Tycely is a combination of Cicely and Tyson. And I love it. I was introduced to her by a story I saw in the Washington Business Journal. I give them credits, and I was so impressed with this young lady, with her face and her demeanor and the fact that she was working for an organization I've heard of all my life, had no idea what they were doing. But I knew about Georgetown 'cause that's where our offices are. So I walked down the street and walked in this building, and said, "I'm here to see the new head of the Junior League of Washington, Tycely is the one." And Tycely Williams, welcome to Our Town. Tycely Williams: Andy, thank you for having me, and thanks for the kind words. That really means a lot. Andy Ockershausen: Well, you know, seriously, that's how I discovered you and how important ... I had no idea what the Junior League was doing. Tycely Williams: Yes. Andy Ockershausen: I think I've talked to you about that. My image of Junior League goes back 50, 60 years, but I thought it was a very, very volatile group of lovely women that met at the Mayflower and had teas. And they had a lot of involvement in the city. I knew that, and I knew about the building in Georgetown. Tycely Williams: Yes. Andy Ockershausen: And to be in Georgetown, I think, is a coup. Tycely Williams: Yes, it's fantastic. Andy Ockershausen: And to find out the Junior League is down the street from our office is opened the door for me, and I found out a lot about you by doing that. I'm so delighted that you are Junior League. First African-American President of The Junior League of Washington Tycely Williams: Aww, Andy, thanks so much. It's been a great opportunity to lead the organization. I'm learning a lot, and I'm having the opportunity to connect with people within Our Town that are doing great works. So it's just a really exciting time to lead an organization that's focused on volunteerism and developing the potential of women because that's who we are, and that's what we do. Andy Ockershausen: It's more important every day, Tycely, and what I discovered about you is that you were the first woman, or female, or girl of color to head this organization. And I am so delighted for them to have you because I know what you bring to it. Tycely Williams: Oh, Andy, thank you. That means- Andy Ockershausen: You bring a difference, and differences are important. I really believe that. Diversity Exists Within The Junior League in Various Forms Tycely Williams: Absolutely. The organization is celebrating 106 years of service this year, and we are all collectively excited about the opportunity to have a woman of color leading the organization. Like you said, diversity exists in various forms. So also within the Junior League, we have women of all ages. Andy Ockershausen: I know that - that's amazing. Tycely Williams: So you referenced- Andy Ockershausen: That's amazing. Tycely Williams: Yeah. So you referenced earlier that you've known of the Junior League of Washington for quite some time. Andy Ockershausen: Forever.
Fred Smoot on the beauty of star gazing~
"It's so free. All you got to do is get away from some lights. So you've got to get out of the city a little bit to really gaze ... and look up. And it's free. It's free. People don't understand the best things in life are free."
Fred Smoot, Inimitable with host Andy Ockershausen in studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen and this is Our Town and I'm absolutely, positively say this all the time but I'm so delighted to have, to talk with someone that really needs no introduction to people who've been aware of what goes on this world. But, I've known this gentleman for at least 10 to 15 years. We have been talking about it to Comcast SportsNet about doing a TV show. We never got around to it but Fred Smoot, you are a hoot and I am so delighted for this industry that you've decided to do some radio work. Fred Smoot - Life's Philosophy Fred Smoot: Oh most definitely. I love to talk. I've never met a mic I didn't like. This thing about me, I love to conversate with people and I was saying earlier that I'm an only child so when I do get around people I got good energy and I like to talk. I like to converse. I never met a stranger in my life. Andy Ockershausen: Fred it's so ... Because when you put it out people give it back to you. Fred Smoot: That's what I ... I'm one of those people, I really believe in good energy. If you come around with good energy, keep a smile on your face, you can change the way somebody's day is going. You can make them feel better. And we ain't on this earth long so every day that I get up I'm smiling. I'm having fun. Andy Ockershausen: Besides being a philosopher, which you are, you have a tremendous sense of humor. I've listened to you do some of your radio shows and it comes through. Fred, you're a different person. You're not a dumb football player. You're not even a football player anymore. You're one of us. Fred Smoot: I'm a person and I like to talk to people. That's what entertainment is. It's communicating with people. It's showing common ground and the one thing that brings us all together, that's colorless is sports. There's two things that does this, sports and music. It brings us all together, no matter what, so when we talk and have a common ground yes, I want to talk about sports most of the time but I also want to talk about people and I want to see how they're feeling. Andy Ockershausen: That's what I'm so impressed with you, what you do on the air. I've heard you on Sports Talk. But one of the things we do with this little bit of podcast that we put together is finding out and talking to people away from whatever it is. I'm not interested in Smoot football. That's on the record somewhere. Fred Smoot: You want to know the real Fred Smoot. Andy Ockershausen: I'm meant the Smoot that grew up in Mississippi. Fred Smoot: Collard green cooking for you Smoot. Andy Ockershausen: Church's Chicken. Fred Smoot: Oh you know it. That's down south right there. You got to go down south to Church's Chicken though. Andy Ockershausen: But there's so much to you Fred. You grew up in Jackson. That's a pretty good sized town in Mississippi. Growing Up in Jackson, MS Fred Smoot: Well, it's the capital city. It's a city that goes through it's ups and downs. Things could be a lot better there. It's a city that you would love the people and the food's so good Andy O. You know you're going to get diabetes and you still going to eat the food Andy O. Andy Ockershausen: That's an attitude. But Jackson, Mississippi means a lot to a lot of people and you went to Provine. Provine High School - Pro Sports Factory Fred Smoot: Yes sir, we are the football factory of the city. I was lucky to play with three or four more pros on my team alone. Good at football, good in basketball. We got a couple of Olympians. We put out a lot of athletes at Provine. Andy Ockershausen: Were you a good student also?
Chris Isleib on why the United States entered WWI and the tremendous sacrifice of American lives ~
" ... democracy was under very real threat and America joined in, in order to help save democracy, in order to keep them from that threat, and also to just end this fighting. They did so successfully, but enormous human cost. Americans lost 116,516 men and woman."
Chris Isleib - Director of Public Affairs - United States WWI Centennial Commission in studio interview with host Andy Ockershausen
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town. Because of my relationship with history, I'm so, so excited to have someone who is connecting this generation, or these generations, to something that's sort of lost in our life, and that's WWI. I'm so delighted to introduce Chris Isleib. Did I do that right, Chris? Chris Isleib: Perfect pronunciation. Thank you. Andy Ockershausen: Chris, as a man, I don't know his complete title, but as far as I'm concerned he is Mr. WWI, to do this publicity and to do the PR, and to get this community turned on to what's happening. This year is a big year. It's 100th anniversary of WWI. United States World War I Centennial Commission Chris Isleib: Thank you for your generous words. I'm part of a team. We have a WWI Centennial Commission, which was created by Congress in 2013. It consists of 12 appointed Commissioners, and they're appointed by the President of the United States, by the Senate, and the House members as well as by ... there's one each from the American Legion and from the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Andy Ockershausen: By getting into one of our military academies, then right? You have to have an appointment. Chris Isleib: Yes, sir. Andy Ockershausen: Do you have any Congressmen or Senators on the commission, or are they all outsiders? Chris Isleib: No, these are all people who have demonstrated history in working with Veterans Affairs, Cultural Affairs, or Historical or Military Affairs. Andy Ockershausen: Being a Washingtonian and having a picture of my father in his WWI, they must be ... I guess they were called fatigues at the time, because he didn't do anything. He wasn't in the Army. He ended up in the Navy. It made me aware of WWI and the fact is, that it's sort of forgotten in Our Town and it's forgotten in our society. That's a shame. WWI in the Shadows of WWII Chris Isleib: It's not entirely forgotten, luckily. There's starting to be a ground swell. We've been doing a lot of outreach to try and turn that. However, for the longest time WWI just wasn't talked about. It was always in the shadow of WWII, and that's for a couple of reasons. Historians tell us that the veterans, when they came back, it was such an awful war that they didn't talk about it that much at the time. The other thing was for Americans especially, the narrative is complicating and very cloudy. Unlike WWII, which started with the bombing of Pearl Harbor and this awful- Andy Ockershausen: A shock. It started definitely with a shock. Chris Isleib: And similarly ended with a shock. Unfortunately, WWI it started with some disgruntled Serbian guy, and many people can't find Serbia on a map, assassinating a crowned prince of Austria and the next thing you know Australia is invading Turkey. So it's just like this, "What just happened here?" moment. On the other end of the narrative, at the end of the war, there was a huge amount of fighting, a huge amount of death, a huge amount of loss, and then they just voted to not do it anymore and it became not even really a Peace but an Armistice. Andy Ockershausen: Yeah, they got it over. That's right. It wasn't Peace, an Armistice. Chris Isleib: Yeah. Andy Ockershausen: Both said said, "We've got to get this thing over." Enormous Loss Suffered in WWI Chris Isleib: Yeah. And it was after an enormous, enormous loss. I'm not a historian, but so many countries lost so many people. I read a statistic while I was in France this p...
Robin Ficker on how his engineering degree from Case-Western Reserve prepared him for his recent meeting with Amazon HQ1 in his capacity as 2018 Candidate for County Executive in Montgomery County, Maryland ~
"You had to be an engineer, a scientist, but I learned a lot there. And that's why I was really happy to take some of that knowledge with me when I went out to Seattle a couple weeks ago to talk to the guys that work for Amazon HQ1, to learn about that because we want to bring Amazon here, to Montgomery County." ~Robin Ficker "
Robin Ficker - Legendary Attorney and Political Activisit, in studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen and this is Our Town. And this is our 4th Season of this podcast, which has been a great, great thing for the marketplace, I'll tell you that 'cause a lot of people have appeared with us talked about things people did not know about before. We're so delighted today to give, to have a meeting and a discussion with a man who's got the most famous name, I think, in Northwest Washington and Montgomery County and he's a legend and he's everything you've heard about and plus more. And it's Robin Ficker. Welcome to Our Town, Robin. Robin Ficker: Thank you very much Andy. I'm almost as well known as you are. Andy Ockershausen: Yeah, well don't forget I had Harden and Weaver. And you got stuck with me. But they were our powerhouse guys, as you know. So Robin, tell me, I didn't know about Robin Ficker background. Were you born in Maryland? Robin Ficker on Growing Up in Our Town Robin Ficker: I was born in Maryland. My dad was a Rhodes Scholar. He worked in the Library of Congress for 40 years in the Congressional Research Service. It was very interesting because he would bring me home the Congressional Record in addition to the six books a week that I had to read. But in the Congressional Record, he would show me a speech given by a Senator and then say he'd written the speech. Then he would show me in the same Congressional Record another speech on the opposite side of the same subject given by another Senator and he had written that speech too. Andy Ockershausen: Is that unusual today? Robin Ficker: I think so. Andy Ockershausen: I think you're probably right. Robin Ficker: Yes. Andy Ockershausen: Statesmen were statesmen then, but the world has changed. Robin Ficker: Yes. Andy Ockershausen: But Robin Ficker, you went to school in suburban, where were you, Frederick? Robin Ficker: No, I graduated from Montgomery Blair High School. Andy Ockershausen: Oh did you? Robin Ficker: Yes, which and ... We won the State Championship in everything but chess and that's, we didn't win in chess because we didn't have a chess team. Andy Ockershausen: Let me tell you, when I grew up it was just Blair High School. Montgomery was added later. I can tell you that. Robin Ficker: Yes. Andy Ockershausen: So that let you know it was in Montgomery county of course. Robin Ficker: They built that new gym right there on Wayne Avenue and they'd leave the very top window open and we'd climb up and get in there and play basketball. Andy Ockershausen: Many times I did that at Eastern High School in Washington, going in the top, getting into school and getting down the steps. But Robin, you grew up in suburban Maryland. You're really close to our city, our town. But you left our town to go to college for a while, did you not? U.S. Military Academy, Vietnam and Tragic Loss Robin Ficker: Yes, I went to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. I was the second youngest in my class there and I remember thinking, wow, we're gonna get a lot to eat when we're there in the Army. And for our first meal we had to sit up attention and cut our peas, each one into four pieces. And I left that lunch quite hungry because I hadn't eaten breakfast in anticipation of having a big lunch. Andy Ockershausen: Robin, they do things differently at the Academy, both of them.
Gary Cohen, WRAP Chairman, on drinking responsibly~ "Let's just do it and have a plan. The world has changed. When I have a party at my house ... my neighbors walk, but my friends, they'll take an Uber or a Lyft because they want to have a few cocktails at my house and they want to get home safe . . . it's the right thing to do and I do it myself as well."
Gary Cohen, WRAP Chairman and Restaurateur in studio with host Andy Ockershausen
Andy Ockershausen: This is Our Town. This is Andy Ockershausen with a wonderful, wonderful opportunity to me to talk to a man that I've envied from distance because I didn't know what he was doing until recently, but in reading his resume, I found out so much. Gary Cohen, welcome to Our Town. Gary Cohen: It is my pleasure to be here, thank you for the invitation. Andy Ockershausen: What a background, all you've done, right? Say all these restaurants, but we want to find out about you. You grew up in Long Island. Are you a native? Were you born in the Island? From New York to Northern Virginia Gary Cohen: I was born on Long Island in Glencove Hospital. I grew up in a town called Plainview. Andy Ockershausen: I know Glencove. Gary Cohen: I grew up there until I went away to college, upstate New York in 1979, SUNY at Oneonta. Andy Ockershausen: Yeah, what is that, an Indian name? Gary Cohen: It's an Indian name. It's a small college somewhere between Binghamton and Albany and I got my degree- Andy Ockershausen: Otesaga, I know. I've been to Cooperstown, of course. Gary Cohen: Yeah, it's very close to Cooperstown. I still go back to visit ... Every couple of years I go to Cooperstown, see the Hall of Fame and I stop back at my college town. It's not quite the same anymore, but it was a great experience there. Andy Ockershausen: Cooperstown, I think is wonderful. For our young people and I hope everybody can visit because I know you're a baseball fan and that didn't bring you to Washington, but you moved to Virginia in August of what, 1979? Gary Cohen: That's correct. Andy Ockershausen: Why would you leave SUNY and come to Northern Virginia? Gary Cohen: I got my first my first job experience, my first job offer, excuse me, from the Marriott Corporation. They ran a group of restaurants down here. Some of you that have been around a long time might remember them, Joshua Tree and Phineas Prime Rib and some of those old restaurants. I joined them out of college and it's a funny story when I joined them. People said to me, "Why do you want to move to Washington? You've never left Long Island in your life?" I said to them- Andy Ockershausen: Yeah, that is strange. Gary Cohen: I said to them, "I don't want to spend my life on 495, the Long Island Expressway," so I come down here and now I spend my life on 495 the Beltway. Andy Ockershausen: Well, you picked the right people to go to work with because they are farsighted and they were growing. That's part of Our Town is Marriott, of course. Gary Cohen: Sure. Andy Ockershausen: The children were born here. The family was here. I knew Mr. Marriott through a lot of charity work that we did with him and he was a fine man. A Start with Marriott - The Joshua Tree Gary Cohen: In those days, they were trying to diversify and they had their hotel division. They had what they called their "dinner house restaurant division." I worked. I was by the dinner house restaurant division. It was run by a separate group of people, but the Marriotts because first job they lived in the Marriott … My first job was at Joshua Tree in McLean. I ran the kitchen there and Mr. Marriott lived down the street for a while there,
Janice Ockershausen, and host Andy Ockershausen, on scheduling Joe Theismann as a guest~ "And don't forget, speaking of Charles, we've had Charles Mann, we've had Shawn Springs, we've had Mark Moseley. We're hoping to get Joe Theismann so if anybody knows Joe Theismann and can get us Joe Theismann for Season 4 that'd be much appreciated."
Janice Ockershausen, with host Andy Ockershausen, in studio Our Town DC Podcast
How and Why Our Town? Andy Ockershausen: This is Our Town, this is Andy Ockershausen. I think back to that wonderful, beautiful summer day we were driving down to Rehoboth Delaware to visit some very dear friends for a weekend and Janice said to me, "Honey we're losing touch and we're losing track of a lot of good things going on. Why don't we do a podcast about Washington?" I said, "What is a podcast?" That was the first time, Ken, I ever heard that word, podcast. I know it had been in our vocabulary somewhere, but I hadn't paid attention to it. Janice started me thinking and made my life, we have really established something that I never thought possible and that was we started all over again. Radio without a transmitter. Janice Ockershausen: We liked the idea of the intimate one on one conversation between two friends, whether it's at a bar or over dinner that you haven't seen somebody in a while. So that concept of sharing a relationship with either people you know or people you used to know or people you want to come to know. Andy Ockershausen: Well the thing that made it so possible was your ingenuity in planning this and planning WMAL in the picture. But because of my years in the business and because of all the people I've come in contact with it was easy for me to talk to people because I knew so much about them, maybe things they didn't think that we knew about, but we knew about. The other side of it is they were comfortable with it because they knew who I am and who I was and who I am now is you. Janice Ockershausen: Well a lot of the people that we talked to over Season 1, Season 2, and Season 3 we've had relationships with. You've lived through the news stories with people. We had Maurice Cullinane on in Season 1. You lived through the ... It was just the 50th anniversary of the Resurrection City and the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.. Andy Ockershausen: Well and being part of what happened and the shooting at the Blair House because of WMAL, way back where I was fortunate enough to start at WMAL and live through all of these things and all these talented people. People in the audience would come and say, oh I know your name because I hear it, I hear it on Harden and Weaver. I hear it on Trumbull and Core. Occasionally Ken Beatrice will talk about you. I hear you during the Redskin games, they drop your name in. So, I was known as WMAL without being a performer. WMAL Always a Breaking News Channel Janice Ockershausen: Still to this day people come up to you and say, "What's going on with WMAL?" It's been what? 30 some years. Andy Ockershausen: Who was it that was just asking me the other day? He said, you're the radio guy? I said yeah. He said, I used to- Janice Ockershausen: That was your doctor. Andy Ockershausen: Yeah and I said, this is my wife Janice Iacona. He said, oh I know that name. I remember listening to Harden and Weaver talk about Janice. I mean this was out of the blue. Janice Ockershausen: Right. I guess the biggest compliment I ever had being the producer for the Harden and Weaver show was an operator, I was calling 411 for information. Or somebody was calling to find out, getting my phone number and they said, "Oh you mean Janice Iacona? The one that works for Harden and Weaver?" So that was the C&P operator I think that it was. So that was my biggest- Andy Ockershausen: That wasn't about the Air Florida crash was it? Janice Ockershausen: No the Air Florida crash was something we both lived through. Andy Ockershausen: Right.
Burt Cohen on what happened 30 years after his experience with Charles Gibson of ABC News after Gibson's first on air newscast at WMAL ~
"I just thought of a funny story, there was a young newsman, came and did his first newscast on the air, he finished up and I said, 'Man, you better find another line of work, you're never going to amount to anything in this business.' 30 years later, my retirement party, I get an email,'Dear Burt, thank you for your advice, I'm glad I didn't listen to you. Good luck on your retirement. Charles Gibson, ABC News.'"
Burt Cohen - Retired, WMAL Engineer and The Duke of Derwood and Andy Ockershausen in-studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen, this is Our Town. And I'm so delighted that the producer and executive producer and the money person behind Our Town, is going to take over this show and I'm going to sit here and listen to her. So, Janice Ockershausen its all yours. Janice Iacona Ockershausen: Thank you honey. Today we are recording the final episode of Our Town, Season Three. Andy Ockershausen: Save the best for last. Rounding Out Season Three - Our Town Janice Iacona Ockershausen: That's right, that's exactly right. We interviewed over 160 guests over the last three seasons. So, I said, "We've got to get this guy because he's going to really round out, bring it full circle, gotta round out our Season Three podcast." Andy Ockershausen: He's been around too. Janice Iacona Ockershausen: He has been around. Preparing for this interview today, it brought back so many memories, I was up at 3:00 in the morning thinking and laughing to myself about how great this interview was going to be. That nostalgia is really good and it's good for the soul. I was really up for this interview today. Without further adieu, he's a great guy, his wife, we've known as friends for so many years, Andy Ockershausen: Forever! You think of one you think of the other. Janice Iacona Ockershausen: That's right, he hasn't worked at WMAL for the past 14 years, but he was such an instrumental part of our product. His name is Burt Cohen, often referred to as the Duke of Derwood. He's a good friend and we're so glad to see you back Burt for a little while from Florida, as a snowbird. We welcome you back to your studio. Burt Cohen That's right. Janice Iacona Ockershausen: At WMAL. Ken, Burt Cohen, Burt Cohen, Ken Hunter. Ken Hunter: I've been waiting for the introduction. Burt, hey Burt. Andy Ockershausen: When he started with this Derwood, so many people had no idea where Derwood was. I know that for a fact. The Duke of Derwood Burt Cohen Do you know where the Duke of Derwood came from? Janice Iacona Ockershausen: No. Burt Cohen Whenever Trumbull and Core would end their show at 7:00 they would thank me and put in a little soundtrack of some funny things. They wanted to thank the Dude from Derwood. One day, we're sitting out in the kitchen eating lunch. The Lunch Bunch Andy Ockershausen: The lunch bunch. Burt Cohen Yeah. The lunch bunch. Janice Iacona Ockershausen: Yeah, that's right. Burt Cohen Had the house monitor on and a song comes on, "Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl..." "Trumbull say's, that's it! The Duke of Derwood." Janice Iacona Ockershausen: Oh that's great, at the lunch bunch. I think I was probably there that day. Andy Ockershausen: Yeah, that was a big part of the history of WMAL, was the lunch bunch. I was not privy to be part of it. Janice Iacona Ockershausen: You bought pizza every once in a while though. Andy Ockershausen: Yes occasionally, particularly on snowy days, I'd buy pizza for the group. They were low lifes, I didn't want to spend time with them. They were talent and engineers and news people, I wanted to spend my time with leaders. Burt Cohen (laughing) Andy Ockershausen: So, I couldn't find a leader. So I spent my time at Alfios. Janice Iacona Ockershausen: We just spent the last couple of minutes with Ken, playing some bloopers,
Tom Buckley on what to do with broadcast "stuff" that you find but can't identify, or don't know what to do with ~
"You would contact me, my email is eyeondc@gmail.com. Most of the material we get are from talents, sons and daughters, people around in the business. They have stuff maybe in the closet. 'I don't know what this is.' . . . A lot of that. There's people, there's stuff all around."
Tom Buckley - EyeOnDC and Broadcast History Buff in studio with host Andy Ockershausen
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town. I have an opportunity to talk to a man that knows more about radio and TV than I do, which is spectacular because I've been around a lot longer. Tom Buckley: That's a stretch. Andy Ockershausen: He and I both share that ability to remember things. Tom Buckley, welcome to Our Town. I'm so pleased that you and I can chat about what has been our lives, this Washington Broadcast. Tom Buckley: Thanks. Happy to be here Andy. I know when Andy called, I was thrilled to be on the show, because when Andy calls, you can't say no. You have to be here and hopefully share some knowledge and get some other sources. People that hear this, because we're always looking for new material, and that's the thing. It's the hunt to find this stuff. Andy Ockershausen: Always. Video Tape in Broadcasting | Allen B. DuMont (WABD) and Thomas T. Goldsmith (WTTG) Tom Buckley: Julian Barber. You remember Julian Barber? Andy Ockershausen: Oh yes. Tom Buckley: Julian Barber who was the lead anchorman at Channel 9 in the 60s. His son called me out of the blue. He had all kinds of two-inch video tapes that he made. At his own expense, had them digitized. They were just terrific. Andy Ockershausen: Julian Barber was a great anchor, great anchor on Channel 9. Tom Buckley: We've got a show called City Side, which was a public affairs show and a half hour show with Wright Patman, a congressman from Texas. There's two Channel 4 seven o'clock newses from 1971, which were really a hoot. Andy Ockershausen: Where do you have them, on video tape? Tom Buckley: No. Video tape now, we just have them on MP4s. Andy Ockershausen: I got it. I don't know what that is, but ... Tom Buckley: Two-inch video tape, because we're racing the clock. There's very few places that you could actually get transferred anymore. It costs several hundred bucks an hour to get that done. Andy Ockershausen: That video tape was bought by Chuck Percy. Chuck Percy worked with a big video company. Did you know that, in California? Then he became a US Congressman. His daughter married money. Married a Rockefeller. We get video tape very late at Channel 7 because the boss that we had at the time said, "We're not going to buy it yet until we find out if this thing as perfected is going to work." It's a true story. They eventually did it, but he was convinced. He was right. There's going to be something better than video tape, but it took forever to get it. That's what Ken is doing now. There's no tape here as you can see. Tom Buckley: Right, it just goes on servers. There's no tape. The first tape machine, as far as we know in Washington, was Channel 5. Andy Ockershausen: Oh yeah . . . Then it was an engineering guy, right? They were WTTG men, Tom somebody. Tom Buckley: Thomas T. Goldsmith who was the R & D Andy Ockershausen: The engineer, right? Tom Buckley: Our engineer ... Andy Ockershausen: A technician. Tom Buckley: ... in charge of research and development for DuMont, for when DuMont started, it was WABD in New York, which was Allen B. DuMont and WTTG in Washington, which was Thomas T. Goldsmith. They named it after him, the R&D guy. He was very . . . Andy Ockershausen: . . . engineering oriented organization, correct? Tom Buckley: Right. I've got a picture of that thing being loaded off the truck and it's Milt Grant, Ms. Connie, I think Captain Tugg and everybody is, "Hey, we got a video tape machine.
Larry O'Connor on reaching out to Andrew Breitbart to join his new website~
"And I reached out to him and said, 'Listen, I'm not in TV or film, I'm in theater but I'm conservative and I have stories to tell,' and he immediately responded and said, 'Let's see what you can write,' and I did some writing for him and he published me right at the beginning . . . and then I started doing this live stream radio show on the internet that was on the Breitbart sites and that got a lot of attention and I ended up getting a lot of high profile guests on my show."
Larry O'Connor - Talk Radio Host - 105.9 FM & AM 630 WMAL with Andy Ockershausen in studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen and this is Our Town, and we have a unique opportunity today to talk to a unique individual because he works at this radio station where we're doing our recording. In fact, he is the radio station. Larry O'Connor, a man- Larry O’Connor: Yeah, everybody was waiting to go, "Oh, my God. They got Chris Plante." Andy Ockershausen: -who knows it all. Larry O’Connor: This is great." Andy Ockershausen: Oakie. I love that name. Oakie and Ockee. We could do a show. Larry O’Connor: You gave me permission to call you Ockee. Will you forgive me for a minute, Andy, because honestly, this is going to be so weird for me because, you know, I usually ask the questions? Andy Ockershausen: I know. Larry O’Connor: Let's face it. You're a much more fascinating person that I am. While we're doing this, I might end up asking you questions. Andy Ockershausen: Well, ask anything you want, I don't have to answer. Larry O’Connor: Well, where'd you get that sweater because that is a really cool sweater vest. Andy Ockershausen: Isn't that nice? I don't know where I got it, it's an old sweater, but I'm an old sweater to because I perspire. But I'm working on it. Larry O'Connor, Oakie. What a career you have had, when I read your resume, I am stunned that you've done so much and you're still a young man. Larry O’Connor: Well, thanks. Andy Ockershausen: And so you must owe a lot of money or people owe you a lot of money because you've had a lot of jobs. Larry O’Connor: Exactly. Andy Ockershausen: But Detroit, Michigan is a long way from southern California. From Detroit, Michigan to Southern California Larry O’Connor: It is, and thank God for the internet, I still have brothers in Michigan and they get to listen all the time and- Andy Ockershausen: It's still snowing there, you know that? Larry O’Connor: It is, yes, I believe the Tigers' game will be snowed out on July fourth. Everybody says, "Oh, of course, you moved out of Detroit because of all the violence and the poverty and the economy," no, it's the weather. It's absolutely the weather, that's the only reason to get out of that place, because Michigan's cool. Andy Ockershausen: Corona del Mar. Larry O’Connor: Yeah, Corona del Mar, this beautiful subdivision in Newport Beach, California, what shift. Imagine being in the Detroit suburbs, Andy, in the eighties and then suddenly I wake up the next morning and I'm going to school at the beach at Corona del Mar high school, it was amazing. Andy Ockershausen: You're walking by the Balboa Bay Club everyday, you've got access to the slot. Larry O’Connor: Yeah. Andy Ockershausen: We have a very dear friend that we lost last year, died, he lived in Newport Beach and he was, John Kluge's partner with MetroMedia. John Kluge - The Shubert Organization and MetroMedia Larry O’Connor: MetroMedia, yeah. He was on the board of the company I ended up working with, The Shubert Organization. Andy Ockershausen: Bob Bennett was? Larry O’Connor: No, Kluge was, on the board of the Shubert Organization which owns all the Broadway theaters. Andy Ockershausen: Kluge somehow, he was a food broker here in Washington. Larry O’Connor: What's that how? Andy Ockershausen: And a friend of his, said there was a station available here so they talked J...
Bob Levey on Katharine Graham ~
"If you look back at what Katharine Graham accomplished, it is really, as the kids say, awesome. She built a Fortune 500 company centered around this newspaper. She made it profitable. I ate breakfast today, thanks to Katharine Graham, and the profit sharing plan that she put into place. Thank you, Mrs. Graham."
Bob Levey, Washington Post Columnist, Retired and National Champion Bridge Player with Andy Ockershausen in studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town. I keep saying this from time to time, but I mean it. This is very special to me, and for Our Town, to have Bob Levey come back to WMAL, where he starred for years and years in radio, but also everything else he did. Bob is an icon in Our Town, of a man that's been around for a long time, and is still active. I'm so very delighted for us to have this chance to talk about what you and I grew up in as radio television. Bob Levey: Andy, I appreciate the chance to be here, but what are we going to do? My ears are burning from that introduction. Do you have a fire extinguisher? Andy Ockershausen: No, no money. Bob Levey: Well that's no different from the old WMAL, right? Andy Ockershausen: The old WMAL. I used to have the argument all the time about the talent, and I said look, we're not in business to make you money. We're in business to make The Evening Star money to keep ‘em alive, and we did for a while. Bob Levey: You did for a long while- Andy Ockershausen: That's another story. Bob Levey: It is a long story, it is another story. The Washington Post - How Bob Levey Became Ben Bradlee's First Hire Andy Ockershausen: But you lived through it. You lived through the golden days of The Washington Post, and every day I think about how great The Post has been to Our Town, and to our people. Like it or love it, some people hate The Post, some people love it. But it's been a rock in Our Town. Bob Levey: A lot of people don't understand exactly why it has been a rock in Our Town. It certainly had to do with the unbelievably great Ben Bradlee, whose first hire at The Washington Post, by sheer accident, was me. Andy Ockershausen: No way. Bob Levey: Yeah. It did happen. Andy Ockershausen: He realized he made a mistake. Bob Levey: Here was the story: I had a job interview lined up with J. Russell Wiggins, who was the Editor of The Post, and a couple of weeks out, he said come in on Monday morning at 9 a.m. But over the weekend, President Johnson named him the Ambassador to the United Nations, so this new dude took over at 9 a.m. Monday morning, and he inherited Wiggins' calendar. The first guy he had to see was me. I walked in, and we didn't know quite what to do with each other, so he hired me on the spot. It was the first of a lot of lucky breaks in my life. Andy Ockershausen: To think about the great life you had up until then, I mean you were not out of the business. You started at six years old. That's kind of young to start in the journalism business, but you did. Then, when I'm reading about you, Bob, I didn't know ... You grew up in New York- From Growing Up in New York City to College at University of Chicago Bob Levey: New York City. Andy Ockershausen: High school and New York in the city. Then, going to the University of Chicago, which, to me, never meant journalism. Bob Levey: There was no journalism program at the University of Chicago, but on my first day on campus somebody said, "You really ought to check out the student newspaper for two reasons. One, it's a whole lot of fun; and two, there are a whole lot of girls there." I said, "You got the value of this backwards, but I'll show up." That began my serious, absolutely over-caffeinated, overwhelming love for the business. Andy Ockershausen: You had not done that in New York. You discovered that at Chicago? Bob Levey: No, I was too busy being other things when I was in high school.
Deb Johns on Vogue experience with Tiffany's then Design Director John Loring ~
". . . you learned every day. We used to have a Tuesday speaker come in. John Loring came in from Tiffany. And the best line I ever heard was he said he was standing at the front of Tiffany greeting customers and a little boy and his mom walked in and he had an FAO Schwartz bag. And he looked out at the broad floor of Tiffany with all the lights and blue boxes and he said, "Mommy, what is this?" And she said, "It's Mommy's FAO Schwartz." And so that was a moment in his life. He said it defined the importance of his brand."
Deb Johns - Founder and Creative Director SCOUT Bags in studio interview with Andy Ockershausen
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen and this is Our Town. And I have a new guest and she's not really my guest, she's the guest of the Bubes family. Deb Johns: I'll take it. Andy Ockershausen: That ain't bad. We know that. But Deb Johns is an inventor, a designer, a wonderful, wonderful part of Our Town. And I'm so glad she moved her business here. And Deb is a designer. And Deb, the founder of SCOUT bags. Deb Johns: SCOUT bags. Andy Ockershausen: What a great reputation to women. They all know what I'm saying. I did not know. Now I know. Deb Johns: Yeah, and if they don't, they do now, right? Yeah. Andy Ockershausen: Now I know because you're gorgeous and I remember that. Deb Johns: Thank you. Andy Ockershausen: That's important. Believe me. Deb Johns: Thank you. Andy Ockershausen: When you go around selling. So Deb, you moved ... But you were in business in New York. Deb Johns: I was. Andy Ockershausen: You worked at Vogue. The New York Experience - Vogue Glory Days Deb Johns: Yes, yes. Andy Ockershausen: Were they the glory days of Vogue? I guess they're still glory days. Deb Johns: You know, it really was the "devil wears Prada". In fact, my days at Vogue were in the late '70s, early '80s when it was such an era of surplus, of enormity, of just vision and creativity. Andy Ockershausen: Wow. Deb Johns: What a great place to be in that time. I think I was in New York City the day disco died but I was at the discos until they died. We were club kids, we were running around, we were learning the business. And I had the benefit of really meeting some of the most iconic designers and influencers in those days in the business. Andy Ockershausen: I know exactly what you're saying, how important that is. But did you grow up in the city? Deb Johns: I did not. I am a mutt. I'm a true mutt. I grew up all over the country, west coast, east coast, northeast. Andy Ockershausen: Military? Deb Johns: No, my father was with a big corporation and instead of leaving us all week and going on the road he said, "Let me just move them every couple of years," which, frankly, I think made us really adaptable. Andy Ockershausen: Oh, I'm sure it did. Deb Johns: Yeah, very adaptable. Andy Ockershausen: A wonderful life, huh? Deb Johns: Yeah, yeah. And I feel very comfortable anywhere I go. Andy Ockershausen: Well, how'd you end up in New York? Cornell University - Design School Deb Johns: I ended up in New York, went to Cornell University, majored in design and textiles. It was really very much by plan. Andy Ockershausen: That's one of the world famous design schools - Cornell. Deb Johns: It's great. Great design school. Spent a semester in- Andy Ockershausen: Tough winters but great school. Deb Johns: Yeah, if you can get through that snow with your high boots on. But I did have a- Andy Ockershausen: I remember looking at a map and I don't think that New York State has been without snow since November. Deb Johns: I don't think so. And the city too. Andy Ockershausen: What a rough winter. Deb Johns: It's been a touch one. I have a son up there and- Andy Ockershausen: Where's he going? AOL - Jim Kimsey Deb Johns: He actually went to Michigan and works for AOL. He's an interviewer,
Harry Schnipper on upcoming Ella Fitzgerald Voice Competition April 27 - 29, 2018 ~
". . . Jazz Appreciation Month every April. . . an overreaching program and event that . . . our program at the Smithsonian Institution is April 27-29, 2018. . . The five finalists . . . come from Berlin, Germany; Toronto, Canada; Boston, Massachusetts; and two from the greater Washington Metropolitan Area . . .they'll all be congregating here for the final competition on Saturday, April 28th, at the Museum of American History. And the finalists will perform at Blues Alley . . . singing the Ella Sings Jobim Songbook from the 1981 seminal recording by Ella Fitzgerald."
Harry Schnipper - Blues Alley, Owner and Jazz Preservationist, in studio interview with Andy Ockershausen
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen, and this is Our Town. And a little bit of blues in the background for a lot of blues in the foreground. We're glad to have the owner, the maitre d' and the chief bottle washer of Washington's most famous, if not the only Jazz club, Blues Alley. Harry Schnipper. Remember that you're in Our Town. Harry Schnipper: Pleased to see you and meet you again. Your name is synonymous with Washington media. Andy Ockershausen: And with Jazz, believe it or not. Paul Anthony | Bill Mayhugh | Felix Grant Harry Schnipper: And so was Paul Anthony and so was- Andy Ockershausen: Paul- Janice Iacona Ockershausen:Bill Mayhugh. Harry Schnipper: Bill Mayhugh. The names- Janice Iacona Ockershausen:Felix Grant. Harry Schnipper: Felix Grant. Yeah. I mean, the names are so written into the legend of lore of Washington D.C. that- Andy Ockershausen: The many times we have been connected with Blues Alley over the years because our broadcast station was a radio station that played music- Harry Schnipper: That's right. Andy Ockershausen: Now, nobody does that anymore. Harry Schnipper: No, but if Felix Grant- Andy Ockershausen: We use music as a big part of our format with a reason, and the reason was they attracted listeners. We had different music in the daytime than we had at night. People would listen to the station and say "It's a polygon of different kind of people and voices." But that's what we were. We were different people, and each of our guys ... We didn't let them call DJs. They were personalities, but they only had their music taste. Janice, my Janice Ockershausen, was Harden and Weavers producer for 10 years. She picked all their music, and they were picking music that their audience loved. And Blues Alley was so important to us. Harry Schnipper: Did you know that Felix Grant had a live stream back in the '80s out of Blues Alley? Janice Iacona Ockershausen:Yes. Harry Schnipper: That they had a program that was built around it, and in my house, if it was Felix Grant, it was seven o'clock, and if it was seven o'clock, it was time for supper. Andy Ockershausen: Every night of the week. Harry Schnipper: My father thought Felix Grant was part of the family. Andy Ockershausen: I mentioned to you about one of the previous ... I don't know whether he was the owner or co-owner, Tommy Gwaltney, who was very connected to Felix Grant. I mean, they were buddies about everything, but Felix was a music guy from day one. You know Harry, I asked you to take your jacket off. I took mine off. You know, Felix would do his radio program, never took his jacket and tie off. No matter what happened, he always looked like a performer, and his reason was "I'm playing music for people who understand music, and therefore, I'm going to look good." And boy, he did it Harry. Harry Schnipper: I can agree with you. I with there was a personality like that today. But there isn't. You know, when I was-
Ann Hand on her jewelry design philosophy ~
"I think I look at myself as a storyteller because most of my jewelry has a message. That's what I want to do for America . . . I want you to wear it and be able to talk about what it represents."
Ann Hand - CEO, Ann Hand, LLC - The Nation's Jeweler - in studio interview with Andy Ockershausen
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen and this is Our Town. I'm so excited to have a very special friend today to talk to you about Our Town. A lady I've known for many, many years who has to me the foremost jeweler of the city of Washington, maybe in the East Coast and certainly better than anybody in New York. Ann Hand is a legend and a major, major player in Our Town and Ann, welcome to Our Town. Ann Hand: I am thrilled to be here. Truly excited. Andy Ockershausen: I was trying to explain to you and we're still working on it ourself, what is this podcast thing. It is magic and as I told you, everything you do and say here, as long as it's in the ionosphere is there forever. Ann Hand: Now you're scaring me. Andy Ockershausen: We have a record of everything you've done but your business has been fabulous for our nation's capital. Meeting Lloyd Hand at University of Texas Where Their Odyssey Began Ann Hand: Thank you very much. It's been a real pleasure. Andy Ockershausen: You're a Texas girl obviously. Grew up in the great state of Texas. Ann Hand: I grew up in Houston Texas, went to the University of Texas. Andy Ockershausen: In Austin. Ann Hand: In Austin. Met my wonderful husband the first day. I was 17, married him six months later then it began an odyssey. Andy Ockershausen: A beauty contest and the cheerleader and everything you did growing up and you made Lloyd Hand. As far as I'm concerned he's known as Ann Hand's husband. Ann Hand: He'd better not hear that. No way. Andy Ockershausen: I tell him in the barber shop. We've been going to the same guy for years and of course I knew him and saw a lot of him and a lot of you with Joe Robert. But that's another subject. Ann, but you went to UT and Austin's had some problems here recently. An explosion or something? Ann Hand: Yes, I've been reading about that. It's so tragic. I don't have any family there now but everything. Andy Ockershausen: It was real dangerous for a while. Ann Hand: Pretty, pretty scary. Andy Ockershausen: But they found the culprit. You and Lloyd decided to get married and stay in Texas? Life in the United States Navy Ann Hand: Well he went off to the Navy and I went with him to the Navy base out in San Diego. Andy Ockershausen: Vietnam war? Ann Hand: No, Korean war. Andy Ockershausen: Korean war, right. Ann Hand: We had a interesting three years in the Navy and then after that he went back. Andy Ockershausen: Wonderful, I didn't know that. Ann Hand: And then went back to University of Texas, finished his law school and got his degree and then he went to work for LBJ when LBJ was a Senate majority leader. Andy Ockershausen: He was a congressman before that. Ann Hand: Yep, that's right. Andy Ockershausen: I know way back, Lloyd's too young. What was he was in the Navy, was he on a ship? Did he ever ship out? Ann Hand: Oh yes he was, the USS Telfair. He was in Japan, Korea. Andy Ockershausen: So he had a nice time in the Navy but being away from you. And you waited for him in San Diego. Ann Hand: Well for a while, then we went to Corpus Christi because he was going to be assigned there. The Navy base. Andy Ockershausen: Move across part of the country back east. Ann Hand: We just kept moving. Andy Ockershausen: A Navy wife. Ann Hand: Navy wife. Andy Ockershausen: So many of my friends, that's my war too, the Korean war. It's so hard to believe now that that was that long ago. I'm sure it's hard for Lloyd too. Ann Hand: It seems like an instant ago. Andy Ockershausen: It was a just a big part. But he is a very, very upstanding guy physically.
Arthur Cotton Moore on the Metro and one of his pro bono publico ideas ~
"I'm talking about the homeless because it's a big issue in Washington, and they [Metro] have these cars that they're now throwing away. The 4000 series because they don't have the right propulsion . . .the cars are being thrown away . . . they're paying a salvage company in Baltimore 1.3 million dollars to chop them up. So, they have really negative 1.3 million dollars. I did a drawing, and that's in the book, on how they would make two very nice one-bedroom apartments."
Arthur Cotton Moore - Architect, Master Planner, Author - Washington DC, in studio interview with Andy Ockershausen
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen, and I'm just so grateful today to have an opportunity to talk to a man who is ... I don't want to say he's an icon, because he's too active. He is a very important part of Our Town. He helped build it. Arthur Cotton Moore was a graduate of Princeton University. He grew up in the city. In fact, he's sixth generation. He's known as all the buildings he's put together, all the things he's done. He has been an architect for over six decades. As an owner of the Chloethiel Smith firm, he has excelled in such phenomenal projects as his book in which he wrote, "Here is a man with so many accomplishments." It's hard to believe that one person can do this much, but he's done it. And he's such an important part of Our Town. What he has done is unbelievable. And Arthur this is your capital and our nation's capital, but it's Our Town. Welcome to Our Town, Arthur Cotton Moore. Arthur Cotton Moore: Well thank you very much. I'm very happy to be here. Andy Ockershausen: We know you so well and have watched you. I say we. That's a collective "we". What you have done for Our Town is unbelievable and some of your projects. But the basic part I remember about you, you always look ... When I wanted somebody to be an architect, I'd call central casting and if I did they'd send Arthur Cotton Moore. He looks like an architect, am I right? He walks, he talks like it. Arthur Cotton Moore: I didn't bring my T-square. Andy Ockershausen: When I grew up, first in broadcasting in the community, Bud Doggett who you know very well I remember- Arthur Cotton Moore: Right. Andy Ockershausen: Not with us anymore, but he was very instrumental in getting me involved with the Board of Trade with a man named Leon Chatterley. Arthur Cotton Moore: Yes. Andy Ockershausen: Do you remember that name? Arthur Cotton Moore: Yes I do. Andy Ockershausen: And I didn't know he was an architect but he always looked like a million bucks too. He had his own business after a while. Arthur Cotton Moore: Right. He did, yeah. Andy Ockershausen: I know he passed away but he was a very important part of Our Town. Arthur Cotton Moore: Right. Andy Ockershausen: But nobody's done what you've done, Arthur. From St. Albans, you Mastered in fine arts and architecture at Princeton. A lot of my people, and I say my people, the Evening Star, own this company, WMAL, and the Star family, almost all of them were Princeton graduates. They grew up ... the Kauffmanns and the Noyes and so forth. Arthur Cotton Moore: I didn't know that. Andy Ockershausen: Big part of Our Town, the newspaper people. Arthur Cotton Moore: Yes, indeed. Yes, I remember The Evening Star was the paper for a long time, and then Times Herald was a scandal sheet, and then it morphed into the Post. Andy Ockershausen: It's so wonderful that you remember that the demise of The Star was caused mostly by television because the afternoon delivery became impossible,
Paul Scimonelli on going to watch the Washington Senators play baseball at Griffith Stadium back in the day~
"The only reason to come to the stadium, and that was Shirley Povich and Bob Addy said the same thing, there's no reason to go see a last place team, and the only reason to go there was Roy Sievers. . . He should be in the Ring of Honor, he really did cement baseball in the 1950s when there was nothing . . ."
Paul Scimonelli - Author, Musician, Performer and Director in studio interview with Andy Ockershausen
Andy Ockershausen: This is Our Town and I'm Andy Ockershausen, and my wife Janice Ockershausen, I should announce this at the beginning of the program, she is actually the producer. I'm talking to Paul Scimonelli, who's a very important part of WMAL's history, as Janice and I are, but Paul is a one of a kind. He's a teacher, a musician, a performer, a director, and he had his own jazz-rock band called Street Life for 30-plus years- Paul Scimonelli: Still do. Andy Ockershausen: -Playing all over the US. He was a member of the United States Marine Band, how did that happen, I want to talk about that. He's been a teacher, he worked at Landon School in our Bethesda for 16 years, and how do you cram that much into your young life? He wrote a book, a beautiful book about Roy Sievers, that nobody in our audience remembers Roy Sievers except you and I, and the new people are gonna be watching. But Paul Scimonelli, welcome to Our Town. Paul Scimonelli: Thank you, Andy, it's great to be here, it really is great to be here back at WMAL again after so many years. Andy Ockershausen: It makes Janice and I come alive, because our lives were intertwined in this building with these people, and it continues, and we both get so much out of it now. She has her own business and I have my own business and work for her, and we both love to be part of WMAL for a lot of reasons, and always will be. AM, FM, skywriting, we don't care. Paul Scimonelli: It's the greatest station in DC, it really is. Andy Ockershausen: The greatest thing that ever happened to this community I think, for a while. But Paul, what is this Marine Band? How do you become a Marine and you're still in the Marine Band? Paul Scimonelli Played White House After Parties as a Member of the United States Marine Band Paul Scimonelli: That was back in the Vietnam era, and my dad got me an audition in the Marine Band in 1968 actually. Andy Ockershausen: Down at 8th and I, is that where- Paul Scimonelli: 8th and I, that's where I was stationed, at 8th and I. It just so happened that the Marine Band wanted to get a bigger presence in the White House, because the Air Force Strings were doing all of the parties and all of the arrivals and all of the different ceremonies and stuff like that, and so the Marines, which is actually called the President's Own, started by Thomas Jefferson, they wanted to have a bigger presence. Yes, the Marine Band would go in there and they would play before dinner, but then they would leave and then the Air Force- Andy Ockershausen: Strings would take over. Paul Scimonelli: They would take over, and they would do the only entertainment. Well, they wanted to have a combo and there weren't players in the band that knew combo repertoire, tunes, just regular tunes. And I came in there, and I actually could sing a little bit of rock-and-roll, the old Jeremiah was a Bullfrog kind of thing, that was the day. They went crazy, they wanted to have someone with that kind of flexibility to be in the White House, and to play for the after parties. What would normally go on in the White House was that there'd be a big group with strings and horns and they'd play as people were coming in for the state dinners, I remember the big thing they had for President of France that came in there, we played for that. Then they'd go in, they would eat, the Air Force strings would go in and stroll during the dinner.
Ron Paul on raising awareness of kidney disease, and the need for more education and testing ~
"The key is awareness. We have to find out who needs kidneys. There's thousands and thousands of people that need a kidney that don't even know that they need kidneys. . . No idea. Walking around. They're time bombs. We've done a study, about 68% of the people that we've had come to an event, they do blood work, they do urine analysis, they do a variety of things, but 68% of them leave knowing that they had something that they didn't know when they walked in the door, and it's not just kidney issues."
Ron Paul - Eagle Bancorp CEO and The GW/Ron and Joy Paul Kidney Center Chair in studio interview with Andy Ockershausen
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen, and this is Our Town. I have absolute so much delight to welcome a dear friend, a very, very important banker, but more than that, one of the great citizens of Our Town, Ron Paul. Ron has been an amazing man at what he has built in an empire in banking. He did it in real estate also, but then what he's done for the community is unbelievable. The number of places his impact is felt is continuing and he's been the Chair of the National Kidney Foundation, which is his labor of love I'm sure, along with his wife. They have made it such a very important part of George Washington University. So welcome, Ron Paul, to Our Town. We're so delighted that you could do this and I'm gonna ask you a lot of important questions. Eagle Bank - Building Relationships Ron Paul: Good morning, Andy. Thank you. Thank you for having me. Andy Ockershausen: Paul - Ron, what you've done ... When I first met you and you had that one little office in that one position in Bethesda, I said, "This thing has grown into such a - what do you got, 22 branches now?" Ron Paul: We do. Andy Ockershausen: I mean just all from one office. But you planned it. Ron Paul: It just goes to show that our community is desperately in need of relationships and continuing to build relationships and continuing to want to build relationships and even the millennials that we're finding more and more, are now starting to get the feel of the way we grew up, based on relationships that they need those relationships. Andy Ockershausen: Connecting the dots, Ron. Ron Paul: Exactly. That's just what's really cool, so it's really cool that we spend a lot of time talking to the millennials, explaining to them what they need to build relationships, and it's really evolved. Andy Ockershausen: And you've done wonders with it. One of the things that impressed me ... You're a New Yorker from Oceanside. Is that on the bay or is it on the river, is it in Montauk? Where is Oceanside? Monday Nights with the New York Giants at Nathan's Hotdogs Oceanside, NY Ron Paul: I am from Nassau County - Andy Ockershausen: Oh, my! Ron Paul: ... on the South Shore right by the Nathan's that serves hotdogs. Andy Ockershausen: On the South Shore. Ron Paul: The South Shore. Andy Ockershausen: Jones Beach. Ron Paul: That's right. Andy Ockershausen: I love that part. I had two sisters that lived and married New Yorkers and lived up there. I spent some time along the beach, and I love Long Island. I love everything about it. Andy Ockershausen: Why go to the University of Maryland? Ron Paul: Well I gotta tell you, you'll appreciate the story. Back when I was a kid, the Nathan's Hotdogs in Oceanside - Andy Ockershausen: Oh, boy. Ron Paul: ... way before Monday Night Football, way before Monday Night Football. Every Monday night they used to have the New York Giants, they used to come to the Nathan's there and talk to the kids. So we used to have Spider Lockharts and Allie Shermans ... That was a real treat going with my dad that Monday night, so talk about the Redskins all the time. Andy Ockershausen: But Nathan's Hotdogs? I mean that's a one - I took Janice one time, for Nathan's Hotdog,
Donnie Simpson honors his brother Harry ~
"My second oldest brother, Harry. . .a fascinating story. . . because of his experiences, he was able to go in and help people that I never could have helped. . .I wanted to mention it because, I honor him. I feel like, maybe that's why God had him in that situation. . .To help people."
Donnie Simpson, Washington DC Radio Icon, and TV and Movie Personality in studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen, and this is Our Town, and I'm so thrilled to be sitting next to a man who, he's the best looking man in radio. I used to have that title but I got old. The Love Bug.
Donnie Simpson: The Love Bug? No ... Andy Ockershausen: Donnie Simpson is one of the most beloved radio personalities in Our Town, and still. We don't see each other often, but I have the utmost respect for Donnie. He's a consummate professional. He's been on top of his game not once, but twice, as a ratings later at WPGC and WMMJ over the past four decades. In addition, he's been recognized by BillBoard Magazine as one of the best top radio personalities, and the top program director in the Country. It's been great, Donnie. He's such an important part of Our Town. It's a fiercely competitive business radio, and we know that, but Donnie did something in 1985 that touched my heart and touched me completely. You sent two dozen roses to Harden and Weaver on their 25th anniversary, Donnie. Donnie Simpson Personally Delivered Two Dozen Roses to Harden and Weavers at Their 25th Anniversary Celebration Out of Respect Donnie Simpson: I brought them. I didn't send them. Andy Ockershausen: Donnie, you brought them- Donnie Simpson: I brought them. I left my show and brought them to them. Andy Ockershausen: Oh, I didn't know that. Donnie Simpson: Oh yeah, yeah. I mean, it was a big, heavy glass bowl that I had to put ... It was an awesome arrangement, but no I wasn't- Andy Ockershausen: It's so classy. Donnie Simpson: That would've been disrespectful to me, to have them delivered. They deserve to have them brought. So, I leave my show to bring them. I mean, that's the kind of respect I have for those guys. Andy Ockershausen: Well, you're so right, Donnie, because those guys worked. Donnie Simpson: Oh, yeah. Andy Ockershausen: They worked that job for ... They eventually went to 30 years. It's the same broadcaster. The same time slot. That'll never happen again, Donnie. Donnie Simpson: I know. It's unbelievable what they've accomplished. Andy Ockershausen: But, what you accomplished by doing that, in my eyes, and to the market's eyes, it was so much good publicity on that. But, you've always been a class guy. Donnie Simpson: And you know Andy, I don't have to tell you, you know that was not why it was done. It wasn't done for publicity. Andy Ockershausen: Oh, I know that. You felt it. Donnie Simpson: It was strictly out of respect, you know, that's all it was, out of respect. I have to say this. The same level of respect I had for Harden and Weaver, I have for you. Andy Ockershausen: Oh, gosh. On Andy O's Advice - Stay At An Even Keel Donnie Simpson: Really! You are an amazing man to me. I mean, what you accomplished at WMAL was just unprecedented. You guys had a powerhouse going there, and I owe you ... I want to say this, too. That I owe you. I thank you for something that you gave me. You don't even know this, but you gave me, and it was through an article in the Washington Post. It was just a ratings cycle, but you were talking about ... You made the point that, you don't get too up with the ups, or too down with the downs. You stay at an even keel. I'm telling you, for a young guy on the radio at that time, that was such great knowledge for me. It helped me immensely, through the years, and I never forgot that. I always kept an even keel after that. I was like, he's absolutely right because ratings go up, ratings go down, and you can't get caught up.
Charles Allen on one solution to close achievement gap in Our Town~
" 'Books From Birth,' . . . delivers a book to every kid in the city, five and under, once a month for free. For a lot of . . .kids in the city, you don't see any books. There's not a book in the home. . . and what was important to us though, is as we figure out which books these are, we've put more than 400,000 books into homes across the District in the last two years."
Charles Allen - Councilmember DC Ward 6 and Andy Ockershausen in studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen, and this is Our Town, and I have a great guest to talk to today. A man I met for the first time. I really didn't meet him in person, but he made a presentation at a Southwest BID, a breakfast, a luncheon at Arena Stage, and I was so impressed with his presentation and what he is. He is chairman of the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety. He's made so much for our city and Our Town, and his commitment has been great. He has overseen the building of Washington in so many ways, and we're delighted to have Councilman Charles Allen on Our Town. Charles, welcome. Charles Allen: Thanks, Andy. Thanks for having me. Thanks for having me. I appreciate it. Andy Ockershausen: Our podcast is heard around the world, I hope you know that. Seriously, we have people that listen to us all over the country that used to live here and they moved, and they shouldn't have. But Charles, what you have overseen, incidentally, in reading your resume, you live at 15th and D. Charles Allen: I do. Andy Ockershausen: I grew up at 13th and D. Charles Allen: Did you really? Andy Ockershausen: My neighbor, I'm a Northeast guy from way, way back, Eastern High School, Elliot, the whole thing. That Kingsman School, and what's happened in your, that's your ward now, correct? Charles Allen: That is. That is, absolutely. You should come by and visit the old 'hood. Andy Ockershausen: There used to be a Car Barn there, you know, and- Charles Allen: Still there. Andy Ockershausen: Is it still? Charles Allen: It's now housing. Andy Ockershausen: Street cars, and it was such- Charles Allen: Now it's all- Andy Ockershausen: ... a wonderful . . . Charles Allen: ... apartments and condos, but yeah. Speaker 4: Yeah. Huh. Andy Ockershausen: Walking to school to Elliott and Easton and ... I'm glad to see 15th and D is still on a map. You and Olive, the dog. Charles Allen: That's right, and then, of course, Jordi, my wife, and our two kids, Cora Neal and Everett. And our sweet Olive. Andy Ockershausen: But you're not a Washingtonian, but you're a Washingtonian by choice. I think Janice and I are Washingtonians by choice too, because we've both moved out and did other things, but we came back to Our Town, and you went to the university in Alabama. From Birmingham, Alabama to Virginia's Washington and Lee University to Our Town, Affordable Healthcare Issues and Ward 6 Charles Allen: I grew up in, I was born in Birmingham, Alabama. Andy Ockershausen: Oh, Birmingham, right. Charles Allen: That's right. And went up to school, went to college in Virginia, went back to Alabama for a- ... Master's degree. Yes. Went, got a Master's degree in Public Health and then, luckily, got a post grad fellowship up here in DC. I knew this is where I wanted to be. Started working for the federal government, for HHS, for a little bit. Quickly realized I did not like the federal government, but had fallen in love with DC. And I knew that's where, that was going to be home, and so I switched up, started working for a local nonprofit doing healthcare work. Actually, this was a time when DC General was closing. We were kind of converting to The Alliance, trying to help figure out how to take care of our uninsured and low-income residents. So I- Andy Ockershausen: DC General was in your ward? Charles Allen: At the time, DC General was. DC General is now in Ward Seven. Andy Ockershausen: Yes,
Tony Perkins on being back on air with Donnie Simpson and what happens when you make listeners laugh~
"Here’s what Donnie has said for many, many years. When we used to work together, one of the things that he liked about it and I liked about it and the listeners liked about it was we could make each other laugh. We worked with a news guy at KYS who we just lost last week, unfortunately, John Irving, who also could make us laugh. That’s infectious. It’s infectious in the room and it’s infectious to the audience. Now, we will have that again. "
Tony Perkins - 2x Emmy Award Winner, Radio and TV Broadcaster with Andy Ockershausen in studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen and this is Our Town with the at one time the premiere weathercaster in the city of Washington. A very, very, very dear friend who shall always be known to me as Tony Perkins, morning weatherman. Tony, welcome to Our Town. Tony Perkins: Thank you very much, I'm very happy to be here. This is an honor, really, this really is. To sit here and talk to you and to Janice, this is great. Andy Ockershausen: Tony, you flatter us and we are trying to do something for Our Town, which was almost lost as names and dates of people that we had a chance to talk to because they sort of disappeared from daily action, like Mark Russell, a name like that, an artist, various people. We consider Our Town to be everything within 100 miles of our signal. We don't have a signal anymore. Tony Perkins: Well, now we're signal-less and with a podcast there's no, it's not 100 miles, it's worldwide. Andy Ockershausen: Anywhere. Tony Perkins: You can say you have international followers. Andy Ockershausen: I like to have people I can call in California and tell them and say, "You got to listen," and tell them how to get it because they can, like you say. Janice is the one who discovered podcasting and put me on it, but who discovered Tony Perkins. I recall ABC discovered you for a while. Donnie Simpson and Tony Perkins Meet at The Comedy Café and The Rest is History Tony Perkins: Well, yes, they did for a while, boy, but who discovered me? That's a great question. Okay, I've got a couple of answers to that. When I started doing all of this that I do, it began in earnest in the early '80s and I was doing stand-up comedy. I'd had a couple of little radio jobs. One of my first jobs was for Cathy Hughes at WOL and now I work for her again, which is amazing but- Andy Ockershausen: Fourth and H, I remember it well. Tony Perkins: Yeah, that's right, absolutely right, absolutely right. I had a couple of early radio jobs but I did stand-up comedy, and I met two people who were key to everything else that happened for me. First, Donnie Simpson. Andy Ockershausen: A legend. Tony Perkins: A legend, dear friend who I'm now back with at Majic 102.3. Andy Ockershausen: We'll get into that later. Tony Perkins: Yeah, but a friend of mine, a guy named Jeff Newman who worked with Donnie and I went to college with, Donnie was looking for a comedian to work on his show to write lines and a producer. Jeff said, "Well, you should meet my friend Tony, he's a comedian, he's really great and I think you would hit it off." Donnie came to the comedy club, it was The Comedy Café, doesn't exist anymore, came down on a Saturday night, saw my set. It was one of the best sets I'd ever had, luckily. Andy Ockershausen: Jackpot. Tony Perkins: Jackpot. And he hired me on the spot. What's cool about that is, he said, "You're the guy. I want you to come in and I want you to work for me." I said, "I would love to because I'm a fan but I'm booked. I'm doing comedy and I've got three months of bookings." He said, "I'll wait." Now, you know, that's amazing. Andy Ockershausen: Well, he deferred to you because he knew you had to do that. If you make a commitment you stick to it. Tony Perkins: Absolutely right, absolutely right. That was very cool and that was the beginning,
John Bowis on the future of the auto industry ~
"Our industry is under assault, it's going to change, but my job is not to fight that change, my job is to figure out a path forward-and embrace it."
John Bowis, President/Owner Chevy Chase Acura in studio interview with Andy Ockershausen
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen, and this is Our Town. As a special guest on Our Town, the man whose family epitomizes Our Town. In 1939, the Bowis family started Chevy Chase Cars. I don't know what it was called then, but- John Bowis: Chevy Chase Motor Company. Andy Ockershausen: ... John Bowis is now the surviving member of the Bowis family. He's a father of five, and they're all gonna be running the business someday. John Bowis: Maybe. Andy Ockershausen: John, welcome to Our Town. John Bowis: Thank you, Andy. Andy Ockershausen: You know, we have such a relationship with your family before you were born of course, with your grandfather, Art, and Jim Gibbons, who was my guru- John Bowis: Right, good friends. Andy Ockershausen: ... and he led me in this business, my mentor, and we started together. So, the name Bowis always meant a lot, but I didn't know about the automobile business, because I thought they were in the real estate business. John Bowis: Right. Andy Ockershausen: Were they not? Automobile Business is Foundation for Art Bowis Legacy John Bowis: The automobile business is what allowed my grandfather to invest in real estate, so real estate was his second job, but the automobile business is what brought him to the table. Andy Ockershausen: But, when you opened, Bethesda, it was not like Bethesda now. John Bowis: Not at all, not at all. Andy Ockershausen: In 1939, I've seen pictures. John Bowis: 1939. So, in 1939, my grandfather was working at a Chevy store downtown in D.C. Most of the automobile dealerships- Andy Ockershausen: Was in downtown Washington- First Came NIH and the National Navy Medical Center John Bowis: ... they were called agencies back then, were located in D.C. There were very few dealerships in the suburbs, but my grandfather wanted to work for himself, and he was in sales, and there was another friend of his, Bob Suddith, Sr., they decided to partner together and go open up a Chevrolet store some place. They could have gone in any direction outside of the city, and my grandfather realized, or noticed, that the government opened up two locations in Bethesda just the year prior. One was NIH, National Institutes of Health. The US government bought the- Andy Ockershausen: Golf course, right? John Bowis: ... bought the golf course. And also the Wilson farm. It was the Wilson farm, Wilson Lane. Dr. Wilson. It was a long-time Bethesda family. The federal government bought the Wilson farm. They bought the Woodmont Golf Course. And then across the street, they opened up ... they broke ground on the National Navy Medical Center, which is now Walter Reed. My grandfather decided to go out to Bethesda and scope out property, and he landed on this property right next to the old Bethesda Theater. It used to be the Boro Theatre. Andy Ockershausen: I remember it very well. Then came Chevy Chase Motor Company John Bowis: That whole block was owned by a guy named Sidney Lust, who had a number of movie theaters. That was his business. Sidney Lust's idea was, open up a movie theater and that would be the anchor, and then he'd have a strip center around it. There was parking out back and so forth. Well, this was 1938, 1939, and it was still the height of the recession, and he couldn't get the retail center concept going, so my grandfather went out to look at part of that property. He and Bob Suddith walked the property for almost an hour, and my grandfather said, "This would be a fantastic place for a dealership.", and his partner said, "Yeah, but we've been here for almost an hour, and not a single car has driven by." Janice Iacona Ockershausen: The good old days.
George Pelecanos on his characters and finding the humanity in others ~
"I'm frequently down at the DC jail doing reading programs, but also, to be honest again, I get a lot of material when I'm down at the jail. . . I'm down there quite often and when I travel even, when I'm doing book tours, I will visit the local prisons, even in London . . .you just try to locate the humanity in everybody because it's there."
George Pelecanos, Author, TV Writer and Film and TV Producer, and Andy Ockershausen in studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This Our Town. This is special for us to have a world-renowned author, a man who is so well known in the whole country, maybe better known than he is in the greater Washington area. He's an Emmy-nominated television producer and he's a writer. He's written 20 books, and his novels are set in and around Our Town. But instead of plot centered on Washington politics, he depicts the raw side of what goes on in the streets. We're delighted to welcome the world-famous George Pelecanos to Our Town, although maybe it's his town now. George, thank you. George Pelecanos: Thanks, Andy. It's a pleasure to be here. Andy Ockershausen: For all you do for Our Town, and you don't even know it, but you put into words so many things we all live with growing up here, and you're a local boy and went to high school here. What was your high school, George? High School, College and the Family Business George Pelecanos: I went to Northwood in Silver Spring. Andy Ockershausen: Oh yeah. And then that was close to the University of Maryland and then you went to school there. George Pelecanos: Yeah, I commuted to Maryland. Andy Ockershausen: Natural thing for- But as a young Greek boy growing up in the city, you had to take over your father's business for a while. George Pelecanos: That's true. When I was 19 and I was in my first semester of Maryland, my dad got very sick and I had to drop out of college to run the business. Thankfully, I had been working there since I was 11 years old, so I knew what to do. It was easy. Andy Ockershausen: It was small. You only had like 24 seats in the restaurant? George Pelecanos: Yeah, it was just a lunch counter- Andy Ockershausen: Right. George Pelecanos: -with a few booths. It's actually, people know it now as CF Folks, it's right next to the Palm. Andy Ockershausen: Yeah. Right. George Pelecanos: It's sort of a- Andy Ockershausen: On 19th street. Jefferson Coffee Shop George Pelecanos: Exactly, yeah. But it was called the Jefferson Coffee Shop when my dad had it. Andy Ockershausen: I remember it well because I was involved when the Palm opened because I was one of the contributors, let's say, to the initial thing with "Peter Palmtree", and I knew your dad's place, and I probably knew your dad. We would speak or say "Hi" or "Hello". I know he knew all the guys at the Palm. George Pelecanos: Oh yeah, the waiters used to come in before- Andy Ockershausen: They ate there. George Pelecanos: -we opened and they all had breakfast, yeah. Andy Ockershausen: Sure. It was part of Our Town. That's what's so great about it. But, George, you began to write after this experience as growing up in the restaurant business and you had to sort of hold your career in abeyance until your dad got well. Is that correct? George Pelecanos: Yeah, I didn't start writing until I was about 31 years old. And I continued to work in restaurants and bars and retail. I just kept working those kinds of jobs because it was, well I had to make a living, but also I was having fun. Ten Years with The Pedas Brothers Andy Ockershausen: It was good people. The Pedas brothers you worked for. George Pelecanos: I worked for them for 10 years. They had a little production company and distribution company, in addition to owning all the theaters in Washington. Andy Ockershausen: Oh yeah. George Pelecanos: Two of the finest guys I've ever known.
Nancy Taylor Bubes on the building trust in relationships as a real estate agent ~
"Well, it's a relationship business. . . When you really take the time to find the right house for the right family, they're grateful. They love it, and you've got to be able to say, "I'm not sure that's the right house for you." You've got to be able to step in and ... turn it down."
Nancy Taylor Bubes - Super-Agent - Washington Fine Properties and Andy Ockershausen in studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen, and this is Our Town. Our third year, our third series of shows. We have done over 100. We have had so much response, and we've had the pleasure of having GEICO helping us underwrite this plan, and they've been just great. Now that we have great ideas, we are having royalty in our studio. I consider it royalty. This is royalty for Our Town. Nancy Taylor Bubes, the most important high-end real estate person and salesperson in Our Town, and as I say, Our Town covers a lot of area. We're so happy to have Nancy, and to have her background be a part of Our Town, and as someone has quoted in Washingtonian, "She has a Rolodex rivaling that of any bigwig lobbyist in town." She's a big wig lobbyist. Nancy, welcome to Our Town. Nancy Taylor Bubes: Oh my gosh. I wish I had brought my tiara today. Andy Ockershausen: You don't need one. Nancy Taylor Bubes: I'm really impressed. I'm really impressed with that introduction. I'd like to meet that person. Okay. Andy Ockershausen: Well, and it's a cliché a little bit, but we have to say it because Washingtonian feels that way, and I know Cathy Williams feels that way, but there's so much more to you than just real estate, and that's what I was so interested in, to find out your background. I always thought you were from Our Town, but you're not. You were born in Fredericksburg. Out of Virginia Nancy Taylor Bubes: Yes. Yes, Virginia, which is very different than Washington. We grew up thinking that Washington was another country, a place that you just didn't go to. An hour away, but you didn't go there. Andy Ockershausen: No. Nancy, one of the things I've found out in all these years I've been in broadcasting and being a native, a third generation, that Washingtonians don't mind crossing the river to go to Virginia, but Virginians do not like to cross the river. Nancy Taylor Bubes: No. No, and I still have a lot of family in Virginia, and they just see me up here like, "You're up there with all the crooks. I mean, how do you live up there?" It's a very different perception. Andy Ockershausen: It just works so well for Virginians, because they're very happy. They consider that river as a barrier, and I guess it worked for them. Nancy Taylor Bubes: They do. They do. Their memory runs long. Andy Ockershausen: Being a Washingtonian, I consider you a Washingtonian now, even though you're from Fredericksburg, you've seen this city explode. It must have been a great thing for you to look back in your perspective. You went to college in North Carolina, at Salem. I didn't know that was a part of Wake Forest. College Nancy Taylor Bubes: It's not. Actually, it's the girls' school over in the little Moravian Village called Old Salem. It's a girls' school. Andy Ockershausen: It's not connected to the university? Nancy Taylor Bubes: No. Andy Ockershausen: Two separate schools? Nancy Taylor Bubes: Two separate schools. You just went over there for some entertainment. Andy Ockershausen: Well, what in the world brought you to Our Town? Why would you leave a wonderful place like Fredericksburg to come to Washington? Our Town - Land of Opportunity for an Art Major Nancy Taylor Bubes: Well, because I kept thinking, I was an art major, so that's a very marketable thing to be in, don't you think, art? Andy Ockershausen: Absolutely. Government Freeze on Museums and Galleries Nancy Taylor Bubes: I was thinking, "Okay, what am I going to do in Fredericksburg?
Rick Hindin on meeting Ralph Lauren in 1967 when he was selling ties made by a company called Beau Brummell ~
"He had one table, about a 200-square-foot room, and we walked in and we looked at his ties and they were incredible but they were expensive. So, I told Ralph, "Your ties are too expensive." He said, "Well then you're not the customer for my ties. . . we bought his ties and the rest is history. At one point in time, Britches was the third largest user of Ralph Lauren products in the country."
Rick Hindin - Entrepreneur | Britches of Georgetowne, Adworks and Chicken Out with Andy Ockershausen in studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen and this is Our Town. I am so really personally delighted to have the opportunity to spend at least the next half hour with one of my dearest, oldest friends. The man is absolutely a legend in Washington and Our Town, and, he started in Our Town. He's born in Baltimore but he's Our Town guy. He's done so much for Our Town, but most of all what he did was bring a new enlightenment when he opened Britches. So welcome Rick Hindin. You're much bigger than Britches to me. Rick Hindin: Hi, Andy, how are you? Andy Ockershausen: Do you realize ... Rick Hindin: Good to see you again. Andy Ockershausen: Well, you know, I went to Brotman's90th birthday yesterday. Rick Hindin: Oh really? Andy Ockershausen: Yeah. He's got me by a year. I'm gonna do it next year though. You'll be there, right? Rick Hindin: I'll be there. Andy Ockershausen: Rick, I go back with you to the early '60s. I thought it was with Larrabee, a local advertising agency of some importance at the time. Rick Hindin: Right. Andy Ockershausen: But, you say it isn't. Lewis & Dobrow - Advertising Agency Rick Hindin: Well, Larrabee was owned by Larry Dobrow and I joined the firm after they merged with Allan Jack Lewis. Andy Ockershausen: What was it called? I don't recall. Rick Hindin: Lewis and Dobrow. Andy Ockershausen: That's right, Lewis ... and you had some automobile accounts as I recall. Ourisman Chevrolet Rick Hindin: We had a few. Ourisman Chevrolet was my biggest account. Andy Ockershausen: You get your way with Ourisman Chevrolet. That yours? Rick Hindin: Donor did that. Andy Ockershausen: Oh, I got it. Rick Hindin: Out of Baltimore. Andy Ockershausen: Did you have the helicopter? Rick Hindin: Ours was more exciting. Our slogan was, "Cars cost less at Ourisman Chevrolet." Andy Ockershausen: Yeah, that's unheard of. Why do we have all this advertising now and nobody says that? Rick Hindin: We were very creative in those days. Allan Jack Lewis, he went right to the jugular. Andy Ockershausen: Well, and he was an advertising genius. He was also a writer of some importance. Rick Hindin: Yeah, Allan . . . Jack wrote a play that was produced on Broadway. Andy Ockershausen: Right. I remember you went up to New York for that. Rick Hindin: I did. I did. Andy Ockershausen: See, I know so much about you, Rick, being on the sidelines because at that time, WMAL was very important in this community and you were very important because you were growing. Everybody knew you were gonna go places. The next thing I know, you're talking to me. You've got a slack shop on Wisconsin Avenue in Georgetown. I said, "Rick, what are you doing in the retail business?" Rick Hindin: Georgetown Slack Shop opened in 1966. Andy Ockershausen: And then you've got a...
Herbert Miller on building opportunity for people in Our Town ~
"This is a remarkable city, but it only works if we all work together. The racial divide, which Marion chopped at needs to be chopped more, and the economic divide, which is, I think, a bigger issue is something DC should, is, will represent as the proper way to deal with housing, to deal with jobs, to deal with opportunity. DC needs to be the land of opportunity. . . You've got to look at the synergy of not real estate as a place to live, or a place to work, or a place to shop, but a place where you build opportunity for people."
Herbert Miller, Activist and Real Estate Developer and Andy Ockershausen in studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: And this man made Washington DC what it is. Our special guest on Our Town, a very dear friend, Herbert Miller. This man made our Washington what it is, one of the great cities of the world. He is the person behind major developments, like Georgetown Park, Washington Harbour, Market Square, Gallery Place. Nobody has changed Washington as much in the last 50 years as Herb Miller, and he knows development, and he knows business, and he's made Our Town so great. Herby, welcome to Our Town, and WMAL. Herbert Miller:Thank you, Andy, just to be with you on my favorite radio station I grew up with. Andy Ockershausen: Now, it makes me feel so good to hear you say that, and I know you love that theme, and every time we meet, you sell me that theme again. That never happens. And you're a fan. Herbert Miller:Well, when you grow up with something like I did with WMAL, it's sort of in your soul. A Chance Meet Up in Italy Andy Ockershausen: And it stayed with you for ... One of the things that'll never, never change in my life as knowing you, is standing in a hotel room, in a place that I never thought I'd ever see in Italy, or to go to Italy, but I was there on my honeymoon with my wife, Janice, who is here today. This man is checking in and talking to the desk, and he sings the WMAL theme. I couldn't believe it. I said, "Herbert, what are you doing in Italy? What is going on?" You were on a boat. You were anchored somewhere off the shore. Herbert Miller:Right, and I came in and I ran into you and Sonny. It was your wedding. Andy Ockershausen: It was our wedding and my honeymoon. You were singing the anthem, but you do it- Herbert Miller:Well I saw you and immediately responded, you know? Andy Ockershausen: Well, see it sets a part of your life and my life, but you made Our Town, and I say Our Town as everything you've done everywhere has made Our Town greater, and it shows. There are monuments, you know that don't you? Potomac Mills, Sawgrass Mills, the Mills Company and Simon Herbert Miller:Well, the people buried under monuments remember that. I also built Potomac Mills and about 10 power centers, strip centers. Built the first power center ever in the United States at Greenway Center. Andy Ockershausen: Did you do Anne Arundel Mills, no that wasn't you. Herbert Miller:No, that was after I left. Andy Ockershausen: But you had the Mills Company was your- Herbert Miller:Right, I took it public. Andy Ockershausen: But that was bigger than Our Town, that was our country. Herbert Miller:Yeah, but number one, it's very interesting that Simon now has Mills, and they're a terrific organization. The number one mall in America is Sawgrass Mills, that I developed. Andy Ockershausen: It still is? Herbert Miller:The number two mall in America is Potomac Mills. Andy Ockershausen: This is not the Simon that built Reston? Herbert Miller:No, that's Robert E Simon, this is a Simon from Indianapolis that owns the shopping center developers. The senior Simon owns the basketball team, Herby. Andy Ockershausen: Where is the team? Herbert Miller:Indianapolis. Andy Ockershausen: Wow, they're doing well too. They do great at the gate anyway. It's the only thing in Indianapolis you can do in the wintertime.
Doreen Gentzler on breaking in Jim Vance and George Michael during one of her first days on the job ~
"I think of one of the first broadcasts I did with those guys, brand new, they're all 15 years older than me, they've all been working together for many years. They've got all these inside jokes and everything. I can remember George and Vance would kind of get into it. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah about alimony payments and this and that. . . One of the first broadcasts, they start going off about something, probably sports related or something like that. I think I interrupted them and said 'Well, let's ...' Something to change the subject. I didn't think anything of it, I just did it. . . that's how I roll. I remember after that broadcast, the two of them looking at each other and looking at me and saying, 'This is going to be okay. This is going to work.'
Doreen Gentzler - News4 and WRC-TV News Anchor and Award Winning Journalist and Andy Ockershausen in studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town. I can't believe that I'm so fortunate enough to have this very special guest, Doreen Gentzler. She's an award winning broadcast journalist, she's absolutely an icon, but the best part of all is she's a friend, and I am so delighted, Doreen Gentzler, to have you on Our Town. Washington, D.C. | Charleston, SC | Athens, GA Doreen Gentzler: Well, it's my pleasure, and you're the one who's an icon and a legend, Andy. You have outlasted a whole lot of people in this town. Andy Ockershausen: Well, that's true, been a long time. Janice keeps me going, of course. We created this podcast, I didn't even know what it was. I never heard of it until two years ago. It's radio without a transmitter. This is a radio show, and thank you for being here Doreen. A Washingtonian, you were born in Our Town and lived here until you were 11 years old, and then left Our Town. Doreen Gentzler: Right, true, true. Andy Ockershausen: The family took off and took you with them. Doreen Gentzler: To Charleston, South Carolina. Boy, how things have changed. I remember so many things from when I was a kid growing up here that have, that are just- Andy Ockershausen: Oh my ... Doreen Gentzler: Completely different. You know what I'm talking about. Andy Ockershausen: You live through it, just talking to that Councilman, Charles, he was telling me what's happened in his ward. I got to go over and visit. It's nothing I could ever relate to. That's the great part about Our Town, it's constantly changing. Doreen Gentzler: Mm-hmm (affirmative). Andy Ockershausen: Boy, think of your year. The first time we met was at a wedding, and it wasn't yours. It was Allan Horlick's daughter. Doreen Gentzler: Oh, oh, it was a Bat Mitzvah I think. Andy Ockershausen: Something like that. Doreen Gentzler: Yes, yes. Andy Ockershausen: We sat at the same table and you had not been there very long. This must have been in '90 or '91. Doreen Gentzler: Right. Andy Ockershausen: I met your husband, I met ... Since then I consider you a friend. It took us a long time over the years, Doreen, to arrive at this, but you're so special to us. Doreen Gentzler: Well, thank you. University of Georgia Alumni Andy Ockershausen: To Our Town. You have made Our Town so good for us and the years you spent getting, honing your skills are important. That's what I like reading about you. You went to University of Georgia. I don't why you lived in South Carolina but there's a young woman ... We were down there for graduation, our niece graduated from down there, last year in '15, and the ... Doreen Gentzler: From Georgia? Andy Ockershausen: From Georgia, University of Georgia. The woman that did the talk- Janice Iacona Ockershausen: Amy on Channel 7. Amy on ABC. Doreen Gentzler: Oh, Robach. Janice Iacona Ockershausen: Yes. Doreen Gentzler: Amy Robach, yeah. Andy Ockershausen: Yeah, she's a Georgia girl.
Shawn Springs on his business philosophy!
". . .the way a football team is structured is very similar to how I structure my business. You've got the admin side, and the people who take care of the game experience from the sales, and marketing, and all the different things, the stadium. And then you've got the players. . .Who actually perform on the field. And that's like my engineers, and industrial designers, and people. . . I have one rule I live by. If I'm the smartest person in the room, then I leave."
Shawn Springs - Entrepreneur, Innovator and Former Pro Football Player, and Andy Ockershausen in studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Our Town. This is Andy Ockershausen in a wonderful moment with a very dear friend, a man who used to work at this very radio station where we're doing our recording, who did a sports show. And this is not about sports. I want to tell everybody that this is about a human being and his great accomplishments, and a very dear friend, Shawn Springs, a local boy that grew up here in the Washington suburbs. And I just found out he was born in Williamsburg, Virginia. Shawn Springs: Beautiful Williamsburg, Virginia. Andy Ockershausen: Shawn, welcome to Our Town. Shawn Springs: Hey, I'm happy to be on it. Andy, we're beyond friends. I'm like your and Janice's adopted son. You know? I'm just a little darker, that's it. Andy Ockershausen: Well I know so much about you, and there's so much about you I don't know. But you keep it that way with everything, but I won't tell anybody. So you can tell me. Shawn Springs: Okay, that's right. Andy Ockershausen: And the only, the millions of people that listen to Our Town will hear about it. But your dad had you in Williamsburg? Or was he ... Springs' Family Legacy's in Williamsburg, Virginia Shawn Springs: Yeah, so my parents had me very young. They were seniors in high school. Andy Ockershausen: Was he born in Williamsburg? Was he from Virginia? Shawn Springs: My whole family's from Williamsburg, Virginia. Andy Ockershausen: Wow! Shawn Springs: I have grandmothers on both sides in Busch Gardens, so if you ever go tour the hometown, my beautiful hometown, and learn about the history of our country; you'll see that's my birthplace. I love that place. Andy Ockershausen: Williamsburg's a fabulous ... Shawn Springs: Especially in the Fall. I think everybody should, in your life, everyone should go see the Governor's mansion, see the hometown. And you know, growing up, there used to be a big thing about the Christmas parade down in Williamsburg, Virginia. They still have a little parade down there. I think we all should go check that out. Andy Ockershausen: Still big time, huh? Shawn Springs: Eh ... Andy Ockershausen: Well why didn't you go to William & Mary? Shawn Springs: Well, come on, you know ... Andy Ockershausen: 'Cause that's a big part of Williamsburg. Shawn Springs: Well, I thought about it, but Andy, you've got to have immaculate grades to get into William & Mary. Although I was the Student Athlete of the Year in the Washington, DC area, I couldn't turn down the opportunity to go play for the Buckeyes. Andy Ockershausen: But you grew up in Silver Spring, or what is now Silver Spring? Shawn Springs: Mm-hmm (affirmative). Andy Ockershausen: Silver Spring's gotten so big now. I remember it was a crossroads, and now ... Of course, I've been around so long. But Silver Spring is so big now, and so much going on. And that was where you went to high school, at Springbrook. Coach Bob Milloy Shawn Springs: Yeah, at Springbrook High School, and I played for the legendary Coach Bob Milloy. If you haven't had him on the show ... I think we have had him ... Andy Ockershausen: And we talked about Shawn Springs, sitting right next to me. Shawn Springs: And hopefully he said some good things. I think I was his very first pro that he had. And it's amazing, because since then, there's a lot of guys, from Stefon Diggs,
Mark Moseley on how he connected with the Murrell family and Five Guys~
"We loaded up in his car, went over to his dad's house, the rest is history. His dad jumped out of his chair about two hours later, grabbed my hand, and said, "Hey, let's make this happen. Let's have fun doing it." I'm still today, 16 years later, working on a handshake. That's how honest these people are. Jerry and Janie, they are some of the best people."
Mark Moseley, NFL Most Valuable Player Placekicker - Washington Redskins - and Andy Ockershausen in studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Our Town. This is Andy Ockershausen with a very special, very dear friend, very successful ex kicker in the National Football League. There's not many of those that are still alive that were successful, but Mark Moseley then became a, and still has become a very successful business man. I think he's a role model for so many football players now. Mark played ... NFL Placekicker Mark Moseley: A kicker being a role model? Andy Ockershausen: He kicked for the Cleveland Browns, the Houston Oilers, and the SuperBowl Champion, Washington Redskin. Mark Moseley: And I was drafted by the Eagles. Andy Ockershausen: Is that right? Number one by the Eagles. Mark Moseley: My number was three. Andy Ockershausen: Oh, was that it? Mark Moseley: But I was drafted, what was it? In the 14th round. They had 18 rounds back then and I was ... Andy Ockershausen: You didn't play for them. Mark Moseley: I did my first, my rookie year. 1970, I played for the Eagles. Andy Ockershausen: Well, we missed that, but I didn't know that, but we forgive you for that. Mark Moseley: Well, now you know it. I know you don't forget anything. Andy Ockershausen: Mark, knowing you as a kicker and watching you all these years, you always had us in suspense. Will he or won't he? Fortunately, he did 300 out of 457 in his career. That's a tremendous successful rate. Scored a total of 1,382 points. He's been so successful and he now serves the best hamburger in the world with over 3,500 stores. Here comes Five Guys and Mark Moseley. Mark, welcome to Our Town. Mark Moseley: Thank you, thank you, thank you. I'm glad to be here. Andy Ockershausen: You know, we've been trying to get you for a long time, because 10 years ago we had a reunion of sorts with a lot of friends of mine and a party that we had at Comcast and did a show out of it. Mark was there and appreciated so much, but then to watch his career, I think that was the first time in public that I had the chance to say "Mark Moseley's with Five Guys." Because most of the audience, and we had a pretty good crowd there, guys you grew up with, did not know that. Mark, that was 10 years ago and you've been so successful. Mark Moseley: Yeah. Well, I think it was your 80th birthday, wasn't it? Andy Ockershausen: It was, correct. Mark Moseley: I believe. It was a great night. Andy Ockershausen: It was a fabulous party. Mark Moseley: You had a lot of good people that ... Andy Ockershausen: We had five Hall of Famers of the National Football League. I don't know why, they all needed work, I guess. God bless him, Sam Huff. We both have great feelings for Sam, and telling some stories about him. He's lost the edge now and he's really out there. It's so sad. NFL Hall of Famer Sam Huff - Friend and Mentor Mark Moseley: I tell you what, he's a great friend. Sam was known as the big hitter. He was the guy. For him to be friends with a kicker, was not real kosher. For some reason, Sam took to me and we've been friends ever since. Andy Ockershausen: That's good protection for you. Mark Moseley: Well, he was already retired when I came to Washington here in '74, but he was still doing the radio show. He was doing the games. I got to know him real well. I've participated in his golf tournaments for charities and his West Virginia Breeder's Cup. Andy Ockershausen: A good citizen, as you say Mark, like you were.
Gordon Peterson on conversation with colleague Glenn Brenner after they began to work together at Channel 9 ~
"He says to me one day, 'I need to talk to you. This is serious.' He says, 'I’ve been fired from every job I’ve ever had for the stuff I’m doing here and you keep throwing gasoline on the fire. I’m trying to figure out if you’re with me or against me.' I said, 'I’m with you, baby, just trust me.'"
Gordon Peterson, Retired Journalist and Legendary News Anchor and Andy Ockershausen in studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Our Town with Andy Ockershausen. Like all the rest of us, so much of our guests have grown up in the news business here in Washington. We just decided we wanted people on that everybody knew about, so we've been trying to get this man for the last year, and we finally got it. Gordon Peterson was at one time the dean. I hate to say that, the dean of anchors, but you were. You were older than anybody except Bryson Rash, who died. But the names and people we have on the show talk about Channel 9, and they talk about Gordon Peterson, and inevitably, guys like Sonny Jurgensen who worked with you, the new chief of police is from Worcester. Gordon Peterson: I knew that. Andy Ockershausen: He told me that. I was sitting right here. Then, even your TV director, Ernie Baur. Ernie Baur on Gordon Peterson as "Guy LeGuy" Ernie Baur: So we decided, to do a show with the Caps. This is in January, or something like that. It was 7:30, live audience. Boom. It starts snowing around 9:00 in the morning. Now it's getting deeper, you know? So now I call the Caps up and I go, "You guys think you're going to be able to make it?" "Oh, yeah, yeah. We're hockey players." It's Guy Charron, Danny Belisle, I don't know. So now, we've got eight, six feet of snow, and the audience can't get there and the Caps are stuck in College Park. But we still have to do a show. So I gathered everybody in the station to be in the audience, and you see in the audience, Mike Buchanan, Pat Collins, Susan King. I don't know if Andrea Mitchell was there. You know, but all the talent- Andy Ockershausen: All the talent. Ernie Baur: And a couple of the engineers. But we have no guest. So first comes out Gordon and Glenn and Sonny and we get Gordon Barnes on, who was doing weather. And somebody throws a snowball, hits him right in the groin. "Oh, God." So now we're scrambling, you know? So Gordon Peterson, God bless him, wanders around and we said, "Why don't you come on?" So he comes on, and he comes on as Guy LeGuy. Andy Ockershausen: Yeah, world-famous. Ernie Baur: He's a Venezuelan... He's an American imitating a Venezuelan hockey player with a Swedish accent, okay? And he's Guy LeGuy. And it's great. He talks about, you know, in an accent that I can't do, you know, "It's tough to be a hockey player in Venezuela because the ice keeps melting," and all this stuff. Andy Ockershausen: Great line. Ernie Baur: Then so we... Any questions from audience? And Chris Gordon raises his hand, "Yeah, how long have you been 'Guy'?" Andy Ockershausen: Chris Gordon is still on the air. Ernie Baur: Absolutely. Andy Ockershausen: How about that, buddy? Ernie Baur: And Gordon Peterson says you know, "Of all the things I've done, this is what I'll be remembered for. Guy LeGuy." And people still tap me on the shoulder about that one. Andy Ockershausen: So here he is live and in color, the erstwhile Gordon Peterson. The Guy LeGuy Backstory Gordon Peterson: Ernie Baur was the first guy who cued me on television at Channel 9. And here's how he cued me. Just before the mic gets hot and the lights go on, he says "Hey, dummy, when I point, you talk." And he points. So the lights come on and I'm laughing. And after the broadcast, my boss says, "What was so funny at the beginning of the broadcast?" I said, "I don't know, I just was in a good mood, I guess." Now, the backstory on this thing that he told you, the studio was,
Charles Mann on how his passion for learning paid off on the football field ~
". . .that [play] book was thick and I memorized, I mean, I took in all that information and had it down and those last few years of my football career were effortless "
Charles Mann, Business Man and Washington Redskins 70 Greatest Honoree and Andy Ockershausen in studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Our Town, this is Andy Ockershausen and delightful guest today is, one of our favorites from the glory days of the Washington Redskins, but we're not here to talk about the Redskins. We're talking about a man names Charles Mann, number 71, who'll always be remembered as a co-End with Dexter Manley. Charles Mann: That's true. That's a good way to be remembered. Andy Ockershausen: Those were the glory years. Charles Mann: Two extremes. One extreme to the other extreme. Andy Ockershausen: But Charles, you've had such a wonderful career beyond football, I mean, all the things that you've done and your accomplishments are, I think, great lessons for the young players, that there's life after football. You proved it. Charles Mann - Passion for Learning Paid Off on Football Field Charles Mann: You know, Joe Gibbs told me this, and I never knew this and now I'm starting to brag 'cause you know, as more time ... and this is my 22nd year out of the league so, the longer you're out of the league, the more embellishments come. Anyway, but this is the truth, Joe Gibbs told me that I scored the highest on the test that they give players to see their football aptitude and it's called the, I can't even think of the name of the test. But, it's very well known. Andy Ockershausen: A league wide test, correct? Charles Mann: A league wide test that they give ... they'd give it at the Combine I believe. But, they tested me and it's not an aptitude, it's a football aptitude test. It's how many concepts, how much information can they take in and deal with- Andy Ockershausen: What can you absorb, correct? Charles Mann: Yeah so, I never knew though, that I had a passion for learning. And I had a passion for learning and it transferred from the football field. We had this thick binder that Torgy Torgeson and Larry Peccatiello and- Andy Ockershausen: All the assistant coaches. Charles Mann: Yeah, that, I mean ... and Petitbon, the main guy, but that book was thick and I memorized, I mean, I took in all that information and had it down and those last few years of my football career were effortless. Andy Ockershausen: You were way ahead. Work Smarter, Not Harder - Career Related Surgery Charles Mann: Well, what you wanna do in life is, you wanna work smarter, not harder, you know? And so I began to apply my skills and my brain over those physical skills that are starting to slow down and wear down ... I just two years ago, December 21, 2015, I had back surgery, L3-L4. I had it 0n December 21 and I remembered very well- Andy Ockershausen: Did the league pay for that surgery? Charles Mann: No. Andy Ockershausen: That was you? Charles Mann: Yeah. Andy Ockershausen: You were out of it long enough so couldn't blame it on them. Charles Mann: No, they should ... No, it definitely was from my career. Andy Ockershausen: Football related. Charles Mann: Everything I have is from my career, but you have to go through a whole bunch of trials and tribulations and prove a bunch of stuff and by the time you have the surgery, you should have had it two years prior. So I always have insurance- Andy Ockershausen: So you just got it done. Charles Mann: So I just go have the insurance and pay for it, but I had it done- Andy Ockershausen: Let's talk about the old Charles Mann. Charles Mann: No, but let me tell you this though, I had it done as a gift to myself. That's why I had it on December 21. This was my Christmas gift, I was not gonna have anymore doggone back pain. Andy Ockershausen: Good for you.
David Wilmot on an unexpected meeting at the home of his future inlaws that influenced his decision to go to law school~
"When I went downstairs, I was blown away. Playing poker were the following: Thurgood Marshall, Wiley Branton, a young Vernon Jordan, Floyd McKissick. . . We only read about these folks in Jet Magazine or in Ebony. . .That influenced, inched me towards me thinking about law school."
David Wilmot, Attorney | Businessman | Lobbyist | Activist and Andy Ockershausen, in studio interview
Andy Ockershausen:This is Andy Ockershausen, and this is Our Town. I have a great opportunity for me and my knowledge, which then it makes our audience more knowledge, but to find out about a name that's been around Washington for years that's very famous but unknown, that's David Wilmot. David is an attorney, not a lawyer, an attorney. He's from a law firm Harmon & Wilmot. He's an expert in local government, corporate and commercial real estate development, promotion of minority and small business. David, you're involved in everything. Did I not know until today and hearing your name and knowing you for all these years, you were born in St. Martin? David Wilmot: Yes, that is correct. Andy Ockershausen: Janice and I, I took her to St. Martin's two years ago. They had the terrible hurricane go through there. The Early Years - Panama, Jamaica, and St. Martin David Wilmot: That is absolutely correct. Growing up there, we had probably 10 or 12 hurricanes. Our homes are so well-built that they've always stood hurricanes. You go back to my grandparents and great-grandparents, those houses- Andy Ockershausen: You're in the French part or the- David Wilmot: We live on both sides. Andy Ockershausen: Both sides. David Wilmot: When I was growing up, there were only 5,000 people on the entire island. It was primarily farming. Some time in the late '60s, we started moving towards tourism. It's one of the premier tourist destinations. Andy Ockershausen: I was on board of a National Associations of Broadcasting. We had our annual meeting in La Samanna. It just opened. In fact, they were still whitewashing part of it when we were there. That must've been in 1974 or something like that. David Wilmot: It would've been around that time. That's absolutely correct, because when I was growing up, the only hotel we had was the Little Bay Hotel. We only had one hotel on the island. We had two guest houses, The Passing Gram was one of them, and Delito was the other. Andy Ockershausen: In our island in the sun. It was a magnificent vacation. I'll never forget the airport, David. I'm sure it's still that way. I didn't think they'd get that airplane off the ground. It took off right over a mountain. David Wilmot: It does. Andy Ockershausen: Is it still there today? David Wilmot: It's still there today, and they haven't expanded the airport any longer. The new jets are capable of- Andy Ockershausen: They can do it. Get off the ground easy enough. David Wilmot: Get off the ground quite easily. Andy Ockershausen: David, you're born and raised in the islands and you went to school. How in the world? David Wilmot: Let me correct one thing. I wasn't actually born in St. Martin. I need to share that with you. My parents and grandparents went to a place called Panama to work on the Panama Canal. Andy Ockershausen: Is that right? David Wilmot: My father and his father and grandfather came from Jamaica to Panama. My mother and her family came from St. Martin to Panama. I was actually born in Panama in Gorgas Hospital on the canal zone. Andy Ockershausen: That's the famous name, Gorgas, right? David Wilmot: Exactly. Then raised between Panama until I was 12. My father died and then we went back to Jamaica for a brief period, and then to my mother's home in St. Martin. Then I came to the United States at age 17. Andy Ockershausen: Wow. Moving to New York City as a Young Adult | The Black Dutchman
Tom McMillen on his former University of Maryland Coach Lefty Driesell ~
". . .Lefty, I still keep in touch with him. He's indomitable. He's really a special person. He should be in the Naismith Hall of Fame. It's such an injustice. I mean when he retired as an active coach, there were only three other coaches who had more wins than he did. I think it was Dean Smith. . ."
Tom McMillen, Retired Basketball Pro, Rhodes Scholar, Public Servant, Businessman, and Philanthropist in studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town. We have such a special man to talk to today. He's done so much in his lifetime, it's tough for me to keep up with him. But not only is he six feet 11, but he's got a track record that's unbelievable what he's done in the community. From playing professional basketball in the NBA to serving as US Congressman from the fourth congressional district of Maryland. He was a Rhodes Scholar. He's written a book about ethics and sports. He's been on a board of directors for the President's Foundation on sports, physical education, and nutrition. And these are only a few of his accomplishments, in addition to the unique distinction of being the tallest member of Congress. I got to know Tom McMillen with my involvement many, many years ago with Lefty Driesell and the University of Maryland. Tom McMillen, welcome to Our Town. Tom McMillen Loses U.S. Congressional Seat to Gerrymandering Tom McMillen: Well, it's great to be here Andy. Andy Ockershausen: Our Town is so big now, McMillen. Everywhere you went except Pennsylvania was Our Town. Certainly when you were in Congress in the fourth district was part, it's still part of Our Town. But they changed the voting district and they voted you out. Tom McMillen: It's the whole thing about gerrymandering they talk about today. Well, my district was basically split up into six different congressional districts. It's not new. It happens all over. The real question for me was ... It would have been nice to stay in Congress maybe 10, 12 years. There's really a choice you make whether you want to be there 30 years. I don't think I ever wanted to be kind of ... Andy Ockershausen: It wasn't a lifetime for you. Tom McMillen: ... a lifetime thing. It was more an opportunity to serve and make a difference. I had that experience and it was fantastic. Andy Ockershausen: Great. They were great years. Everything changed during your period in Congress. The whole delegation changed. And Virginia changed and Maryland changed. That's all part of our life has changed. I want to talk to the Tom McMillen I first heard about as a high school athlete. We had a relationship with the University of Maryland for WMAL and Lefty Driesell was one of our contacts. Lefty was trying to recruit a kid in Pennsylvania to come to the University of Maryland. The Road to University of Maryland Basketball and Coach Lefty Driesell Tom McMillen: Well, if you recall the history of that. My brother had played at Maryland- Andy Ockershausen: That's correct. Tom McMillen: -with Gary Williams, Coach Williams. Andy Ockershausen: They were players? Tom McMillen: They were teammates. My brother had played there. My brother was heading into medical school. He wanted me to go to Maryland. My other brother was at Carolina. He wanted me to go to Carolina. My other sister was at University of Pennsylvania. She wanted me to go there. The coach at University of Virginia used to coach in my hometown. He wanted me to go there. Andy Ockershausen: You had a lot of people pulling on you. Tom McMillen: Yeah. It was very difficult. It was compounded because I was on the cover of Sports Illustrated. I was the second high school player on the cover of Sports Illustrated in February of my senior year.
Bob Ryan on being part of the Channel 4 Dream Team ~
"People would say, "Oh, what was it like?" I said, "Everybody loved what we did and didn't want to do anybody else's job." I didn't want to do sports! I didn't want to be an anchor, and sure as heck nobody wanted to have my job."
Bob Ryan retired Meteorologist and Andy Ockershausen in studio
Bob Ryan with Trumbull and Core from the Good Ole' Days Bob Ryan: ... cold tomorrow night, and the weekend's going to start off nice. Sunny and pleasant on Saturday, about 60. I think we'll see a fair amount of clouds in here on Sunday, and maybe some rain by late Sunday or Monday. Bill Trumbull When you were a kid, were you called Red Ryan? Bob Ryan: Oh, I was called all sorts of things. The one I remember most was ... sort of diabolical friend of my father's called me peckerhead. You know, for Woody Woodpecker and things like that. Bill Trumbull Yeah, well, nice talking to you, Bob. Bob Ryan: Never liked that one. Bill Trumbull Thank you. You want to get the lights? I'll lock up. Chris Core: Well, turn off the mic now. Bill Trumbull I asked him a simple question. You're going to make this place a warehouse. Okay. Chris Core: I didn't know we were going to be able to- Bill Trumbull No. Chris Core: Okay. We're still on- Bill Trumbull Breaking new ground. Chris Core: Yeah. Bill Trumbull Okay. And speaking of heat pumps. Chris Core: Yeah, what's the best combination you can think of, huh? Bill Trumbull I'm sweating my live spot coming up. You're on your own here. Chris Core: Well, let's talk about the heat pump then. Bill Trumbull Alright. Chris Core:: Metro Washington Heat Pump Association wants you to know that the energy efficient heat pump ... Bill Trumbull Loud and clear. Yes, no guessing, no guessing. Plays the slot for his television... Andy Ockershausen: Now, that is Washington radio. Several years ago with unbelievable Trumbull and Core and Bob Ryan, and we're so delighted to have Bob back here in the WMAL studio. This is Our Town, and this is Andy Ockershausen. We're all laughing because that could not have been planned, Bob. That was an ad lib of the greatest thing I've ever heard on radio. Bob Ryan: Live radio. It was... Andy Ockershausen: Live radio. Trumbull and Core had so much that they would make something out of nothing like that. What was he called? Bill? I always think of Bill. What was he called? Janice Iacona Ockershausen Jackie Bill? Andy Ockershausen: Huh? Janice Iacona Ockershausen Jackie Bill. Andy Ockershausen: Jackie Bill, here comes Bob Ryan, the man who made Washington weather fun, and the forecast fun, and WMAL fun for 33 years, Bob. Bob Ryan: Yeah. Andy Ockershausen: It's incredible. You got a- Bob Ryan: Time marches on. Andy Ockershausen: ... great career, and you're missed. Bob Ryan was important to this town, Our Town, and he knows how important weather is and what it means to us. Bob was one of the originals of the four ... we called it the Channel 4 Four Dream Team: Vance, Gentzler, Campbell, George Michael. I mean, it was just incredible, and he also was doing Harden and Weaver, and Trumbull and Core. I used to say, "Does this man ever sleep?" No, he's always on the air on WMAL. Bob, welcome to Our Town. Bob Ryan: Thank you. Thank you. It is great to be in Our Town, and wow, what a town.
Richard Dyer on the most important personal lesson he learned from his time away from Our Town~
". . .how special it was growing up here in Washington DC. At a time where the country was going through tremendous amount of change with the Civil Rights Movement and my parents were able to get a little bit more opportunity as a result of that, which allowed us to have a slightly better opportunity because we had a better education. That . . .expanded my vision of what my life could be. . .I was gifted with as a result of growing up here in Washington, a diverse international city where people have contributed from all walks of life, all cultures, all races for decades, was confidence."
Richard Dyer, President and General Manager WUSA-TV, and Andy Ockershausen in studio
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen and this Our Town, and we have a re-visitor to Our Town, a man who was born here, who appeared and left for a while. But he came back, and we're so happy that Richer Dyer who is the President and General Manager of WUSA TV. Unfortunately, Richard, I sometimes call it WTOP, but CBS and Channel 9, there's a reason they call it the Tiffany Network because it's such a class organization. And WUSA is a model ... what I grew up with, is the Washington Post, a class organization. Thank God you came back. Back to Our Town from WLWT, NBC affiliate, in Cincinnati, OH Richard Dyer Well, I'm really happy. I'm blessed because when I left 15 and a half years ago, I wasn't sure this would happen. The circle completing itself for me has been an amazing gift. I'm so happy about it. I went off and left and joined the Hearst Television Company for 15 and a half years as a General Manager, and I'm able to take that great experience and come back to my home town, where my parents are. My dad just turned 82 on Saturday. So we celebrated with family and friends and that something that we weren't able to do when we lived in Cincinnati. Andy Ockershausen: He's got to be extremely fond of you, I mean. Richard Dyer Extremely, yeah I really- Andy Ockershausen: It's a fact. He wasted all that money sending you to college, I know that. And Richard, but you learned while you were away, and now I want to talk about that. What did you learn while you were away that you brought back with you, that you think is the most important lesson. Lessons Learned While Away from Our Town Richard Dyer I think there are a couple of things. There's a lot of professional lessons. But the most important personal lesson for me is how special it was growing up here in Washington DC. At a time where the country was going through tremendous amount of change with the Civil Rights Movement and my parents were able to get a little bit more opportunity as a result of that, which allowed us to have a slightly better opportunity because we had a better education. That better education expanded my vision of what my life could be. So the one thing I really understand that I was gifted with as a result of growing up here in Washington, a diverse international city where people have contributed from all walks of life, all cultures, all races for decades, was confidence. That's the one thing that I saw models of people, for example, Walter Washington as a mayor in the seventies. Andy Ockershausen: Our Town. Walter. Absolutely. Richard Dyer We saw- Andy Ockershausen: Bennetta. I mean, they were Washingtonians. Richard Dyer Entertainment coming through in the 70's with WHUR as a new voice in the 70's. Andy Ockershausen: Absolutely. Radio, I know it well. Richard Dyer My parents are native Washingtonians, they grew up- Andy Ockershausen: Riggs Park you said? Richard Dyer No. My dad grew up at 12th and U. Andy Ockershausen: Oh, wow! Richard Dyer And my mom grew up at 4th and W. Andy Ockershausen: I know those neighborhoods. Richard Dyer's Early Years and Memories of Ben's Chili Bowl Richard Dyer And I was born at Freedmen's Hospital.
Father Ray Kemp on why he began teaching at Georgetown University ~
". . .a guy named Big John Thompson . . . said, 'You gotta teach a class.'. . .'I want a class where these kids can bring their experiences to college and not just sit there and study about all the black adolescent males in trouble. How do you bring their experiences into the equation, into the classroom?'
Andy Ockershausen and Our Town guest Father Ray Kemp in studio interview
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen, and this is Our Town. And I'm so happy to have one of my favorite men in the whole world. We call him the Priest for Life. He's a native Washingtonian. He just celebrated his fiftieth anniversary in the Archdiocese of Washington, he's my good friend, Father Raymond Kemp. Ray, welcome to Our Town. Father Ray Kemp: Hi Andy. It's good to be with you. Andy Ockershausen: It's incredible that you're here in civilian clothes, which obviously you're not retired, but you gave it up for a while. You won't remember but I do, it's one of the fondest things that ever happened to me. Sincerely Ray, was to meet you in a beautiful watering Georgetown, called the guards. I was with a young lady named Kathi who's a good friend of Janice's too, Kathi Bowers. She said, "This is my friend, Ray Kemp. He's a priest." I said, "You gotta be kidding me. He's sitting in a bar. He's not in his uniform." She said, "I don't care. He is a Catholic priest from Silver Spring. I've known him all my life." Andy O and Father Ray Kemp Met in a Watering Hole Father Ray Kemp: I love Kathi Bowers. I love Kathi Bowers. I love watering holes. I think that Jesus met an awful lot of people in watering holes. They were outside maybe, not inside but ... Kathi Bowers is one of the great people in the world. She married well too. We had a good time. Andy Ockershausen: Well you know, growing up with people and running into them like that and being part of Washington, being in Georgetown. Frankly, Georgetown was not one of my travel places because I'm a north-east guy from 13th and D, Holy Comforter. Father Ray Kemp: Right. Andy Ockershausen: That you know so well. Father Ray Kemp: Eastern High School. Andy Ockershausen: And to be in Georgetown is special and from that day on I followed your career. I will remind you of some things that we did for you when the WMAL TV days were alive. Father Ray Kemp: You're great. Andy Ockershausen: But you, you're a native, you went to high school, I mean grammar school in Silver Spring. On Growing Up in Our Town - Catholic | Jesuit School Education Father Ray Kemp: St. Michaels in Silver Spring and the Sisters of Holy Names of Jesus and Mary. My sister joined the order. My brother went to that grade school as well, St. Michael's in Silver Spring. Carrol Ann is at, Sister Carrol Ann Kemp, and she's at Gonzaga. Andy Ockershausen: Well, St. Michael's is a parish. Did they have a church there too, and a different school? St. Michael's Parish Father Ray Kemp: They had a church. I said my first Mass there, May the 7th, 1967. Andy Ockershausen: Thirty days in May, '67. Father Ray Kemp: Yep. Andy Ockershausen: Ray, that's wonderful! You look so good. You obviously thrived as a priest, because then you decided to go to school when you went to DeMatha. DeMatha Catholic High Schools Father Ray Kemp: Yes. Andy Ockershausen: That's a long commute for you, wasn't it? Father Ray Kemp: That was a long commute. Some of us got together and pulled cars over there. Sometimes we hitch-hiked. Remember hitchhiking? Andy Ockershausen: Oh do I! Father Ray Kemp: We hitchhiked to and from a lot today, mostly from. We'd hitchhike from DeMatha. I was there for two years. I met a guy named Ben Wills, his family owned the little place, you know Reed Wills and that crowd? Andy Ockershausen: Oh, yeah. On How and Why Father Kemp Attended Gonzaga College High School
Elliot Denniberg on his first time pitching to Giant Food's Izzy Cohen, a classic !
". . .here comes the big moment and we’re showing the spots to Izzy . . . the head man, and to Alvin, and Izzy looks down. He’s looking down … with his head and listening to the music and . . . nodding . . . Whole thing is over with and I’ve already chewed through my upper lip and he gets up and heads for the door. And I’m going, “Oh, that’s it.” He says, “Alvin, those commercials were obviously shot in a studio. I never want to show the interior of our Giant Food stores to Mrs. Consumer in any other way but the real thing. You tell this young man to get back in our stores and set up the cameras there and do those spots over again and send me the bill.”
Elliot Denniberg, Advertising Wizard in studio with host Andy Ockershausen
Andy Ockershausen: This is Our Town. This is Andy Ockershausen. And it's just incredible that this man is still active, and he's a terrific, terrific friend. His name is Elliot Denniberg, and one time, I believe, he had the most successful advertising agency in Washington D.C. As a matter of fact, I know he had the most money because he had the biggest account. Elliot Denniberg: I blush. This is television, right? Andy Ockershausen: Elliot is a local guy, and I'm so glad he's still with us. Elliot Denniberg: I am too, Andy. Thank you so much for asking me. Andy Ockershausen: Did you grow up in the city? Elliot Denniberg: I'm D.C. born and raised. Andy Ockershausen: Where did you grow up? Elliot Denniberg: Like Bill Regardie, who I saw Saturday night, by the way, at the Palm, Coolidge High- Andy Ockershausen: Saturday night is Jewish night at the Palm. Elliot Denniberg: No, actually it was Friday night. Went to Coolidge and AU, Coolidge High and American University, yeah. Andy Ockershausen: That was a career path for people out of high school here to go to AU, I know. I went to AU also, after I failed at Maryland, but I finished at AU in the broadcasting school. My professor was Fred Fiske. Elliot Denniberg: Yeah, Fred Fiske. Andy Ockershausen: I remember that name. Elliot Denniberg: WWDC. Fred was a great guy. Andy Ockershausen: But, Elliot, I remember when that school was built. At one time, that was the epitome of high schools, really a great school Coolidge. Elliot Denniberg on Close Call at Don Pallini Dance Studios Elliot Denniberg: Yeah, Coolidge was a good school. You want to sing the alma mater? Coolidge High, we sing to thee ... Never mind. Andy Ockershausen: Yeah, I used to go up there to dances. Did you know they had dances on the basketball courts and that they had a live band up there? Elliot Denniberg: They had old Sigma Phi ... They had fraternity dances. Andy Ockershausen: Yeah. It was great fun, Friday night at Coolidge. No drinking, just serious dancing. Elliot Denniberg: I have a great- Andy Ockershausen: You're too young. Elliot Denniberg: No. Yeah, come on, I have a great story about ... You may remember this one. I'm going to keep it clean. It was at the Don Pallini Dance Studios on Connecticut Avenue and I'm 16 years old, 1953, and they're passing out, "Here, kid, you want to buy a ticket for a stag? We're going to have movies and we're going to have card games and we're going to have drinking." And I'm not doing any of those things, but I figured let's go. A whole bunch of young guys show up at the Don Pallini Dance Studios, paid the $2, and, next thing you know, I see my cousin Julian Seidel, rest in peace. He walks in with a reel of movies, puts it on. Not one frame of movie ever got shot. I look over at the door and a giant ax goes through the door. The cops raided the place- Andy Ockershausen: Before the movie. Elliot Denniberg: ...
Barbara Lang on the need for more women in Congress ~
"Women tend to try to solve problems, and not as much as the politics . . . I’ve talked to a number of women that are in Congress and say, “Why are you there?” They’re not there to be on a power trip. They’re there to solve something."
Barbara Lang, Former President and CEO of DC Chamber of Commerce in studio with Our Town host Andy Ockershausen
Andy Ockershausen: Hi. This is Andy Ockershausen and this is Our Town. I have the absolute total pleasure to talk to a wonderful, wonderful woman who's been a very dear friend for many years. Unfortunately, she's out of the spotlight right now, but she ran our Chamber of Commerce better than anybody ever did before or since. Welcome Barbara Lang to Our Town. Barbara Lang: Andy, thank you so much. Delighted to be here. Andy Ockershausen: Well, you are a big part of Our Town and we try to ... Started this program to talk about all the good things that are going on in Our Town. A lot of them don't know about them. You know them because you live with them, but Our Town is exploding and we're all part of the explosion, what we see at the wharf, what we see at the yard, what we see that's going up on Connecticut Avenue. Isn't it wonderful thing? Barbara Lang on Life in Our Town at the Time She Started with the DC Chamber of Commerce Barbara Lang: Absolutely it is. I went to the Chamber of Commerce right after 9/11 and that was a time when we weren't sure what was going to happen. Washington was like an armed camp. The airports were closed. Retail was suffering. All the hotels were laying people off. The thing I used to say is, "My goodness, are the locust coming next," because we had all the murders that were happening, the Montgomery guys that were the sniper shootings and people were scared to death around that. There was so much happening and you just thought are we ever, ever going to recover from this? By God, now you look at Washington and the suburbs as well, because it all goes to make this region such a dynamic place. Andy Ockershausen: Our Town has exploded with so many great things, and you made many of them happen Barbara. How in the world ... You were working for Uncle Sam and then you left that and went into the private sector. Is that correct? Barbara Lang: I really only had- Andy Ockershausen: Fannie Mae? Barbara Lang: Yeah, but Fannie Mae was private. Andy Ockershausen: That's correct. I know that. Barbara Lang: It's private, but people thought it was government owned, but it was a private New York ... Publicly traded on the Stock Exchange. But prior to that I was with IBM for 25 years. So I spent 25 years in IBM. Andy Ockershausen: Not in this market though, right? 25 Years at IBM - The Road to Our Town Barbara Lang: A little bit in this market, yeah. I started in Jacksonville, Florida. I then moved to Atlanta and then to Washington. I spent a total of 25 years at IBM and then Fannie Mae recruited me and so I went in as a vice-president and chief procurement officer at Fannie Mae and spent 10 years there, then went to the Chamber of Commerce. Andy Ockershausen: You're too young for that Barbara. Barbara Lang: Oh, aren't you sweet? Thank you. You keep saying that. Andy Ockershausen: I'm trying to think of the name ... Kent Cushenberry? Do you remember that name? Barbara Lang: Kent Cushenberry? I worked for Kent when he headed up community relations. That was one of my last two jobs with IBM. Andy Ockershausen: He was a very dear friend, a very dear friend. Barbara Lang: Yeah. He was great and sorry to see him go. He's somebody that left here all too soon. Andy Ockershausen: Oh yeah, he was young. Barbara Lang: He was a young man. Andy Ockershausen: Before him there was a man ... What's our favorite sports announcer, Timmy Brant. His father had the job before Kent did way back. Tim Brant, do you remember him? Barbara Lang: Yeah. I know the name, but I did not know him.
Coach Bob Milloy on Coach Morgan Wootten's coaching style ~
"He could have coached ping pong if you asked him to, but he was just a people guy. I just watched how he dealt with people and he very seldom raised his voice and he never cursed, but he would say to Adrian Dantley, 'Come on Mary Alice, you’ve got to try a little harder.' Those guys would go through the wall. He was the master of it."
Coach Bob Milloy, Our Town Guest, and Host Andy Ockershausen in studio
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen and I cannot tell you, you listeners, I hope you all are paying attention, how important it is to me and how it important it is to Our Town to have this gentleman on our program. "The Coach of All Time," I call him. He's the most winningest coach in history for the state of Maryland, high school. He's won over 400 games. He's recently retired, although he'll never retire, and he'd still be winning games. Bob Milloy, the coach of all time. He's in the Sports Hall of Fame, the Maryland Hall of Fame, the Coaches Hall of Fame. He should be in everybody's hall of fame. He's a local guy. Welcome to Our Town, Bob Milloy. Coach Bob Milloy: Thank you so much for that terrific interview. Andy Ockershausen: You hear that all the time. Coach Bob Milloy: It kind of set me back on my heels. I don't know how to follow up on that. Andy Ockershausen: Don't tell me Milloy, you know what it is. You go to, I know, the sports banquets. You know what it is with the Sports Hall of Fame, I was there. You're even a member of the Jocks Hall of Fame, which is bigger to me than that, of course. That's all your guys, all those sports guys you grew up with, went to school with. You're a graduate of the University of Maryland, how about that? Coach Bob Milloy - Homegrown History Coach Bob Milloy: Yes, sir. I am a local guy. I was listening to your podcast with, was it Donald Graham? Andy Ockershausen: Yes. Coach Bob Milloy: He talked about McLean, I guess he was a big real estate guy around here, right? I grew up in McLean Gardens and it's obviously named after his family, right? Andy Ockershausen: That's right. You're Our Town guy. Coach Bob Milloy: No question, yeah. Andy Ockershausen: I knew your dad real well. He was in the automobile business for years. So respected by everybody. But way back, I did not know until today, that you were a St. John's guy. Education - St. Anne's | Blessed Sacrament | Little Flower | St. John's Coach Bob Milloy: Went to St. John's. I started off, went to St. Anne's then Blessed Sacrament when we moved and went to B.S. Andy Ockershausen: St. Anne's is right on Wisconsin Avenue, right? Coach Bob Milloy: Right. I don't think it's a school anymore. Andy Ockershausen: No, I don't ... It's gone. Coach Bob Milloy: The church is still there. Janice Iacona Ockershausen Yeah, church, yeah. Coach Bob Milloy: But then we went to Blessed Sacrament and we got a house out in Bethesda out Bradley Boulevard, which my mother still lives in. Andy Ockershausen: Is that right? How many ... That's a long time ago. Coach Bob Milloy: 1953 we moved in. I was 10 years old and she's still there. Andy Ockershausen: Must have been a dirt road. Coach Bob Milloy: Well there wasn't a lot of trees around in the neighborhood, that's for sure. So anyway, then I went to Little Flower for three years and after Little Flower I went to St. John's. I actually did not get in on the first try. The old man knew somebody and I got a chance to take another test and I got in and then made the honor roll. Andy Ockershausen: How were you commuting then? I know metro, of course, but did you take the bus? Coach Bob Milloy: No, no, no. We had about three families that went to Little Flower and then the other side of the street they all went to Lourde's in Bethesda. Dad went to Capital Cadillac every morning so he would drop us off three days a week and then Mr. Cuddy would drop us off another couple days and it all worked out.
Bruce Allen recalls an instance when his dad coached the Washington Redskins that demonstrates football's impact on Our Town~
". . .the one thing my dad was real proud of, and Mayor Washington was proud of, when we beat Dallas on that New Year's Eve game, in the NFC Championship game, it was the only day, New Year's Day, New Year's Eve, that had not one crime registered in Washington D.C., not one crime."
Bruce Allen, President, Washington Redskins and Andy Ockershausen, host of Our TownAndy Ockershausen: Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town. And we're a special broadcast today and a special opportunity for me to talk to the people that are important in our life. Particularly with the most sterling franchise in national football, the Washington Redskins. The president of the Washington Redskins, Bruce Allen. And Bruce, I go back so far with you, but fortunately, it was your life, not mine. Because I was there when you started more or less. But, the Redskins are important to Our Town, obviously. It's the most important franchise in the world to me. But you brought so much back to Our Town and for that we're so grateful. Bruce Allen: Well, Andy, thank you. I don't think the Allen family can thank Washington enough for the thrills that we've had growing up, and the Redskins have benefited from the greatest fan base in this nation. Andy Ockershausen: And the greatest management now that you're back. We were so impressed that you came back and got a hold of this franchise and the situation, and you rejoined the broadcast to WMAL, which is my heart and soul. But that was so great for everybody, Bruce. People can now hear their favorite team. Bruce Allen: Well, a radio program ought to have an audience, right? It really felt like coming home. I've heard the advertisements, but WMAL is part of our great history and we're proud to be back. Andy Ockershausen: Oh, boy. Well, I don't wanna talk football. I wanna talk ... Your family was so special to the community. Your mom, and I knew your grandmother and grandfather and sat with them at some football games. That was special because I don't think they ever really understood what was going on, but they were delightful. Bruce Allen: No, every- Andy Ockershausen: Your grandfather was in the wine business. Bruce Allen on Family History Bruce Allen: He was in the wine business and none of us drink wine in the family, which is interesting, but special people. I've said it any time I can. I've had the great- Andy Ockershausen: They lived in Africa, in Tunisia, right? Bruce Allen: Tunisia and Paris. Andy Ockershausen: That's right. I know they lived on the mainland also. Bruce Allen: But I've had the greatest role models in our family to live by, and I can't thank the people enough. Andy Ockershausen: Very prolific. I know he went through a terrible time during the war. He told us some of the stories and so forth when I heard this from your mom. But Bruce, thinking about your dad who was so ... He's so tied up in life and football, how he ever ... What he'd do? He chased your mother all over the world more or less to marry him, right? He went to Tunisia or France or someplace to beg her to get married. Bruce Allen: Well, it was a cute story. She was visiting friends in America, and my dad was a head coach at Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa. And why someone from Paris, France on a tour of the United States would visit Sioux City, Iowa, I don't know, but I'm very happy that that happened and the tour bus went through there. Dad was also in charge of the plays, the drama plays on campus, and she- Andy Ockershausen: A very small college, right? Bruce Allen - His Mom and Dad's love story between Sioux City, Iowa to Tunis, Tunisia Bruce Allen: Small college. Morningside College, very small college. More like a W&L in this area. But the lights went out at the show and my mom, my future mom, was in the front row with the tour group,
John Holaday on a new product that will make it possible to dispose of unused prescription drugs in a safe, convenient and effective way, that prevents their misuse for addiction, and that also prevents their pollution of the environment ~
"So. . .when you get a prescription for an opioid, it comes with a little packet. Same size as the one for the flowers. So, when you're through with the drug, instead of flushing them, which contaminates the environment, or instead of getting in your car and taking them to a pharmacy take back program, most pharmacies don't want them anyway, it's inconvenient, pour a little water into that prescription vial, halfway fill, add this powder, and then shake it up. Within 30 seconds it dissolves the pills and encased them in a polymer, . . . a gel, from which they cannot be extracted for abuse and they won't leech into landfills. It's biodegradable."
John Holaday, Chairman and CEO DisposeRX - Our Town Guest
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town. Of all the, over a hundred, guests that we've had on Our Town, we've interviewed the top to the bottom. Most have been recognizable names from sports, government, radio, television, newspaper, you name it. We've had a potpourri of guests. But this man has made such a major impact on Our Town. But, he's worked under the radar. His name is John Holaday. Not Johnny Holliday. Not our Johnny Holliday. I got it mixed up for a while, til Janice straightened me out. But, this John Holaday, he's a scientist, and entrepreneur, a former captain in the United States Army, an inventor, he's been CEO of several medical companies, and he's a friend of Our Town. We're so delighted to welcome John Holaday. John Holaday: Thanks so much Andy. What a pleasure to be here today. Andy Ockershausen: You will know when this program airs. I call our podcast radio without transmitter. We didn't pay for this. But, it's always there and it's ours and it's yours. Once it's done, it's out there forever. John Holaday: Right. Andy Ockershausen: Stay up there, cause I don't know how we get this. But John, welcome. You've done so much and it's under the radar. We're trying to open the radar up to you now, in some ways. You've done so much. Tell us about the John Holaday. Growing up, how did you get to the University of Alabama? John Holaday - Born in New York, Grammar School in Tennessee and College at the University of Alabama - Roll Tide John Holaday: Roll Tide. Born in New York, my father was a professor. Went down to Alabama, as the Chairman to the Department of Educational Psychology. So, three of us went to college there. Obviously went the benefit of having a father who was a professor there. Andy Ockershausen: He was on the faculty? John Holaday: He was on the faculty, yeah. It's tough to put three kids through school, but they had a break for faculty, in terms of the cost of tuition. Andy Ockershausen: You went to grammar school and so forth in Alabama? John Holaday: No, I went to grammar school in Tennessee. So, we moved from Tennessee to Alabama. Andy Ockershausen: He was a scientist. Correct? John Holaday: He was a professor of psychology, at the University of Tennessee. Andy Ockershausen: Oh, shrink! John Holaday: Uh, shrink. Yeah. Yep. Andy Ockershausen: And then he moved the family down south to Alabama. John Holaday: Down to Alabama. 1957. Andy Ockershausen: Wow! John Holaday: Yep. Andy Ockershausen: That's a long time ago John. John Holaday: I'm not a spring chicken, either. Andy Ockershausen: I know that. But you are in so many ways. You're young, and you're young at heart and that's important. Here you are on the University of Alabama campus and you go studying there. You're gonna be a graduate of the University. Correct? John Holaday: That's correct. Andy Ockershausen: Your father, obviously had ways to get you in school. John Holaday: Well, I think he must have helped in some way.
Jack Nichols on HEROES, Inc.® - who it benefits and how ~
". . .we support the widows and children of police officers and firefighters who have been killed in the line of duty here in the greater Washington area. And HEROES actually stands for Honor Every Responsible Officer's Eternal Sacrifice. . . Whatever they want and they need, we're gonna make sure they get taken care of right away."
Jack Nichols, President, HEROES, Inc. ® and Andy Ockershausen in studio
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen and this is Our Town. And we have a very important president of my most important, I believe, the most important charity in the city of Washington, of HEROES, Inc. Jack Nichols, welcome to Our Town. Jack Nichols: Thank you, Andy, it's great to be here, great to be here. Andy Ockershausen: But you are a native of Our Town. I mean ... Jack Nichols: I am, I was born and raised. Andy Ockershausen: We consider everything part of Our Town. Even Annapolis is Our Town. Vienna, Virginia is Our Town. We go all the way to Fredericksburg, because this is Our Town. Almost as big as HEROES, not quite as fame footprint, but this is what we are. This is Our Town, and HEROES is such a big, important part of Our Town. Jack Nichols: Yes, it's work that we love to do, it's very important. All the first responders and helping those families, it's a labor of love for a lot of us and it has been for a very long time. Andy Ockershausen: And you're a native. You grew up in Silver Spring. Jack Nichols On Growing Up in Our Town Jack Nichols: I am. I actually grew in Rockville and all my family is from the Baltimore area. My father was the first one to leave the country and come down 95 to Montgomery County. Born and raised in Rockville and been here, I went away to school for four years, but came back, been here all my life. Andy Ockershausen: We are another country to Baltimore. Jack Nichols: Right, we are, you definitely don't bring the Washington Post up there. Andy Ockershausen: Oh my God. We had a company that I worked for called HomeTeam Sports, carried the Orioles baseball. Jack Nichols: Sure. Andy Ockershausen: And it was great. Jack Nichols: Yup. Andy Ockershausen: But, they said, whatever you do, go back to Washington, we don't want you living here. Jack Nichols: That's right, that's right. Andy Ockershausen: Baltimore, we call it Baseball USA. A great baseball town. Now, the Orioles aren't doing real good right now, we're watching them, but our Nats are, I know. Jack Nichols: Absolutely. Andy Ockershausen: Fair compensation. So you decided, you went to school out of town, out of the city? On Education - St. John's | East Carolina University Jack Nichols: Well, I went to college at East Carolina University, which is down in Greenville, North Carolina. Reason for that is my parents said you can go anywhere you want, but it can't be more than five hours away. So Greenville, North Carolina is five hours away. Andy Ockershausen: Right on the border. Jack Nichols: It was as far away as I could possibly get, but other than that, I went to St. Johns here, locally. Andy Ockershausen: Did you? A cadet. Jack Nichols: That's where I met, ... I was a cadet, I was back when it was all boys and military. Andy Ockershausen: But you didn't go downtown, you were up here, right, in Northwest? Jack Nichols: I was, right. Andy Ockershausen: Because they would use to be, they used to have formation down here in Vermont Avenue. Jack Nichols: Vermont Avenue, that's right. Andy Ockershausen: I would ride the street car. Jack Nichols: That's right, that's right. Andy Ockershausen: So, you decided then to come back to Our Town and get involved in the banking business here. Did you study banking in college? Jack Nichols: I did, I was a finance major and the reason for all that is because my father was a long time banker here. He worked for what is now Bank of America. So in the Summers in high school and college,
Brian Kelly on Bill Regardie’s thoughts about publishing controversial stories in his magazine~
“I said, ‘Bill, you've got to decide whether you want to be liked or respected.’ It took him about two seconds and he said, ‘Yeah, I want to be respected. Go ahead and run the story.’ That was always Bill's feeling. Even though he is a Washington boy, grew up here, he knew that as an editor, as a publisher, he had to do the right thing for his readers, which was tell the story.”
Brian Kelly, Editor and Chief Content Officer, U.S. News & World Report
Andy Ockershausen: I'm delighted that we have a star, a journalism star, to be our guest today, and he's been a friend for years. He's so well-known and well-liked by everybody, particularly the people he works for. And, by the way here’s what our friend Bill Regardie had to say about our special guest today.
Hiring Brian was the smartest move I ever made. I selected about a quarter of them, and another quarter came over the transom. But hiring Brian away from the Chicago Tribune. Brian used to come in and write for us every two issues. Hiring Brian was like hiring a young Ben Bradlee He was a "fn" killer. I didn't know that when I hired him. He wanted to come in and make his name.
Welcome to Our Town Brian Kelly, editor and chief content officer of the U.S. News & World Report. Why should I do that? You've been in Our Town for 20 years, haven't you, 30 years? Kelly Comes to Our Town as Freshman at Georgetown Brian Kelly: More than that, Andy. In 1972 I showed up as a freshman at Georgetown University. Andy Ockershausen: That's right. You went to school here. Brian Kelly: Been a while, yeah. Andy Ockershausen: But you were born in New Jersey, raised in New Jersey, but why would you pick Georgetown? For the law school, obviously, but you didn't go to law school, did you? Brian Kelly: I didn't. The first reason I picked Georgetown was because they let me in. Andy Ockershausen: You couldn't get in now. Brian Kelly: Yale said no, so that was a big change. Yeah, and you're right, I couldn't get in now, but I came here, like most folks, wanting to go to law school. Everybody wanted to be a lawyer in the '70s, and my freshman year I was in the freshman government class with all the other guys who wanted to be lawyers, guys and girls, and I realized that everybody in my class had done the summer reading except for me. Andy Ockershausen: You found that out in the Fall? Brian Kelly: The professor was asking questions about books that I hadn't read, and I thought, "You know, maybe there's got to be a better way here," so that's why I went into journalism. Andy Ockershausen: You mentioned females, or girls, whatever they were at the time. I didn't know Georgetown had them that early, in '72. Brian Kelly: It was fairly new. I think Georgetown went co-ed in '68, '69, something like that, so it was pretty new. There weren't a lot of them on campus. Andy Ockershausen: You never went to the law school when it was downtown Washington. You always were on campus, right? Brian Kelly: Always on the main campus at Georgetown, yeah. Andy Ockershausen: Did you work in Georgetown? A lot of guys I know that went to school there, they worked in bars and restaurants all over Georgetown. Brian Kelly: I went to bars and restaurants, and since I knew a lot of people who worked there, it was very lucrative. Andy Ockershausen: Wonderful evening. Journalism Over Law - Editor of the Georgetown Voice Brian Kelly: I really got into journalism at school. I ran the newspaper at school as the editor of the Georgetown Voice, and it was '72, early '70s, and it was so interesting because I actually ended up writing about Watergate. I wrote about events in Watergate. Pat Buchanan, who was Nixon's press secretary, was a Georgetown graduate, so I interviewed Pat Buchanan. John Sirica, who was the judge who kind of broke the case open, was a Georgetown graduate.
Carol Schwartz reading from the back cover summary of her new book "Quite A Life!, From Defeat to Defeat and Back"~
"Carol Schwartz tells it like it was. Warts and all. . . if you want an outspoken, personal autobiography with pictures galore, that also talks about the history of DC since Home Rule, takes you behind the scenes of chaotic campaigns, as well as shows you the inner workings of government, all rolled together, come on this ride with me. . . It's a journey of wins and defeats and coming back with hope."
Former DC Councilwoman and Author, Carol Schwartz and Our Town host Andy Ockershausen in studio
Andy Ockershausen: This is Our Town. This is Andy Ockershausen, and I'm so delighted, more ways than you'll ever realize, and I hope sometime during this broadcast you know how much I appreciate this woman, what she's meant to Our Town for over 40 years. What she has done for Washington. That's Carol Schwartz. I always call her Mayor Tootsie. I think she should have been Mayor of Our Town many times. All the times she ran. What she brought was so much fire to our council and so much interest and so much of a woman that really cared about Our Town and Carol Schwartz, welcome to Our Town. Andy and Carol: Police Boys and Girls Club Connection Carol Schwartz: Thank you, Andy, and it's nice to be with you again. We served together for, oh gosh, decades and decades on the Metropolitan Police Boys and Girls Clubs. Andy Ockershausen: You were Chairman of the Board. Carol Schwartz: I was. I was the first woman President ... Andy Ockershausen: Absolutely. Carol Schwartz: ... in their 61 year history. In fact when I got there in 1979, when I was on the School Board, Dick England, God bless his soul ... Andy Ockershausen: Absolutely. Carol Schwartz: Oh I loved him. He brought me on and when I got there, women were just allowed on the board. Before that they had an auxiliary group of women that just baked the brownies. I actually bake a pretty good brownie, but that's not the role I wanted to play there. Andy Ockershausen: The club was the Boys Club and then we added girls as we went along. The Police Boys and Girls Club but at one time it was a Police Boys Club, so that hung over for a while but you certainly changed it and you did so much for Our Town and that club. We lost the police department but I think we made so many inroads with it. Carol Schwartz: The police are still involved with that one group because they merged with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Andy Ockershausen: of America, right? Carol Schwartz: Yeah, which I always fought because I thought it was great to have our distinction and have ... Andy Ockershausen: A local group. Carol Schwartz: ... the police involved, local group involved with the police department and it still is today. They've left that alone, thank goodness. Andy and Carol: Duke Zeibert's Connection Andy Ockershausen: What you did for Our Town, but that was just a sprinkling of all the things. Carol, we used to see each other all the time at a place that doesn't exist anymore called Duke Zeibert's. Carol Schwartz: Oh I loved that. Andy Ockershausen: We were in town and it was Our Town and you always saw people in and out of Duke's and you were a big part of Duke's. Carol Schwartz: Oh I loved Duke's. I didn't go that often because it was a little far from where I worked. Andy Ockershausen: Absolutely. Carol Schwartz: Whenever I went it was the biggest treat and he was so cute. He introduced everybody and he would introduce you and I even though we'd known each other about 30 years at that point, he would always introduce us. Andy Ockershausen: He was a greeter. Carol Schwartz: Oh he was a great greeter. Andy Ockershausen: We used to kid him, he thought he was Toots Shor. He's a Jewish Toots Shor. Carol Schwartz: I think he was even better. He was wonderful, wonderful. The Road From Texas to Washington DC Andy Ockershausen: Carol,
Joe Hadeed on how he kept his employees working during the slow months his first year as owner ~
". . .the first January that came up, he kept telling me . . . we don't have any business at that time. We usually lay everybody off and I said I'm not gonna do that. So . . .I put on a suit and tie and went to Cameron Mills Road, one of the exclusive areas in Alexandria . . .and I started knocking on doors. I went door to door for the next three months. . . We stayed busy ever since. Everybody who opened the door gave me rugs and took me in their house and gave me coffee and showed me around."
Joe Hadeed - Entrepreneur - Hadeed Carpet and Rug
Andy Ockershausen: This Andy Ockershausen and this is, Our Town, the third season. We're so delighted. We tried to get this man in the first and second season - and didn't - to be a guest on our podcast, but he's a friend, an entrepreneur, a smart guy, who I admire for his involvement in the community, and his business sense. You've seen and heard him on countless radio and TV commercials. He gives the carpet cleaning in Washington. Janice and I can attest to that. Welcome Joe Hadeed, to Our Town. Joe Hadeed: Thank you Andy. Andy Ockershausen: Do you realize that Alexandria's Our Town, Vienna's Our Town, Warrenton's Our Town, Annapolis. This is how big we are, and this is Our Town. That's probably mirrors your client base, doesn't it? Joe Hadeed: Yes indeed. Andy Ockershausen: You do work all over? Joe Hadeed: Oh yeah. This is Our Town. Andy Ockershausen: It is really. Joe Hadeed: Our community. Andy Ockershausen: The name Hadeed, has been in my mind for years, and years, and years. I was so interested to talk to you about your family, and to know about them, and how this business started, and that you were born in New Jersey, and came down here with your family, with your dad. Joe Hadeed: Oh, excuse me. My father was born in New Jersey. I was born in Arlington Hospital. Andy Ockershausen: Oh that's right. That's right. They had moved down here by then, huh? Joe Hadeed: Yes Sir. The Family Business - Hadeed Carpet and Rug - An American Success Story Andy Ockershausen: So, you grew up in Our Town, and your dad opened a business. Joe Hadeed: Yes Sir. Andy Ockershausen: In Alexandria. Joe Hadeed: Yes Sir. Would you like me to elaborate? Andy Ockershausen: Absolutely. Joe Hadeed: Okay. Andy Ockershausen: Get your plug in. Joe Hadeed: Yeah. My father . . . Andy Ockershausen: But he wasn't a road man, right? Joe Hadeed: No. He ... Andy Ockershausen: He was a Korean war veteran. Joe Hadeed: Yes Sir. He finished up his term in the army, in Germany, and came back in 54. Started working for Henkel Rug Cleaning company. His brother was working for another rug cleaning company. They both decided to start their own business, out of their house. Andy Ockershausen: But there was nothing in their background. They weren't in the rug business before. Correct? Joe Hadeed: No. Andy Ockershausen: I mean, they didn't bring it from another world ... Joe Hadeed: No, they just learned it. They just learned it. Andy Ockershausen: By working it? Joe Hadeed: Yes sir. Andy Ockershausen: They bought a place on Mt. Vernon Ave? Joe Hadeed: They bought a little house and moved in with their mother and they lived in the back and had a store front in the front and washed the rugs on the driveway and in the winter, in the basement and stored peoples summer rugs and switched them every six months and slowly added on and built little buildings next to it and ... Andy Ockershausen: So, America's success story. Started small and a little place. But they did all the work themselves initially, correct? Joe Hadeed: Yes. Andy Ockershausen: I liked it when you talked about that, Joe. About how people in my generation, when we grew up, we had summer rugs and winter rugs. Joe Hadeed: Yes sir. Andy Ockershausen: That's the way it was.
Chief Peter Newsham, Chief of Police Metropolitan Police Department when asked about his predecessor former Chief of Police Cathy Lanier ~
". . .whenever one of our officers comes up and they tell me a story similar to some of the things that Chief Lanier had to go through when she was an officer, I immediately think of Chief Lanier. You know what I mean? I take it very, very seriously. Nobody should have to go through some of the things that she had to go through in her career."
Andy Ockershausen: This is Our Town. We are so delighted and we think it's an honor to welcome the Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, Peter Newsham. Chief welcome to Our Town. Chief Peter Newsham: Thanks for having me. I appreciate it. Andy Ockershausen: You know you have such a storied career. You haven't been in Washington that long but you love Our Town obviously. You could have gone many places but you're from the Massachusetts area. On Growing Up in Massachusetts - Once a Red Sox and Patriots Fan, always a . . . Chief Peter Newsham: I am. I grew up in Massachusetts. Both my parents actually grew up I Providence Rhode Island. They moved out to Massachusetts to raise a family. Andy Ockershausen: Smart. Chief Peter Newsham: There's eight of us. My mom actually for each of us she went back to her doctor in Providence where we were born. I was born in Providence Rhode Island but grew up in Massachusetts. Andy Ockershausen: We love Providence. We love Massachusetts. Janice was born in Newport. But she has relatives ... we visited them up there last year. Providence has exploded to me. I haven't been there in years. But I love New England and then getting to go to college must have been great thing for you. Chief Peter Newsham: Oh it was. My mom always wanted me to go to law school so I had to go to college first to accomplish that task. It took me a little longer than most to kind of, I guess, get through my education because I got my law degree while I was here on the police department. Andy Ockershausen: In Worcester. . .There was a small town you grew up in right? Outside of ... Chief Peter Newsham: I grew up in Weymouth Massachusetts ... Andy Ockershausen: Weymouth, yeah. Chief Peter Newsham: ... which is south of Boston about 15-20 minutes south of Boston. Then in high school, my father who actually worked for the power company got a job in Westborough Massachusetts and we ended moving out to Shrewsbury, which borders Worcester Massachusetts. Andy Ockershausen: I know Worcester very well. That's beautiful country. We have friends in a place you may not have heard of before. It's not Newport Beach, its Newport Harbor or something like that, that we visit. We love New England. Janice Iacona Ockershausen: Westport. It's in Adams. Chief Peter Newsham: Oh nice. Andy Ockershausen: Adams Mass right? It's right on the border. Janice Iacona Ockershausen: Right on the border. Chief Peter Newsham: One of the difficult things about being a transplant from Massachusetts and you can probably relate to this is that we stay kind of Red Sox and Patriots fans. A lot of Redskins fans aren't real crazy about that. I adopted the Redskins as my National League ... Andy Ockershausen: You have to when you're here obviously that's true. The people that preceded you all were Redskin fans. We know that. I know that you came up with Chief Ramsey. Chief Ramsey, Assistant Chief of Police Terry Gainer, WMAL and Washington Redskins Chief Peter Newsham: I did. Andy Ockershausen: Chuck Ramsey, a great friend of WMAL. Chief Peter Newsham: Truth be told though Andy, I work very closely with Chuck Ramsey. He was a die hard Cubs and ... Andy Ockershausen: Chicago. Chief Peter Newsham: ... Bears fan yeah. Andy Ockershausen: He bled Illinois I know that. Chief Peter Newsham: He did. Andy Ockershausen: So did his partner he brought with him. What was ... Terry Gaynor. Chief Peter Newsham: Terry Gainer.
Thanksgiving 2017
With gratitude Janice and Andy Ockershausen
Andy and Janice Ockershausen, Our TownAndy Ockershausen: Our Town, Thanksgiving 2017. Janice Ockershausen and I want to take this time to thank all of those who have made this podcast so special. To name names, like Bill Brower from GEICO, who is our underwriter. Thank you to Ken Hunter, technical director par excellence, and image director JJ Surma. To the staff at WMLA Radio. To our Best Bark communications producer Stephanie Colli, and especially to Rose Caplan, our operations manager. It seems like it does take a village, Janice Ockershausen. Janice Iacona Ockershausen: Yes it does, as quoted by Hillary Clinton. Andy Ockershausen: Our first anniversary with September, and with over 125 interviews under our belt, and 50 more to come at least, we have thousands and thousands of people listening. It's been unbelievable to me how this listenership has taken off. It's been a great experience for us to catch up with old friends, and to make new relationships with the incoming leadership of Our Town. Janice Iacona Ockershausen: Season 3 is going to be a great surprise. We have a lot of new faces in town that we're welcoming, that you'll easily identify with. Andy Ockershausen: Yeah, but we got the old ones too. That's what makes this whole effort so great to both of us. We grew up, a lot of these names, and a lot of these names we didn't even know until we brought them into Our Town. It's been remarkable to both of us, the feedback we get from you. What you listen to, and what you like, and don't like about what we're doing, and who you like to hear from. You speak up, and that's what makes this podcast so special. We've tried to present an interesting collection of Washingtonians who have touched our lives in one way or another, through their presence in sports, news, government, or the arts. Most of all, at this time of Thanksgiving, we're very grateful for the opportunity to say thank you for listening. For commenting, for suggesting, and for the rave reviews, and ratings that we've been receiving. Janice Iacona Ockershausen: While you're making your turkey at the holiday season, make sure you catch up on all episodes of Our Town. You can share it with the people that maybe are revisiting the DC area, or new family members that you'd like to turn onto. It's a great opportunity when you're driving, on your long drive and all the traffic, to listen to the podcast through your Bluetooth system on your car radio. Or traveling in an airplane. Our Town is available really, in any type of distribution. Andy Ockershausen: One of the things that surprised me, that you've taught me Janny Ockershausen, is the fact that it's so different than radio. We don't have any blank spots. You never lose the signal from Our Town. It's with you all the time. Thanksgiving, while you're working, we have some turkeys we want you to listen to too, so please try to tune us in. When it's over, keep the cards and letters coming. That's more important. The review and that we're hearing from you, is more important than any rating we could get. Janice Iacona Ockershausen: As Ken Beatrice used to say, "This is your show." Andy Ockershausen: We're just here to serve you. It's been such a great experience for us that grew up in radio, at this wonderful radio station that we're working at now, we just think it's been a great Thanksgiving. Janice Iacona Ockershausen: We have a lot to be thankful for. Andy Ockershausen: Don't forget, now when Thanksgiving is over, we start right again to work on Christmas. We'll be here for you, 24/7. That's the great part about our podcast. It's always there. Janice Iacona Ockershausen: Remember, Season 3 starts December 5th. Visit OurTownDC.com. Andy Ockershausen: Even if you don't like our podcast, and don't think what we do is special, have a happy Thanksgiving anyway. Remember the old expression, nobody doesn't like Sara Lee. Well,
Tony Zeiss on the upcoming dedication and opening of the Museum of the Bible scheduled this November ~ Visitors will "want to have a pilgrimage back and forth. We have over 1,500 groups already have signed up. These are bus loads of ... Some of them up to 400 in a group down to 20 in a group that are coming. November, we open November the 17th, we dedicate it. We open November 18th of this year."
Tony Zeiss, Executive Director, Museum of the Bible
A Ockershausen: This is Our Town. This is Andy Ockershausen and delighted to have the executive director of the Museum of the Bible, Tony Zeiss. Now, I will guarantee you, Tony, that that is gonna be the first time that 80% of these people ever heard the word, "the Museum of the Bible." I am absolutely a native. I've been in here all my life. I did not know what it was 'til Janice showed it to me one day. So welcome to Our Town. We want to hear all about your museum. Tony Zeiss: Good. I'm pleased to be here, and I can't wait to tell you about the museum. A Ockershausen: To me, it almost like, I knew it was a design center. I had no idea what it was going on there, and went down Fourth Street 'til Janice point ... We were going to a baseball game. She said, "That's gonna be the Museum of the Bible." I said, "What Bible?" She said, "Our Bible." Tony, believe me. I did not know, and I'm so, so pleased to meet you and so pleased to hear about the Museum of the Bible. Tony Zeiss: Good. Well, I'm very pleased to be here, and we just ... My wife and I have been here about nine months, and we love this city. It's a large city, the most active city, probably, in the world, and yet it still has that small town feel. We like it. A Ockershausen: Our Town, to us, to Janice and I, because we were both from here, and we consider Our Town Annapolis, Vienna, Virginia, part of Fredericksburg, Frederick, Maryland. They all, everybody revolves around Our Town. This is the capital city of the world in a lot of ways, and we're so fortunate to have you here and so fortunate that you could bring this museum here. Tony Zeiss: Well, let me tell you about it. I'm an educator by trade, and I've been very, very fortunate- A Ockershausen: Community College. Tony Zeiss' Journey to the Museum of the Bible Tony Zeiss: Yes. I was a president for 32 years in Colorado and then 24 ... Eight years in Colorado, 24 or so in Charlotte, which is my home. And so I was- A Ockershausen: How'd you get from Charlotte to Colorado and back? Tony Zeiss: Thank you. Well, we went from Texas to Colorado to North Carolina, and then I was gonna retire as a Community College President. In fact, I did. Of course, I prayed about it, and said, "Lord, whatever you want us to do next let us know." Well, he did. In a day and a half I got a call and they said, "We need an executive director to come up and build this new world-class Bible. It's never been done before, Andy. World-class museum to the Bible. And so I was intrigued, but I tried to wiggle out of it. I said, "I'm trying to retire," and they said, "No. You don't get it. You're the person. We need someone with leadership background" and all that. A Ockershausen: Educational background. Tony Zeiss: Education background. And so I retired December 31st of this past year and January the 3rd I started my first day here. A Ockershausen: That was the next day. The impetus for the Museum of the Bible Tony Zeiss: Yeah. But what an honor and what a wonderful mission if you think about it. Now, this case started with the Green family. That's a Hobby Lobby family. And one of the Greens, Steven Green, began collecting biblical artifacts. And it became a passion with him like it does with so many collectors. And he began to say, "They shouldn't be just for us. They shouldn't be in a warehouse someplace. A Ockershausen: We shouldn't keep them hidden. Tony Zeiss: So he started some traveling exhibits to see if people would be interested in artifacts from the Bible.
Podcast host Andy Ockershausen, Our Town DC, on losing Legendary Our Town News Anchor Jim Vance ~
"We were in the unique position of interviewing Jim before the news broke of his terminal cancer. We shared a glorious hour with Jim Vance, with lots of laughs and a new awareness of his impact on Our Town. We went to his memorial service at the National Cathedral with thousands of others who loved Jim. There will never be another Jim Vance."
Janice and Andy Ockershausen,, in studio Our Town DC Podcast
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen, and this is Our Town. It's hard to believe that Season 2 is complete. We've had some great guests over the last 20 weeks. Our Town started with a bang at a launch party at Tony and Joe's on May 23rd. Our guests included Jim Vance. We were in the unique position of interviewing Jim before the news broke of his terminal cancer. We shared a glorious hour with Jim Vance, with lots of laughs and a new awareness of his impact on Our Town. We went to his memorial service at the National Cathedral with thousands of others who loved Jim. There will never be another Jim Vance. During Season 2, we spoke to so many friends, including members of Congress, sports heroes, university presidents, newspaper and magazine publishers, writers, famous attorneys, some unfamous attorneys also, restaurateurs, and community organizers. If you name it, we didn't miss many. We stayed live and lively as much as we could. Some of the names included Chris Plante from WMAL, Tommy McFly from other stations, Connie Morella, a former Congresswoman and a very dear friend of WMAL over the year, Kathleen Matthews, an ex-WMAL and WMAL-TV employee who worked in our newsroom as the erstwhile Kathy Cunningham. How about that? Joe diGenova, United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, Pat Collins, a great reporter who's still very active with Channel 4, a very, very dear friend. Mark Ein, the man that put tennis into a proper perspective who had the only championship team in the last like 30 years. His team won the tennis championship five or six years in a row. Mark is a great citizen and a great part of our community. The tennis team has been great. James Brown, old JB, a local guy, Dematha High School. James Brown is an icon in our business and a great friend. Thank you for having him in Our Town regularly. Rick "Doc" Walker, Janice referred to him ... I always thought his middle name was Doc. She has called him Rick "Doc" Walker for years, but he's got that nickname, "Doctor." But Rick is a very, very important part of our lives because of what he's meant to WMAL over the years. Now he's over on the broadcast team for the great Washington Redskins team. Then we've had the pleasure of having the number one announcer, a news guy for Fox, Ed Henry, who was so huge during the election with his reporting. Ed has become a great friend of WMAL. Then last but not least of the big names, I think a big name, the owner of the Washington Post who sold it. Donald Graham sold the Post to Bezos, and Donald started his second life as an entrepreneur and businessman. He's done so well, and he loves Our Town. He thought that by doing it, of selling to Bezos, it would put a new life into the Post. And I'm sure it did. They're doing so well. We've already begun recording for Season 3, and we've got some interesting guests lined up, including Tony Zeiss, president of the new Museum of the Bible, a multi-media, two block building of over 420,000 square feet of exhibit space, costing over $500 million. It's brand new to Our Town. It's opening in mid-November. We also have the opening of the Wharf. The Wharf opened here in September. In a $2 billion effort to redo the Washington downtown, and the Washington Wharf is going to be in our subject. And we're going to talk about it. We'll hear about that in many ways, and one of them is going to be traffic. Traffic is going to be horrendous, but it is anyway,
Tony Cibel on Phyllis Richmond's review of Tony & Joe's ~
"Phyllis Richmond said, 'Tony & Joe's, a contender on the waterfront.' And ever since that, boom we took off like crazy and 30 years later we're still going."
Tony Cibel - Tony & Joe's Seafood Place 30th Year Celebration
A Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen and this is a special edition of Our Town. And I have a wonderful, wonderful friend and acquaintance by the name of Tony Cibel, who is the man who started some of the most successful restaurants in Our Town. And Tony, I can't believe it's 30 years sinceyou opened Tony & Joe’s in October of 1987. Tony Cibel: That's absolutely true and I can't believe it either, 30 years has flown by. But of course we have the best seafood restaurant in town, Tony & Joe’s, with a magnificent view of the Kennedy Center. A Ockershausen: Well I'll never forget, after the restaurant had been open like two months you had a review in the Washington Post that was a knockout. Tony Cibel: Spectacular. A Ockershausen: It really put you on the map. Tony Cibel: Phyllis Richmond said, "Tony & Joe’s, a contender on the waterfront." And ever since that, boom we took off like crazy and 30 years later we're still going. A Ockershausen: Well Tony, obviously once people sampled it they came back. And they came back and back and back. And now the world has changed as we both know in 30 years. There's a whole new world out there that are finding out about your restaurant. Tony Cibel: That's true, that's very true. We're going to run some specials for our anniversary month in October. A Ockershausen: The whole month of October? Tony Cibel: The whole month of October you can go online to tonyandjoes.com and read about the specials. A lot of them will be priced from 1987. A Ockershausen: Wow! Tony Cibel: Correct. A Ockershausen: Maybe we ought to sample those before you do it. Tony Cibel: Oh no, I sample them daily. A Ockershausen: Well Tony, the things that I know about the restaurant, let's say it started with your interest in the restaurant business with the Dancing Crab. I don't think a lot of people know that there was a Tony Cibel before there was a restaurant. You had a liquor store and very successful liquor store. Tony Cibel: And I also had a carryout over in Northeast called Soul Palace. That was my first restaurant. A Ockershausen: And it was successful. Tony Cibel: Very successful. A Ockershausen: And now you're back in Northeast in Ivy City. Tony Cibel: Ivy City Smokehouse, which has just been open for a year and it is taking off. The Tavern upstairs and then downstairs our smoker. We're going to go national with our smoking products, Ivy City Smoke products. A Ockershausen: Food products, huh? Tony Cibel: That's correct, Ivy City Smokehouse fish. And it's taking off. It's a wonderful product. We're in country clubs around here. We're in delicatessens. A Ockershausen: Do you offer an Ivy City menu at Tony & Joe’s? Tony Cibel: We have a lot of the product - A Ockershausen: - a lot of the product here. Tony Cibel: - at Tony & Joe’s. And it will say right on the menu, Ivy City Smoke House - A Ockershausen: - Right I have noticed that. Tony Cibel: - Smoked Salmon and so forth. Yeah. A Ockershausen: You've gotten to be a conglomerate now with Nick's Riverside Grill and you're still in to that as I recall. Tony Cibel: Yes. A Ockershausen: Nobody could operate that but you. Tony Cibel: Well, my son Nick, who's a wonderful boy . . . I went to Florida one weekend, for the weekend, and it was Riverside Grill when I left. When I came back it said, Nick's Riverside Grill. I said, "Nick, I didn't get the check." What's the story here, you know? But he's been running it for 25 years. A Ockershausen: No way. Tony Cibel: 25 years. A Ockershausen: 25 years! Come on, Tony. Tony Cibel: And Tony & Joe’s is the only original restaurant at Washington Harbour. A Ockershausen: I understand, you survived.
Susan Davis - Founder and President, Susan Davis InternationalSusan Davis on her recent position as Chair of the Board of Vital Voices Global Partnership~
"We work with emerging women leaders throughout the world. We've trained over 15,000 young women leaders and some not so young in countries that are in conflict and transition. And I loved, loved, loved that work. . ."
A Ockershausen: All right, welcome to Our Town. This is Andy Ockershausen, and we're so delighted with ... I know, see, I say it all the time but it's true. A guest is so special to us, and this lady is a trailblazer for women in formerly male-dominated industry of public relations. I grew up in Our Town and over the past almost 3.5 decades, she has grown her agency into a global public affairs and communications power house. She is known internationally for her expertise and strategic positioning, reputation management, government relations, and crisis communications. Not only has she provided counsel to government and industry heads in our country, but advises key figures across the globe. But we really got to know her very well at Fort McNair in those great days, working for the Chili Cook-Off. Susan is President of SDI. That's Susan Davis International. Susan, how did you go from the chili bowl to a global conglomerate? It wasn't easy, I'm sure. Susan Davis: No, well thank you Andy. It's really fun to be here with you and Janice and I consider both of you to be such great friends and forever friends. A Ockershausen: No question about that Susan. Susan Davis: And forever friends. A Ockershausen: We didn't say the fact you're the most gorgeous redhead in the city of Washington. But I'll tell you that all the time. Family Full of Redheads Susan Davis: You could say that ... You could maybe just say that again. It would be all right. A Ockershausen: In terms of the day of redheads. My mother was a redhead. Susan Davis: I know. A Ockershausen: And your mother was a redhead. Susan Davis: Yes, my dad was a redhead. A Ockershausen: Wow. Susan Davis: Yes, and all my brothers and sisters but one are redheads, and most of their children are redheads so. We come from big redhead genes. So the Chili Bowl, okay. I actually started my company before I started the Chili Bowl. A Ockershausen: I know you did. The Chili Bowl at Fort McNair to Benefit Children's Hospital Susan Davis: But somehow I got to be better known for the Chili Bowl, which actually was to raise money for Children's Hospital. And we grew that small little ... A Ockershausen: I remember that Susan. What great days they were. Susan Davis: It was so much fun. It was so much fun, but before that, it was in my backyard. A Ockershausen: That's right. Susan Davis: Then we moved to a couple of restaurants, and then it got to be so big. A Ockershausen: It outgrew you. Susan Davis: That we did the big Cook-Off at Fort McNair and it was the only major non-profit event that they allowed there. It was fabulous. A Ockershausen: And we had liquor. Susan Davis: And yes, it was probably too much of that. A Ockershausen: What were you drinking? A marguerita. Susan Davis: Tequila. A Ockershausen: They had that huge marguerita booze. Susan Davis: Yes, right. A Ockershausen: But Susan they were memories that I think of being with Bob Pincus and Sonny and Margo Jurgensen came, and all the people you had doing the judging. It was so much Our Town. Susan Davis: Right, exactly. It was amazing. It was true community, and it was just absolutely fabulous, from people you ... That everyone knew to people no one knew but we did and raised a lot of money. A Ockershausen: But at the end of the day we knew everybody. Susan Davis: Raised a lot of money for Children's Hospital. It was so great. Yeah. A Ockershausen: It was so great. And Susan, your impact on Our Town goes back to those early days, but are you from Wisconsin?
Doug Duncan on depression and his message to others who also suffer from it ~
"To me, it was just telling the truth, that I had this illness. Part of it was from my family history and knowing that. If I had cancer, if I had something else, you just tell people what you have and you've got to deal with it and take care of it. . . . I got treatment and I got better. That's my message to people around the region."
Doug Duncan - CEO, Leadership Greater Washington in-studio interview
A Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town. I'm so delighted because when I see our guest around town I always call him the governor, because he ran for governor and in my estimation ... I didn't live in the county but I'd have voted for him. I thought he'd have been a great governor. He thinks I'm teasing him but really, Doug Duncan, you would have been a great governor. I'm sure of that because you were a great county executive in Montgomery County until 2006. You've been in public service for much of your adult life. Almost a local boy, just born across the border, of course. You went to St. John's College High School, attended Columbia University, and like a lot of my good Catholic friends, you're one of 13 children. He's currently reinvented himself as the CEO of a great organization called Leadership Greater Washington. Doug Duncan, welcome to Our Town. Doug Duncan: Andy, thank you very much. Great to be here, and you're one of the founders of Leadership Greater Washington, so thank you for that 31 years ago. A Ockershausen: It was a great experience when it started out, Doug. A lot of people don't know what this thing was going to be. Now I think it's almost unbelievable. The first year we had to recruit. We never did fill up the whole class, and people were wondering what it was going to be. It turned out to be exceptional and a wonderful thing for Our Town. Doug Duncan: We've got close to 1,700 people who've been through the program over the 30 years. It's a great network of people who really are committed to the region and advancing the interest of the Washington region. A Ockershausen: The leadership ability of that group is stunning to me every year. I mean, it gets bigger and bigger, and Doug, you've been a big part of the growth of leadership, but that started because you're so well known around Our Town. Even though you weren't born in Our Town, you are a part of Our Town because your family was. I think that is such a great story, that your dad was in the United States Army at one time. Doug Duncan - Family History Doug Duncan: My father was in the Marines. My grandfather was in the U.S. Army. My mother's side is native Washington, back for years. I think one of them goes back to the Daughters of the American Revolution, then part of her family, the Irish, came over. They lived in DC for many years. I think my mother's father ... My mother's grandfather had a pub, or a bar, in Georgetown. A Ockershausen: Wow, they're a big part of Our Town. Doug Duncan: They've been there. They moved to Glen Echo for a while and then moved back into the District. That was around the turn of the century, the 1800, 1900 century. Then my father ... His father was in the Army. He was with the common engineers in World War I and stayed over after the war and ran an American cemetery outside of Paris, married a French woman, had three kids, and ... A Ockershausen: One of them being your dad. Doug Duncan: One of them is my father. He actually had ... He had mental health issues. Tried to commit suicide actually in 1932. They sent him here to St. Elizabeths. He stayed here at St. Elizabeths for 20-something years until he died in 1955. My grandmother and the kids stayed in France until the Nazis took over. So, my father came here as a Junior in High School. Went to St. Johns for two years. Didn't speak any English. The great thing is that his nickname in high school was "Frenchie", which is sort of ...
Cathy Merrill Williams on lessons learned from The Chocolate Chip Cookie Test ~
". . . it is really important that we get things, like cookies, right. We better know a good cookie from a bad cookie, a good restaurant from a bad restaurant. Because if you don't trust us on cookies and restaurants, you're never gonna trust us on doctors and lawyers and things that are hard to measure."
Cathy Merrill Williams, President and Publisher Washingtonian Magazine (right) and Andy Ockershasuen, host of Our Town podcast (left) in studio interview
A Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen and this is Our Town. And a very special guest, a woman who's quite an accomplished business woman. She graduated from Cornell, holds a Masters Degree, Master of Science Degree from the London School of Economics. Now, that one I didn't ... That must've been your dad's idea. Catherine Merrill Williams. She chairs the board of Visitors at the University of Maryland School of Journalism, a member and Former Chapter Chair of YPO. I know what that is: Young President. Remember those good old days when you were Young President. She serves on the board of Ford's Theater, Aspen Institute, Socrates Society, the Greater Washington Board of Trade, The Merrill Family Foundation, a member of CRMA— I'll find out what that is— The Federal City Council, Cornell University Council, and the Economics Club of Washington. And, Cathy, you're busy, busy, busy, but you're a wonderful, wonderful example of a hard-charging woman and that's Catherine Mary ... Merrill Williams, welcome to Our Town. Cathy Merrill Williams: Thank you. Andy, thank you for having me. A Ockershausen: You're such a big part of Our Town because of what your father did and what he started. But he actually didn't start the magazine. You're president and publisher now. But wasn't there somebody named Phillips involved with the magazine way back? Laughlin Phillips | Washingtonian Magazine Founder Cathy Merrill Williams: So, Washingtonian Magazinewas founded by Laughlin Phillips ... A Ockershausen: That's the name I heard of. Cathy Merrill Williams: Many people know that name from the Phillip's Gallery. So he ... A Ockershausen: Was it the same family? Cathy Merrill Williams: Same family. A Ockershausen: I did not know that. Cathy Merrill Williams: Same family. And Laughlin Phillips was actually a CIA agent who decided that he wanted to go into the city magazine business. And, I guess, in the early years, people thought that perhaps it was some giant cover. But it wasn't a cover. A Ockershausen: But he wasn't undercover! Cathy Merrill Williams: He was just tired of being a spy and started the magazine in 1965. Did a good job. My father came in in 1977, Laughlin ... it was struggling. Good content, but struggling on the business side. My father came in in 1977 and bought it. A Ockershausen: Well, your father was also out of the government at the time, was he not? Didn't he work for Uncle Sam? Cathy Merrill Williams: He did. A Ockershausen: When he took over the magazine? Philip Merrill Aquires Washingtonian Magazine, 1977 Cathy Merrill Williams: He did. At the time he took over the magazine he was not with the government, but he very proudly served in 7 administrations. A Ockershausen: I knew that. Cathy Merrill Williams: And Defense Department, State Department, he ran the Export/Import Bank, NATO, White House, had a very strong government career. But he had purchased the small newspapers ... some small newspapers around Annapolis, Maryland and was running them when Washingtonian came for sale. And we owned Baltimore Magazine at the time as well. A Ockershausen: You had Baltimore before Washington? Cathy Merrill Williams: We did. A Ockershausen: Is Baltimore still in business? Cathy Merrill Williams: It's doing great. We sold it back in the early 1990's, so that someone more local to Baltimore could run it. Cause that's part of the success of running a city magazine is being...
Donald Graham on his mother, Katharine Graham ~
". . . my mother was one of the highest ranking women in American business. To say that she was unsure of herself is a gross understatement, she went through life telling people she was not up to the job, she was scared, and all the while she was doing just an incredible job."
Donald Graham, Former Publisher and Chairman The Washington Post (right) and Andy Ockershausen, Our Town host (left)
A Ockershausen: Our guest today has been described by his colleagues as an incredibly nice person. Always willing to give advice, especially to young business people, I'm included in that. An amazing human being, a lovely lovely man. The Dudley Do-Right of the newspaper business. The rare mogul who puts principles and people ahead of profits. I've personally known Donald Graham for almost 50 years, throughout my career at WMAL, WMAL TV Channel 7, The Washington Star Group, which don't exist anymore, but WMAL Radio's still here thank God. I knew Donald when he was in school and when he was in the military and when he got out and his work with the city, but Donald, I'm so so so happy that you would agree to this discussion because you are a very big important part of Our Town. Donald Graham: I'm very happy to be with you Andy, this is fun to talk about DC with somebody who's been part of it as long as you and I have. A Ockershausen: Correct. Donald Graham: This is great. A Ockershausen: Which was the genesis for everything that we're doing with Our Town. Donald Graham: It's a great idea. A Ockershausen: You know, Our Town includes the suburbs, you know, we just don't limit it to downtown DC, but it's all Our Town and the fact is The Post was so important to everything that happened to Our Town over the last 75-80 years, it's been just great. Donald Graham: The media were, the newspapers were, you ran the radio station you ran, you know most people that were in the radio business somewhere else, don't imagine there could have been a radio station as big as WMAL was in its day, but you know ... A Ockershausen: People couldn't understand it. Donald Graham: Yeah, you ran a ... A Ockershausen: But, we were all about Our Town. That's why we were successful. Donald Graham: Yeah, you were, you had the most popular people and The Post. A Ockershausen: The Post was Our Town and always was, I remember reading about when your grandfather bought the paper, it was pretty much on the rocks compared to the other papers. Donald Graham's Grandfather, Eugene Meyer, Buys The Washington Post Donald Graham: So, my grandfather Eugene Meyer, bought the Washington Post at a bankruptcy sale in June of 1933, so why was it bankrupt? Well, there were five papers in town. The Post was the fourth in circulation out of five. Star was the biggest, then there were The Times, The Herald, and The News. The post claimed a circulation of 50,000. In her book. My mother wrote that she was skeptical that they had 50,000 circulation, but that's what they claimed. It had this run down rattle-trap building on 1337 E Street, right where the JW Marriott Hotel is on Pennsylvania Avenue now. A Ockershausen: Know it quite well, Basses Delicatessen or something was right there. Donald Graham: Yeah, but they had no money, they were losing money every year. I knew a guy who consulted for Mr. Meyer back in the 30's and said that Mr. Meyer told this consultant that he hoped the business would break even in three years. He would improve the paper, that would increase the circulation, maybe the advertising, it took him 21 years. He paid the losses out of his own pocket and he didn't own any other business. He was a hell of a guy. He bought The Post, he was 57 years old. He had never run a business and he had never worked on a newspaper, but he made a lot of money on Wall Street when it was tough to make money on Wall Street and then had come to work for the ... He was French, so when World War I broke out,
Kathleen Matthews on being a Democrat in Our Town~
"I'm a Democrat, and the Democrats in this area really care about our country, and they’re trying to figure out how they make a difference in the current political environment. And I’m all about being part of that process, and helping give voice to the values that I think are so important."
Kathleen Matthews, DNC-MD Chairwoman, (right) and Andy Ockershausen, Our Town host (left)
A Ockershausen: I met our very special guest probably 40 years ago or close to it, in the lobby at WMAL, she was waiting for an interview. I want her to tell that story. To me she was Kathy Cunningham, but over the 40 years that she has been in Our Town, she's accomplished so much. You know, far less being the anchor at WMAL-TV, but WJLA. I still call it WMAL-TV. She had a top level position at the Marriott Corporation. She ran for Congress, and she's going to be named Head of the Democratic Party for the state of Maryland. But my friend and very dear friend, Kathleen Matthews. Welcome to Our Town. Kathleen Matthews: Hey Andy, how are you? It's good to be here. A Ockershausen: Well your first day on the job was at WMAL. I knew that you had gone to Stanford, and you had a great educational background. I said why would this woman with all this talent, want to work at this radio station? And you came in the lobby. From Stanford to Washington DC and WMAL AM630 Kathleen Matthews: So I have to tell you, that as I came into the lobby up from the first floor, through the elevator. I felt like I was going in this time-warp. It was still so familiar to me, and I will never forget getting off that elevator, coming into the lobby, and hearing the voices of Harden and Weaver, and the incredible electricity that this place exuded. It was joyous. It was fun. And I had been looking for a job for a couple of months, having graduated from Stanford. A Ockershausen: Great school. Kathleen Matthews: Coming across country, wanting to be in the nation's capital because I was passionate about politics. I wanted a new adventure, and I really believed in journalism. Because this was after Watergate. This was after Woodward and Bernstein had broken open the whole Watergate crisis, and Nixon had resigned. And Washington was like the center of the universe at that point. And so here I was in Washington, in this amazing environment. And I walked in the door, and I thought if I can work in this place, I will be the luckiest woman on earth. And I came in and did a series of interviews. And I remember meeting you too, because you've got that same energy that really represented what WMAL radio was at that time. A Ockershausen: It was electric. Kathleen Matthews: Radio 63, I mean it was the most listened to radio station. It had a huge robust news department, amazing public affairs department. They did documentaries on the air, and also then the Great Talk, and it was so much a part of this community. And the job I was interviewing for was called, "editorial director". It was an entry-level job, but it sounded so important. And my job was to do the research on issues, and then write editorials for the station management. And in those days, 40 years ago, we were editorializing get the guns off the streets of Washington. A Ockershausen: Oh absolutely. Editorials were on Guns and Metro Kathleen Matthews: We talked about this being Dodge City. D.C. was Dodge City. And so we said, "Get the guns off the street." We said, "Let's build a metro-system. We need funding to be able to build a metro-system for the nation's capital." I mean, think about what the city was like back then, and where we are today. A Ockershausen: Kathleen, but all the things you talk about were so important, because the electricity that you felt was from the people in the newsroom. They loved what they did. You know I used to kid some of them about, "You know you're probably making a dollar an hour because you're here 20 hours a day.
Pat Collins Snow Stick ~
"My career sort of morphed into two things, okay? I cover murders, and I measure snow. I have the official Pat Collins Snow Stick. It’s the only way to officially measure snow in Washington. I’m more accurate than National Airport, you just ask people."
Pat Collins - Award Winning Reporter - NBC4
A Ockershausen: This is a special day for me for a lot of reasons, which I'll get into, but News 4 viewers know this man as the guy with the yardstick. I know them as the consummate professional, the go to guy to get the real story behind the story. The reporter that you lean into to really listen to what he has to say. He's an official member of Our Town, a native Washingtonian, a good Catholic. There's no such thing as a bad Catholic. He graduated from Notre Dame. He's a Vietnam vet. Not to mention that he's a Silver Circle winner. He has ten Emmy's, two Clarion awards, and he's the winner of the Chesapeake AP Award for the best featured reporter. I'd love to welcome my very good friend from Channel 4 and WRC-TV, Pat Collins. Pat Collins: Thank you. It's great to be here. A Ockershausen: Did you know, Our Town started as a story about Our Town, because we did a TV show that was short lived but it was popular at the time. So, Janice says to me, why don't we bring back some of the people and give them a view to the public of people we grew up with. And the names you'll know, and we're so delighted that, Pat, everybody has felt something about Our Town is on this show. And this is tour Town, 'cause you were born here. Growing Up on H Street NE - Swampoodle - Washington DC Pat Collins: Yeah, I love this city. I grew up on H Street NE, they call it Swampoodle. A Ockershausen: Wonderful place though. Pat Collins: 324 H Street NE, I grew up in the house that my grandfather had. My grandfather was an engineer on the B&O railroad. A Ockershausen: Wow. Pat Collins: And that's why we live so close to Union Station. My grandfather ... A Ockershausen: Could walk to work. Pat Collins: Could walk to work. And then my father, he went to school, and he became a doctor. And so what he did, is he set up his office on the first floor of the building, and then we lived on the second floor of two row houses. And that's where I grew up, 324 H Street. A Ockershausen: H ... Pat Collins: It's a Giant Food store now. In fact, if you go to that Giant down there, and you walk into the produce section, you'll be in my bedroom. It was H Street, you know, it's not ... A Ockershausen: Where are Little Sisters of the Poor? Pat Collins: They were right down the street ... A Ockershausen: Yeah, they were on H Street. Cottage Industry: Steal Pat Collins' 2 Watchdogs for Reward Pat Collins: They were patients of my father, Little Sisters of the Poor. And you know, it wasn't all that fashionable back then. It was pretty rough back in ... you know, we had two watch dogs. They were stolen three times. It was sort of a cottage industry: steal the Collins' dogs, wait an appropriate time, knock on the front door, and you get a 20 dollar reward. I mean, we bought those dogs back so many times, it was sort of funny. And then we park in the back, there was a parking lot back in the alley. I used to play in the alley. A Ockershausen: Now they're called rear driveways. But you and I know them as alleys. Pat Collins: Or muse. They call them muse. They actually put homes in them, call them muse. We call them as alleys. I'd rollerskate back in there, but ... A Ockershausen: Trash. Back When Trash Pickup was done with Burlap Pat Collins: Oh, the trash. And how they picked up trash back then, they didn't have those big ... A Ockershausen: They hustled about, didn't they? Pat Collins: They had these big burlap cloths they'd put down, and they'd dump the trash onto these burlap bags, and the men would have to hoist it up into the big trash trucks, and take ... A Ockershausen: They were hard working guys.
Father Mike Conway on
". . .our school can only be as successful as the corporate partnerships that we have in the community. That’s extremely important. So, as many jobs that we have, that’s as many kids as we can take. Unfortunately, we can’t take all our kids. . .For us, that’s the linchpin. That’s what makes us different from any other Catholic high school in this community and around the country."
Father Mike Conway, President, Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School (right) and Andy Ockershausen (left) in studio interview
A Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town. Our guest today is a new citizen of Our Town. He's a transplant from Boston. He had really big shoes to fill last year, to take over the job as president of the Don Bosco Cristo Rey School. We had a chance to watch him in action last month at the 10th Anniversary Gala for the school - "The school that works." And I can tell you he has what it takes for the job. Let me introduce you to Father Mike Conway, president of Don Bosco Cristo Rey School. Father Mike is a Boston native and the oldest of eight kids. Father Mike Conway: Amen. A Ockershausen: A great Catholic family. Father Mike Conway: True, and true. A Ockershausen: Your family's all from Boston, or they come from the old country? Father Mike Conway - Third-Generation Irish Bostonian Father Mike Conway: No. We're all from Boston. So, we're third-generation Irish immigrants. A Ockershausen: Wow. Father Mike Conway: 1876 in beautiful east Boston. Same neighborhood as the Kennedy's when they came in. How's that? A Ockershausen: Yeah, but they left and brought booze back with them. Passion for Sports Father Mike Conway: Well, we probably shared some of that. A Ockershausen: Yeah, you probably used some of that, Father. You're a Boston guy, and you're all the way. What I always am so impressed with, and this is almost universal, is the amount of passion that the Bostonians or New Englanders have for the Sox, the Celtics, the Pats, and the Bruins. There's a commonality here. These teams are winners. Father Mike Conway: Absolutely. And, listen to this, whether we win or lose, we bleed Boston. Now, we won't talk too much about the Celtics, because that was a big game we had the other night that we had- A Ockershausen: Wait a minute, no, no, no. They're green, they're wearing of the green. Father Mike Conway: They're wearing of the green, but let me tell you something. If there is a passionate city with sports, it's Boston. A Ockershausen: Oh, it is. It's incredible. Father Mike Conway: It's in your blood, and we thrive on hate. See, we love the haters. That's what makes us so successful. You know, when the Patriots won this past, the haters came out, like, "Oh, just come on, keep it coming." We thrive on that. That's what makes us more passionate. A Ockershausen: It's all the way, too. That's what gets me about it. Northside, Southside, Eastside, wherever it is. Father Mike Conway: All around, man. We're a nation. It's the Boston Nation. A Ockershausen: It is, and it works, doesn't it? Now, how does it work for your educational needs? Do you have Don Bosco school in Boston? Father Mike Conway: We had two Bosco schools, Salesian schools, in Boston some time ago. One in the Boston city proper, Don Bosco Technical High School, which was there from 1958 until probably about- A Ockershausen: A real tech school? Father Mike Conway: A real tech school. A Ockershausen: Training kids. Father Mike Conway: And then we had a college prep school where I went to school in East Boston called Saint Dominic Savio. We had two strong presences there. Unfortunately, over the years, as our numbers got smaller, as the price becomes much larger, we had to close both schools. Very difficult. Very difficult. A Ockershausen: Populations change, of course, Mike. You got your BA at Don Bosco College in New Jersey? Father Mike Conway's Journey to Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School,
Ric Edelman, Founder Edelman Financial ServicesRic Edelman on visiting New York City after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks:
"We got in a conversation with the waiter about it, and he was just describing what life was like in the city in the aftermath . . . the four of us decided we’re gonna leave him a $150 tip. . . We got up and we left. He came running after us. He thought we made a mistake. He said, “You left me me too much money.” He was trying to give it back. We looked at him and said, “No, no, no. That’s for you.” He started to cry, and so did we."
A Ockershausen: This is Our Town, and this is Andy Ockershausen. I'm so delighted for many, many reasons I'll get into to talk to our guest. I've known him for many years. I would say it's close to three decades, if not more. I can still remember listening to Ric Edelman as a guest with Trumbull and Core talking about Disney stock and what a great Christmas gift that would be, or about the value of 12 days of Christmas, or his fabulous Thanksgiving dinners with his wife, Jean. He was part of the WMAL family, a big part of the success of the greatest radio station in the world, at one time. He has the longest running show for cash paid for on WMAL radio in history. This man's a genius. He's an author, an innovator, a philanthropist, a visionary. He's my financial planner. He has the ear of so many important people in Congress and The Wall Street. According to The Wall Street Journal, he recently sold his company for $880 million, and he didn't have a mortgage, which pleases me no end. I use this all the time, Ric. It still stands, you made me a small fortune. Ric Edelman: That's because you started with a large one. A Ockershausen: See, you remember that too. Welcome, my very dear friend, Ric Edelman. Welcome to Our Town, Ric. Ric Edelman: Thank you, Andy, and Janice, it's good to be with you both. Janice Iacona Ockershausen: You too. A Ockershausen: You were such an important part of Our Town, and Our Growth, and all those names that I mentioned to you. Ric Edelman: Can I correct all of the mistakes you made in your intro? A Ockershausen: No. Ric Edelman: Okay. Janice Iacona Ockershausen: It was actually $860 million. Ric Edelman: Well, neither one of those numbers has been confirmed. A Ockershausen: No, we heard. Ric Edelman's First Broadcast at WMAL with John Lyon Ric Edelman: My initial broadcast was with John Lyon. A Ockershausen: Is that right? Ric Edelman: Not Trumbull and Core. A Ockershausen: You mean the phone in? Ric Edelman: No, my very first radio interview here at WMAL was with John Lyon. A Ockershausen: You know, we hear about John all the time because of the girls. That story is still stirring around, as you know. But why do we get that as Trumbull and Core? Ric Edelman: Well, because I was on with Chris and Bill, but ... A Ockershausen: Over the phone or were you in the studio? Ric Edelman: Both. I mean, I was on periodically and I had the back line, so whenever I heard them talking about something, I could get myself on the air to tell them they were crazy. But, it was John Lyon who discovered me. A Ockershausen: Well, did they come to you for this information you could provide, or they answer your questions about the market? How did that all begin? Ric Edelman: Yeah, John Lyon invited me on to the air one day. I think reluctantly, Rick Fowler, who's still on the air here at WMAL, I think, twisted John's arm and said, "You really gotta talk to this guy." John, reluctantly, I believe, agreed to put me on the air on a Friday afternoon at 2:00 PM in his final hour of his four hour show for a 15 minute interview, which meant a grand total of six minutes of air time. John was so impressed that he kept me on through the bottom of the hour, and then asked me to stay for the rest of the hour. I ended up staying the entire hour. At the end of the hour, he said, "Finally, you're the first guy I can understand about this subject,...
Carol Highsmith on the importance of her mission ~
"I am now using the highest digital camera made on Earth. . .That's what I come to the map with. The real important aspect of this is that it is not for now I'm doing this. It's for 1000 years from now, or 5000 years from now."
Carol Highsmith, America's Photographer in studio interview
A Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town, and it's a special treat for me to talk to somebody, we go way back. This young lady worked in the WMAL sales department in the 1980s. She even won the WMAL Employee of the Year award the first year we gave that award. And she was an incredible addition to the WMAL staff. Since she left there, she's been around doing extraordinary things with her life with her camera and with her husband, another WMAL legend, Ted Lanphair, who was a news director. Together, Ted and Carol Highsmith have roamed the country. She's the official photographer of the United States Library of Congress. She is single-handedly documenting America one state at a time. [Check out her website at carolhighsmithamerica.com] The inspiration for her life work started in Our Town at the Willard Hotel. Our Town keeps popping up. Welcome to Our Town, Carol Highsmith. Carol Highsmith: Thank you Andy. You know, just coming in today, how fun it was thinking about the good times we had here. And how wonderful it was when you led the troops, and we all just loved you to death. There was nothing like it. A Ockershausen: It wasn't. And Ken Hunter, our technical director, hears it all the time. There was nothing like the WMAL spirit. Sitting right there was Doc Walker, and he was talking about it, that he got something out of being part of WMAL. Even though he was doing a show, he knew what we were doing. You knew what we were doing, because you were part of it. Carol Highsmith on Working in Sales at WMAL Carol Highsmith: It was so much fun! I mean, we just had a ball! A Ockershausen: Absolutely. It was entertainment. Carol Highsmith: And I was in sales, so here's the deal. You didn't have to sell anything. You would just go out and pick up the order. My first day, first day, right? I had come from another number one station, KYW in Philadelphia. A Ockershausen: Powerhouse. Carol Highsmith: Hello. So I arrived at WMAL and went out to visit my clients, first day. Somebody handed me a $30,000 order. I thought, "Oh dear! This is going to be so much fun." A Ockershausen: You knew you hit the jackpot didn't you? Carol Highsmith: Oh, yes, I thought, it wasn't sales. It was PR. You just go out and smile and they say, "Okay, how much money do you want?" A Ockershausen: Well, you know, everybody that sits in that chair that was part of us always talks about the people, that the people were so important in the sales department. Like Bob Bowen, Pete Wysocki, you know, Frank Ford. They were all pros. Carol Highsmith: They were. A Ockershausen: I mean, you were not with a bunch of beginners. They were pros. Carol Highsmith: That is very true, but guess who our leader was. The best salesman in the world, Andy Ockershausen. A Ockershausen: That's what I was named by Bill Regardie. I'm not sure. Carol Highsmith: Seriously, how could we fail? We had at our helm someone who understood sales. And that wasn't me. A Ockershausen: And your husband Ted understood it. Carol Highsmith: Yeah he did. A Ockershausen: He knew WMAL, brought in a lot of good people. And then, you know, everything changes. But we waited a long time for our change to WMAL. And now we're so happy, I'm sure you've heard that the Redskins have finally decided to have somebody listen to them. And they put the signal back to where it belongs, where it's always belonged. In Our Town on WMAL. But Carol, your career has been incredible. I mean, I did not know that you were a Minnesota girl until I read about your travels from Minnesota to North Carolina. That was America. You saw it.
Joseph diGenova on interviewing President George H.W. Bush during Clinton passport file investigation ~
". . .at the end of the meeting he said "Come on, let's have a drink." So I went into his office and we started talking about our families and my daughter at that time was having very serious medical problems, and he said bring her down here, I'll get her into the Houston Center, we'll have her taken care of, it won't cost you a dime, let me know, give me the phone, I'll call her, I'll talk to her. I said, Mr. President that's very nice of you, but we've got everything taken care of."
Joseph diGenova, Legal Analyst and Former US Attorney for the District of Columbia
A Ockershausen: This is Our Town, this is Andy Ockershausen. And I'm so pleased to have a special guest who's really a WMAL personality, but he's part of what we are here and that is a major, major market radio station. And people listen to this man. We'll spend the next half hour or so talking to him about his life in Our Town, which we consider so important, his friendship with Supreme Court Justice Scalia, his law partner and lovely wife Victoria. I got that right, Joe, I didn't say "Vicky". And the passion he has for the law. He's my friend, a local treasure, and a special guest, Joe diGenova, welcome to Our Town. Joseph diGenova: Great to be here with you, Andy. A Ockershausen: Back on WMAL, which you never left. I did, but you stayed. Joseph diGenova: That's right. Every Monday morning, 7:05. A Ockershausen: My wife just lives for that Monday morning. I thought she lived for me, but she lives for the radio show. Joseph diGenova: It's all right. A Ockershausen: But Joe, you've had a spectacular career in Our Town and yet you are not from Our Town, you're a Wilmington boy. Wilmington, Delaware Joseph diGenova: I'm from Wilmington, Delaware, the hotbed of eastern radicalism, home of the DuPonts. Where nothing ever happens except people sit around and make money and go to private clubs. It's a lovely little town. Went to a nice little Catholic boys' school. A Ockershausen: Fabulous. Christina River? Joseph diGenova: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Beautiful. A Ockershausen: I went through basic training up there in Delaware for the Air Force. And one of the highlights of my life was having my first submarine. Well, they called it a hoagie. The best bread I ever had was Wilmington, Delaware. Joseph diGenova: Absolutely. I remember- A Ockershausen: That's what I remember the most. Joseph diGenova: Yeah, I remember being drafted and then going to the US Post Office in Wilmington, getting on a bus and going to Philadelphia for my physical. A Ockershausen: The hospital? Joseph diGenova: Yeah. A Ockershausen: The naval hospital? Joseph diGenova: Oh my God, it just ... Awful experience. That was in the middle of the Vietnam War, baby. A Ockershausen: Well, I was in the middle of the Korean War, and thank God I was at the end of it. Because I was reminding, we saw something of a tool company called Thule and I was one time on order to go to Thule, Greenland, and I quickly used all my friends to get out of that, I'm not going to Greenland. But Joe, and then you went to high school in Wilmington? Joseph diGenova: Salesianum School for Boys, Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. Great school. I had a great time there and then went to- A Ockershausen: Great, great school. Joseph diGenova: Yeah. Great. A Ockershausen: We're involved with his Don Bosco effort, Christo Rey, Janice and I are and- Joseph diGenova: I'm a great believer in Catholic schools for boys and girls. I think it's a great thing to have kids separated, educated separately. A Ockershausen: Great education for our kids. Joseph diGenova: I think it's a wonderful thing. The boys and girls all grow up differently and it's very exciting. It's really fun. A Ockershausen: Ain't that a wonderful thing? Joseph diGenova: Yeah, we didn't have to worry about transgender bathrooms back in ...
Josh Carin on effective communication today ~
"I think that's the challenge with technology today is that we are so accustomed to communicating via email, via texting. I tell my team if you can't communicate what you need to say in three sentences, pick up the phone and call them."
Josh Carin, owner Geppetto Catering in studio
A Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen and this is Our Town. We're so delighted to have a special guest. Now, I say that to everybody because I mean it. I'm delighted to have you here, Josh Carin. A great tennis player, Arthur Ashe, said "From what we get, we can make a living. What we give, however, makes a life". If that's true, then our next guest has quite a life. He's a business owner. He's a finalist in Washington Business Journal Small Business Philanthropist. He's worked with The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. He fundraisers for WORC and the MDA. He's active in the Greater Washington Board of Trade. He's been a mentor for The Small Business Academy. He's involved with Goodwill, The Cultural Alliance, and The DC Chamber of Commerce, The Levine School of Music, and DC Central Kitchen. Josh Carin, in your spare time, you're one of the great caterers in the free world. How do you have time for all these things? Josh Carin: Time? What is that? A Ockershausen: It used to be a very good magazine. Josh Carin: Yes. Yes. Exactly. No, my work, my family, my philanthropy, that is my life. Family first. Work, a very close second. I would say the philanthropy is tied in second place. Those are the things that I do to keep myself busy. A Ockershausen: Everything you're saying that you're doing is really making you a success. Whether your business is a success or not, you are a success Josh, which is great. Josh Carin: Thank you for that. Thank you. I've been very, very blessed. I was fortunate to be recognized years ago by an organization, and I made the comment that I could not do what I'm doing without the people who have supported me. My work, which I love, has afforded me the ability to provide for my family and to give back, which then helps foster new relationships, which then fosters new business relationships. Then, it allows me to get my family involved. It's a great circle, a great cycle. A Ockershausen: Josh, it's amazing what you're saying. It's sort of the mantle we've had at WMAL. We used to have for many, many, many, many years and you're a native. You're local. What I didn't say is about Geppetto Catering is your business. I apologize to you, but I figure everybody knows you as a catering business. But, the way the name Geppetto, I know where I thought of it the first time, but where did you come up with this idea? What's in a Name? Josh Carin: I can't take credit for that. My partner, Charlie, owned a restaurant in town. For the long time Washingtonians, you might know Geppetto Pizza. He and I met when I was in college and we decided to start Geppetto Catering. Obviously, we used the name Geppetto from the restaurants, because it was a known brand within Washington. A Ockershausen: Yeah, but where did he get the name from? Let me tell you where I first heard it: in the movie Pinocchio. Josh Carin: Which is what everyone knows it from and obviously, Geppetto was the puppeteer, the woodcarver. A Ockershausen: He was Pinocchio's father. Josh Carin: That is correct. A Ockershausen: I love the name. Josh Carin: I actually asked my partner, Charlie, where the name came from. He told me he was reading the story Pinocchio to his daughter and boom, there was a name. A Ockershausen: What a wonderful name. Anybody in this town, in Our Town, thinks of catering, they think of Geppetto, because the name is so great. It really has scored. Josh Carin: Thank you. A Ockershausen: That's important branding. Philanthropy is Branding Josh Carin: Branding is very important, and where you started with philanthropy. Philanthropy is branding. A dear friend of both of ours,
Christianne Ricchi on memorable encounter with Shimon Peres at Ristorante i Ricchi's ~
"Now picture this. These are 12 Israelis. They're sitting at a long table and they were all sitting on their elbows hunched forward talking about world peace. . . Only I can serve them. I go to the bar, I get 12 of my best long-stemmed crystal cordial glasses. . . We fill to the brim with limoncello . . .I go with the tray and I take one glass and I bend over to put it in front of . . .the prime minister. With that, the tray in my left hand starts to teeter. . ."
Christianne Ricchi - Owner of Ristorante i Ricchi on 19th Street (right) and Andy Ockershausen (left) in studio
A Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town and I have a very, very, very, very, very wonderful opportunity to talk to a gorgeous young lady. Young girl I would say in the old days but now a young lady. Christianne Ricchi. She's born in New York City, a shock to me when I found that out, Christianne. You went to Italy in the summer to study painting and she went back to Florence for 17 years. She came to DC to Our Town in 1999 ... '89, to open i Ricchi. I used to pronounce that "Eye Ricky." Christianne Ricchi: Now you . . . A Ockershausen: i Ricchi. The wonderful and talented Christianne Ricchi. Welcome to Our Town. Christianne Ricchi: Oh, thank you Andy. I am so happy and flattered to be here, I can't tell you. You know I admired you forever. i Ricchi - It's about the people . . . and, of course, the food! A Ockershausen: You're such a big part of Our Town. You, you talk about your food. What you have done with your restaurant, to me, is you've made it more than a place to eat. It's not a food place, it's a people place and that is so evident to your customer base that I know about. Christianne Ricchi: Thank you. I'm glad you feel that way because that's exactly what we're trying to do. I was having a conversation with a customer of mine yesterday who'd just gotten back from Italy and the first thing he said to me was how wonderful and warm and hospitable the Italians were. Then he went on to talk about how beautiful it was and how great the food was and I said to him, "That's exactly what we're trying to do here on 19th Street." It's not a new concept but it's something that we've had at the heart of our business for the last 28 years. A Ockershausen: Christianne, because it's still a people business, you've made it that way. Food business, yes, but people come first and food comes second. Now, everybody doesn't have that. Five Guys doesn't do it that way. Christianne Ricchi: That's something that has always been important to us. In our little Trattoria, the place that I fell in love with back in the '70s, in Cercina outside of Florence, was the center, the focal point of the community. That's where people came, we had a little store, they bought their bread in the morning. They came and had dinner. The men came and played cards and smoked cigars after dinner. We were the focal point of the community and that's what I'm trying to do with i Ricchi on 19th Street. A Ockershausen: You bring that atmosphere with you but I always thought there was an Italian background. I was shocked to know you were a New Yorker and I've known you for as long as you've been here and to find out you ... Then you went back and went to the Florence area and you were a big part of it, and there'll never be another restaurant like yours, I don't think. I don't know of another Italian restaurant that has that atmosphere and your fire's burning in there all the time. That's you. Christianne Ricchi: Yeah, and our business, the restaurant business is changing. A Ockershausen: Oh my. Meeting the Challenges in Restaurant Industry and Community Head On Christianne Ricchi: It's changed over the last five to eight years in Washington, oh my goodness. Our industry has always been difficult. It's always been competitive, but now more than ever,
Connie Morella on becoming a Republican ~
"Mac was running for office and he had very stiff competition. He was a Republican. I had to cross-over and become a Republican to vote for him in a primary. I did, and I thought, I think I'll go back. Then, I looked at what was happening in our Country. I saw Jacob Javits, Clifford Case, Everett Dirksen. I saw all of these great men who brought both sides together who were Republicans. Who believed in fiscal responsibility, but also believed in liberal rights, rights for people. I stayed a Republican. I became the Moderate Republican, which then gradually became an endangered species, and now it is almost extinct."
Connie Morella (right) and Andy Ockershausen (left) in studio interview
A Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen, and this is Our Town. We have such a delightful, delightful friend and one of the great women of my lifetime. In spite, my wife is right up there too. She's made such an impact on Our Town. So many ways in a national local level. She served in, The United States Congress representing the 8th Congressional District, of Maryland, as a Republican. That will never happen again. She's a mother to 9 children, a teacher, and an advocate for human rights, women's health, and domestic violence issues. Did she stop after Congress? No way. She was just beginning, and she's here today to tell us about what she's been up to besides Ambassador of France. She's had a wonderful, wonderful career after Congress, and that's Connie Morella. Connie Morella: Thank you very much Andy O. Your very lavish introduction reminded me of something attributed to May West if you can remember that name from the old, old ... When she said, "Too much of a good thing, can be downright enjoyable." A Ockershausen: Oh my God. May West, come up and see me sometime. I remember all those sayings. I think Ken might be too young. Ken's our technical director. Ken Hunter: No, I remember May West. Oh yes. Somerville, Massachusetts | Grammar School through High School A Ockershausen: Connie, you have had such a remarkable impact on Our Town. In addition to your work in Congress, but it's so many things. You are from Somerville, Massachusetts. It's a long way from Washington, but maybe it isn't. Maybe it was great. You went to school ... You went to grammar school in Somerville? Connie Morella: I did indeed, and high school. A Ockershausen: Catholic school? Connie Morella: No. Public school. On Boston University A Ockershausen: Wow. You went to BU, that's not Catholic either. Connie Morella: Yeah, right. A Ockershausen: Is that a city school, or is that part of U Mass? Connie Morella: No, no, that's a private school. A Ockershausen: Private school? Connie Morella: Boston University. A Ockershausen: It's not connected with any religious order? Connie Morella: You know, it's like so many of these major universities, have some kind of a connection. Sometimes very remote. There is a remote connection with Methodists. Just like American University. It's Methodist . . . A Ockershausen: They're actually common usually. Connie Morella: Exactly. Boston University is in that ... A Ockershausen: A very, very independent school. Connie Morella: Right. A Ockershausen: You learned a lot, and learned to be very independent. How did you learn ... Did you learn growing up to be a Republican, or did that evolve? Connie Morella: No. In Somerville, Boston, Massachusetts, you're not a republican. I grew up in a Democratic household. I was Democrat when we married and came to Washington DC, and then moved into Maryland. What happened? My epiphany came when Charles "Mac" Mathias, who was the Senator ... A Ockershausen: I knew Mac very well. From a Democrat to Republican Connie Morella: Yes. Mac was running for office and he had very stiff competition. He was a Republican. I had to cross-over and become a Republican to vote for him in a primary. I did, and I thought,
Mary-Claire Burick on Rosslyn Business Improvement District and what Nestle means to it and the Region ~
"We're very fortunate in Rosslyn that the developers are not there to turn a quick buck and move out. They really have invested in the neighborhood. All of that sort of culminates in a thing like Nestle. This is probably a once in a lifetime deal. This is one of those deals that is going to have impacts and reverberations throughout the entire DMV, the region."
Mary-Claire Burick - President, Rosslyn Business Improvement District
A Ockershausen: This is Our Town. This is Andy Ockershausen. I have such a special guest. I don't want to call her a guest because she's a big part of Our Town. Happy to introduce Mary-Claire Burick, President of the Rosslyn Business Improvement District and a very dear friend. We did not meet at a Board of Trade function. We had a conversation at a restaurant in Laurel but we'll go back to that. I can't think of the many times that I've talked to people about Mary-Claire and what she has done and I've seen her development. Mary-Claire Burick is absolutely a legend to me in Our Town for what she's done. Mary-Claire, welcome to Our Town. I can't believe why we were in Laurel but you remember. Mary-Claire Burick and Andy O On First Meeting in Laurel MD Mary-Claire Burick: I actually was trying to think back on that and I don't remember why we were in Laurel but I will tell you, I credit you with much of my success because you told me early on, "Girl, you need to get out there. You need to get involved in the board of trade and you need to not just spend your time at work but you need to get involved in the community." Luckily, A Ockershausen: Did you do that? Fare thee well. Mary-Claire Burick: I did. A Ockershausen: What a role model you are for so many people. We were with a sales person from Comcast SportsNet. I thought we were trying to sell somebody a business. That's why I can't remember but I do remember being so impressed by you, and we talked about it for a while after that. I knew you had a broadcast background being in Laurel, there ain't no TV in Laurel, but there was. What you'd say, UHF56? A Start in TV Broadcasting - Channel 56 - PBS Mary-Claire Burick: Yeah. One of my first jobs in broadcasting was at Channel 56, which is PBS. That was actually Merrifield, Virginia so again, I can't remember why we ended up in Laurel but it was an awesome start. A Ockershausen: That's a great turn. Mary-Claire Burick: Exactly. Hey. A Ockershausen: It's a start and that was our start. Then having watched you at certain things, because you did join the Board of Trade. I keep pressing that Mary-Claire because I'm a living example. Man, it made my life and it did and so many people, I think about Catherine Meloy when we brought Catherine to Washington. I told her first thing to do, get involved, and she's never stopped and neither have you. It is so important, but where were you in school? You're a Washingtonian? Mary-Claire Burick: I am. Well, always in the suburbs. A Ockershausen: Our Town. Mary-Claire Burick: Yeah. Grew up in Laurel, which maybe that's why we were ending up there. I don't know. A Ockershausen: Could be. Your family might have been there. A Catholic School Education Mary-Claire Burick: Exactly. Yeah. I went to private school as a Catholic girl growing up. A Ockershausen: There's no Catholic school in Laurel is there? Mary-Claire Burick: Yeah. St. Vincent Pallotti. Actually through first grade, through high school Catholic school. A Ockershausen: Is that right? Now, how about college? I know you went to college. Mary-Claire Burick: Yeah. Fighting Blue Hens. I went to University of Delaware. A Ockershausen: That is correct. It's a great school. Incidentally sort of below the horizon but I know some kids that went there, had a great lacrosse program. Mary-Claire Burick: Yeah. A Ockershausen: That was my nephew,
Drew Mills on leaving Comcast SportsNet to start his own business ~
"I remember Jeff said, 'You can't leave, you have the best job in America.' I said, 'Jeff, I'm leaving. I'm starting my own business.'"
Drew Mills, Founder and President of Mills Marketing & Communications,(right) and host Andy Ockershausen in studio for Our Town interview
A Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen and this is Our Town, and have a great, great opportunity to talk to a very dear friend that I worked with for a while when I worked. Now I don't work anymore. You understand that, Drew. Drew Mills: I do, I do. A Ockershausen: My wife ... 24/7 I work now. A man who grew up in Washington, was a great high school athlete, and was very well-known around the area. And I know he's a local, even though he grew up in Arlington, or was born in Arlington. Arlington is Our Town, Drew. Welcome to our town. Drew Mills: Yes it is. A Ockershausen: It's all over. Drew Mills: It's all over town. A Ockershausen: We go all over. Our Town goes all the way to Anne Arundel, as far as I'm concerned. Drew Mills: That's right, that's right. A Ockershausen: We have friends in Warrenton, Lynchburg. It's our town. Everything in the greater Washington area is our town. And you made such an impact. So tell me, Drew, about your early days, growing up in Arlington. Your family is how ... seven generations? Drew Mills - Seventh Generation Washingtonian - Homegrown History Drew Mills: Seventh generation Washingtonians, yup. So they all grew up in the Glover Park ... my parents grew up in Glover Park, my grandparents grew up in Glover Park. My grandfather was a milkman, back in the day. A Ockershausen: Is that right? What's the dairy? Chestnut Farm? Drew Mills: Yeah, that's right. You got it. Yeah, you got it. A Ockershausen: You know that was on Pennsylvania Avenue, that's now it's a big office building. Drew Mills: Yeah. A Ockershausen: You know, they used to have cows in there, I remember that. Drew Mills: Yeah, so we go way back. A Ockershausen: Way back, way back. And your dad grew up, and he's local. He grew up with some people that I know real well. Drew Mills: That's right. A Ockershausen: Frank Ford, who we don't have anymore. Drew Mills: Uh huh. A Ockershausen: We miss Frank. Drew Mills: Jim Cacheris. A Ockershausen: The judge. Drew Mills: The judge. A Ockershausen: You know, the judge and I were honored one night by Arlingtonians for a Better Community. Got some special award, I've got it somewhere. Just the judge and I. And the judge must've let somebody off from a drunk driving ... I don't know why. They honored me because we were doing something about drunk driving. Drew Mills: Sure, sure. A Ockershausen: And Jimmy was there. Drew Mills: He was a nice man. A Ockershausen: But Drew, how did a guy go from Arlington to D.C. to Gaithersburg? Drew Mills: Well, in the '60s, my parents were young and trying to get ahead, and Gaithersburg was a lot cheaper to live. So they moved-- A Ockershausen: That's true. Drew Mills: From Arlington to Gaithersburg, and they bought their first house. A Ockershausen: Well you couldn't afford Arlington now, but Gaithersburg-- Drew Mills: Correct.
E. Hunt Burke on being involved in the community, before community outreach programs became a thing ~
"A lot of banks today have these, I don’t know, community outreach programs and what not. We’ve always been deeply involved in helping build the community."
E. Hunt Burke, Chairman and CEO, Burke & Herbert Bank, Alexandria, VA
A Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen, and this is Our Town. This is a special, warming day for me because our guest is a part of banking history in Our Town. Even though he's Mr. Alexandria,
Alexandria is still Our Town. I tell everybody at Hunt Burke, that the Greater Washington Area is Our Town. It's Vienna, Virginia. It's Upper Marlboro, Maryland. It's north, south, east and west. It's about Our Town and his bank, Burke & Herbert. When you mention the name, it's usually followed by, "Oh, that's my favorite bank." Or, "They really helped me out when I was starting in my business." Or, "I remember that crazy bird, Runyon." We always get a retort when we mention your bank. It's a legacy that began back in the 1800s, 1852 as I recall. The business of Burke & Herbert is ... Hunt is a member of the fifth generation. His family operated Virginia's oldest bank and oldest continuously operating bank. And I'm sure the oldest continually under one family, because the Herberts are out of it. But his father, Taylor, was a very dear friend of WMAL Radio, a Harden and Weaver favorite, and one of the longest-running advertisers on WMAL. In 2016, Hunt Burke was named Alexandria Chamber of Commerce Business Leader of the Year. Welcome, E. Hunt Burke, Chairman and CEO of Burke & Herbert Bank. E. Hunt Burke: Thank you, Andy. A Ockershausen: That's a long-winded introduction. E. Hunt Burke: I'm delighted to be here. Thank you very much. It's a Family Affair, Always Has Been, With Staying Power A Ockershausen: Your family is so important to us because the relationship as a listener is, to me, important because I knew yOur Town. I love the Old Town. I love Our Town, and I love Alexandria, but Burke & Herbert is such an institution, and it's so worldwide. People who, like we were talking before, people move back into Our Town, Alexandria Military, they remember your bank immediately, from way back. E. Hunt Burke: Somebody asked me recently why we hadn't sold in all these generations, and I said, "We don't know what else to do." A Ockershausen: You can't live in a bank. But it is amazing how your bank has withstood. I'm sure there've been, over the years, many, many attempts to buy. E. Hunt Burke: Sure. A Ockershausen: It would just be a natural thing because it's so well established that the big banks would want to get in, but they never really made any indentation on you. E. Hunt Burke: No. We're still having fun and as long as working at a bank is fun then, once the regulators ruin it, then we'll probably be ready to bail out. A Ockershausen: Well, Hunt, and you also, because of your continuity, have established so much of an imprint in Old Town and Alexandria, and now, of course, you're all over Northern Virginia. But, the banks have just disappeared in my lifetime and in your lifetime, too. There's no more Riggs. There's no more DC National. It's a funny thing, but Our Town has become very small in the banking business. E. Hunt Burke: It is funny, because sometime in the '80s, there was a bank on every corner and then they all went away. They got merged and couldn't compete with the community banks or ... I don't know what the impetus was, but now, corporate headquarters in North Carolina and New York and all around have looked at Alexandria and said, "Wow. This is prime real estate." So, there's a bank back on every corner again and ... A Ockershausen: With another name, of course. E. Hunt Burke: With another name. So- A Ockershausen: Yeah. The Winston-Salem, I mean, Atlanta the headquarters way out of Our Town but not in Burke & Herbert, it's still at Fairfax and King Street,
Diana Mayhew on the National Cherry Blossom Festival ~
". . .the festival's first and foremost the Washington D.C. springtime celebration that makes Washington the destination to come in Spring, but we always remember the roots and we celebrate the culture of Japan, because that's where it all started."
Diana Mayhew - President, National Cherry Blossom Festival
A Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen and this is Our Town. I have the distinct, wonderful pleasure to talk to an old friend. This is not only the busiest time of the year, but inviting her into the studio right now is like kidnapping Santa Clause at Christmas Eve, but she's here with us for Our Town. Over the past 20 years, she's grown the Cherry Blossom Festival into an internationally recognized extravaganza, generating over 100 million dollars for Our Town. She's usually wearing pink in honor of her role as one of the most important people in the city of the Spring. Please welcome Diana Mayhew, Director of Events at Downtown BID, and President of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Diana, welcome to Our Town. Diana Mayhew: Hi, thank you, nice to see you again. A Ockershausen: We go back a long way, long before there were cherry blossoms, there was you. All of the things you have done ... one of the things you are probably too young to know or to remember, but WMAL and WMAL TV, we were involved in the Cherry Blossom Festival up to our necks. A couple of the young people here were just asking me stories about what did we do, and I said, "Well, we used boats then. We televised the parade on Channel 7. We did a lot in radio and our talent was always involved, Harden and Weaver, and Bill Mayhugh, Tom Gauger. We did shows with the Cherry Blossom Festival." But you have put the Cherry Blossom Festival at a new level, Diane. I know that because I've lived through it with you. Diana Mayhew: Oh, thank you. A Ockershausen: How's it been? It's just been such a great experience to know all about what has happened, where they came from, how they started. I mean, the cherry blossom story, I think, is fabulous. How Diana Mayhew Came to Lead National Cherry Blossom Festival Diana Mayhew: My background is hospitality industry here in Washington. A Ockershausen: This is your home town, correct? Diana Mayhew: Yes, I love- A Ockershausen: It's your hometown. Diana Mayhew: I love Washington D.C., I love showcasing it and just really this National Cherry Blossom Festival had the opportunity many years ago when it was run all by volunteers, just 16 years ago, to really get upgraded, to have somebody pay attention to it and not thinking I would be sitting here. I was trying to be a proponent out there for the different groups in Washington to take it under its ... A Ockershausen: It became bigger than anybody thought it would be, Diane, but it was real big at one time and then it went down. I remember going to the dinners and we would bring talent in as an expense. The president of our company then was deeply involved with the convention and visitors bureau, board of trade, which essentially expired. But we'd bring in talent from Hollywood to participate in the festival and the parade, and then it slopped off until you brought it back. Diana Mayhew: Well, thank you. A Ockershausen: Which you did, Diana. Diana Mayhew: It wasn't just me by myself. Obviously it was a vision of several organizations in the city. The Downtown Business Improvement District actually was the one 16 years ago who said, "Let's go ahead and fund an executive director for three years." They donated the salary of an executive director for three years to start it ... getting strong again. There's so many volunteers over the years that have kept this festival together. Back in the days that you know, very, very strong, but if the volunteers sort of went away- A Ockershausen: Changed. Diana Mayhew: If they changed, there's no consistency, and that's what makes it a little weaker than we...
Jim Cuddihy with career advice ~
"I tell kids all the time, interns that come into my office, people who want to get into the business: 'When you wake up in the morning, you better want to go to work. Figure that out. Do something that you love.'"
Jim Cuddihy - Executive Vice President MASN
A Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town and we have a special, special delight to have a guest that has made such an impact on the greater Washington area at both Home Team Sports, Comcast SportsNet, and now with MASN. We'll get into that later, but right now I'm gonna say hello to Jimmy Cuddihy, the man from New York who took over Washington by storm. Jim Cuddihy: Great to be with you, Andy. One of my heroes since I moved here to D.C. in 2001. On Moving to Our Town A Ockershausen: I love your story. When you first arrived in the city, your wife and your two little children, at the time, got lost and ended up going by Georgetown Prep. Jim Cuddihy: You know, it's- A Ockershausen: The hated rival of Gonzaga Eagles at this point. Jim Cuddihy: Kind of ironic, right? My little guy's like five years old and we're looking for houses. This is the first time they've moved down; I'd already been here a couple months. And we see this beautiful campus and we pull in and there's a rugby game going on. I played, I had coached, I love the sport. A Ockershausen: It's your life. Jim Cuddihy: I take a picture with my son and the ball's half as big as him, right? And he goes to school, they do a father's day present where they do cardboard cutouts of tools. And he cuts out a saw and he puts the picture in there and he writes, "To the best dad I ever saw." A Ockershausen: He's five years old? Jim Cuddihy: And to this day, I still have that in my office and he turned out to be a fantastic rugby player, Gonzaga High School, and now the captain of Saint Joe's University rugby team. So it was ironic, that that young of an age, he- A Ockershausen: Jimmy, it is all do to his experience at Georgetown Prep. Jim Cuddihy: That's right. A Ockershausen: Prep- Jim Cuddihy: He wouldn't want to hear that. A Gonzaga guy wouldn't want to hear that, but you're right. A Ockershausen: But your career has been in broadcasting, but you grew up in New York City and I love hear you telling stories about the guy ... The guys you grew up with all became an important part of the city. Cops, firemen, workers, whatever they did, and you moved on. But you grew up in that atmosphere. On Growing Up in Stuyvesant Town, New York City Jim Cuddihy: Yeah. And those guys. . . And those guys are still my best friends. We grew up in a neighborhood ... Really one of the only communities in New York City called Stuyvesant Town. On the lower- A Ockershausen: I know it quite well. Jim Cuddihy: Yeah. It's on the Lower East Side from 14th Street and 1st Avenue to 23rd Street. A Ockershausen: High rise. Jim Cuddihy: High rises. And they built them in the 50s for the returning war veterans. A Ockershausen: Correct. I remember that. Jim Cuddihy: So this kind of neighborhood, you would run home from school, drop your book bag down, and you'd go right out and play until 6:00 or 6:30 until it was dark. And sometimes your mother would open up the window- A Ockershausen: Yeah. Parks and recreation on site, correct? Jim Cuddihy: We had 15 playgrounds and every playground had a specialty. A Ockershausen: Was that a project of an insurance company? Was that Metropolitan Life? Jim Cuddihy: Yeah. MetLife owned it, yeah. That's right. That's right. A Ockershausen: I know a lot about it because my brother-in-law was a firefighter. He was a fireman then. After the war, when he came back, there was no place to live. They lived out, someplace at Floyd Bennett Field. Jim Cuddihy: Yeah. Right. A Ockershausen: There's little Quonset huts out there. They couldn't find a place. Jim Cuddihy: Stuyvesant Town is rent controlled and my parents moved into a five-be...
"JB" James Brown on one of the most important lessons he learned from being cut by the Atlanta Hawks ~
". . .when I looked back on it, there's a verse in the Bible that says, "Why be concerned about the speck in your brother's eye when there's a plank in your own eye?" And if you point a finger and blame at somebody, there are three pointing right back at you. It was on me. I didn't work as hard as them, and I vowed in the game of life I would never let an opportunity pass me by, that I didn't work hard to capitalize on the opportunity."
"JB" James Brown (right) Sportscaster and Special Correspondent with Andy Ockershausen (left)
A Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town and I have a distinct pleasure to introduce our next guest. My wife feels that he is tall, dark and handsome. We know about the dark. And he is talented and he is homegrown right here in Our Town. There are certain people in this world that I grew up with and you could say their name like Sonny, like Tiger. You know who they're talking about. Frank, the Singer and then there's JB. There's only one JB in my life and I've been around a long time. JB graduated from Harvard. I want to find out how he get in Harvard. You worked at Xerox. I didn't know you work for Eastman Kodak, a two great American corporation. He got his start in broadcasting right here in Washington D.C. Bullets. He had the best job at sports hosting NFL Today, Thursday Night Football, NFL Pre-game, this network CBS and Fox. He was a standout on the basketball court as well as on the TV set and that's a great line. My friend, James Brown. "JB" James Brown: Andy. A Ockershausen: JB. "JB" James Brown: Since your wife has accurately described me as being dark as well, too dark to blush as I listened to all of that, but- A Ockershausen: But you're handsome, JB especially the beard. "JB" James Brown: Oh, please. Are you kidding me? Hey, my grand kids must have told you to say that. So right ... And I've got four of them now, but I will get to that point. A Ockershausen: Wow. "JB" James Brown: Yes. A Ockershausen: But your family is from Washington. "JB" James Brown: Native Washingtonians. A Ockershausen: Your Mom and Dad were born here. They grew up here? The Early Years - Education and Sports "JB" James Brown: Dad grew up in Georgetown. A Ockershausen: Wow. "JB" James Brown: Was very good, knew Petey Greene. Of course we know that venerable name in Washington Circles. So Petey Greene was the one who actually got me involved in television. A Ockershausen: Is that right? "JB" James Brown: And I'll get to that. Mom actually was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and went to Chicago and then came to Washington were she and my dad met. Hey, Andy, talk about dusting off cobwebs, I looked at my birth certificate which of course had me described back in the day as they did "Colored" and I was born at Gallagher Hospital and didn't even know- A Ockershausen: Gallinger. "JB" James Brown: Gallinger. Thank you. Thank you very much. Gallinger. Was that the forerunner to the Women's Hospital? A Ockershausen: D.C. Jail. You know where the jail is? Gallinger was over there. "JB" James Brown: I'm sorry I asked you about that. I'm sorry I asked you about that. Janice Ockershausen: That's his neighborhood. A Ockershausen: JB, Eastern High School and the D.C. Jail and Gallinger all together. "JB" James Brown: Somehow I know I can't ask to this part of the conversation to be cut out but . . . Janice Ockershausen: JB, that was Andy's neighborhood.
Kathi Bowers Wallis on equality for all ~
"I particularly felt strongly about women and the fact that women were having a very difficult time. You couldn't get a loan from the bank. You couldn't get anything done because you were a woman. For me, that extended right over into minorities and people who were having a difficult time breaking through the old boy white network, which frankly really pissed me off."
Kathi Bowers Wallis, Civic-Minded Entrepreneur Our Town in studio interview
A Ockershausen: Hi, this is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town. I'm going to read an introduction that's important, and then I'll explain why when I finish it. Our next guest has been a tremendous influence on my life. I've known her and been a friend for almost 50 years. That's hard to believe. During my career at WMAL in late 1970s, that was for radio and television, this lady made some courageous suggestions to me professionally that have changed the course of influence of our industry. Our industry, not just Washington, and the live of minorities and women in broadcasting. She's always been ahead of the curve in her thinking. She's an entrepreneur. She's been a movie reviewer on radio right here at WMAL. A yoga instructor, and now she's a burger queen. She's the kind of spirit that added spice to the old boys club. Theold boys club. Not only that, the old boy. She's been a wonderful friend to me, and please welcome Kathi Wallis. Ta-dah! Kathi Bowers Wallis: Ta-dah! A Ockershausen: Say something. Kathi Bowers Wallis: Good afternoon. Here I am. A Ockershausen: Well, it's important that you know that Janice and I feel this way about you, and she makes a point that the things that you did to help me and help WMAL was influence on the industry, and that's a true story, with women and minorities, mostly black. The people that you suggested that we started here at WMAL Radio like Ed Scandrett in radio, Mary Brown in personnel. Because you had been in the personnel business. Kathi Bowers Wallis: Right. A Ockershausen: I think when we first met as a matter of fact, you were selling for Chase Photography. Kathi Bowers Wallis: What was my title there? Public relations for Chase Studios with those two dirty old men. Right? Remember them? A Ockershausen: Absolutely. Kathi Bowers Wallis: Oh my God. A Ockershausen: It was a great business. Wasn't it? Kathi Bowers Wallis: Yeah. A Ockershausen: It was downtown photography. Kathi Bowers Wallis: Downtown on M Street, and they did all the portraits of everybody who was important. A Ockershausen: Beautiful, beautiful work. They're out to business now. Kathi Bowers Wallis: Oh my God. They're both dead and buried long ago, but they were the only guys you went to to get your picture taken. A Ockershausen: They're the best. Kathi Bowers Wallis: Yeah. A Ockershausen: You had the PR job. Kathi Bowers Wallis: I had the PR job. I think before that, I was with Super Girls. Oh, dear God. A Ockershausen: You're a super woman now. Kathi Bowers Wallis: Thank God I became radicalized. Super Girls. That's when I was Miss Buick. A Ockershausen: I had the opportunity of working with you and meeting these people and through the Ad Club and the other things that you were deeply involved in. I'm serious now about the influence in broadcasting because we had almost no black people in the broadcast business in their line of sales work. Kathi Bowers Wallis: That's true. A Ockershausen: They had them on maybe on station, but this was let's say a lily white radio TV company, and we brought in Ed Scangrett and Mary and others, Phil Brown, all because of your name. It had an influence on this company. Believe me ABC then looked at us as a prime example of what you could do in broadcasting if you set your mind to it. If you want to hire black people, don't say you can't find any. That's baloney. ABC used us in management as an example. The first sales meeting I went to with them,
Patricia McGuire on growing Trinity Washington University ~ "We had to get on our feet as an enterprise. We had to get people knowing us, and so two years ago, when I went around looking to build a new science laboratories and nursing laboratories and classrooms, we were able to raise the money to build a new academic building because the sports center was successful. It's amazing how success breeds success."
Patricia McGuire (right) and Andy Ockershausen (left) in studio interview
A Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen, and this is Our Town. Our next guest was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and thank the Good Lord, she came to Our Town in 1970, liked it so much, she said, "I'm gonna stay here." And she's been called a transformer and a superwoman, and she deserves all the accolades. She's expanded academic programs, raised significant amounts of money, built an award-winning, $20,000,000 state of the art athletic center for women and girls, which I find is one of the real jewels of Our Town, and through her leadership as president of Trinity Washington University, they educate more D.C. public school graduates than any other private university in the city, and as a matter of fact, in the nation. I met Pat McGuire through the Greater Washington Board of Trade where she has a been stalwart member of the board for years, and then she received the Leader of the Year award in 2007. Pat, it's hard to believe that that's 10 years ago, but time goes so fast. But it's only part of her success. Welcome to Pat McGuire. Thank you for being on Our Town. Patricia McGuire: Oh, Andy thank you for having me on Our Town. This is a real treat. I think this show is so important. It should be required listening for all members of Congress so they can know what our town is really all about. Thank you. A Ockershausen: Well thank you for being on Our Town, and you don't realize how important you are, but we do because we sit back and look at what's going on in Our Town, and to see the impact you have made, and one of the first things I know about when you built that facility that's state of the art, and people photographed ... When we sent the camera crews out and did all that, it was a spectacular thing to do. I don't know if any of the men got anything that night. On Building Trinity Center for Women and Girls in Sports Patricia McGuire: Well that's nice of you to say, but you know, Trinity's history is so interesting because we never really had top of the line sports teams, but when I because president, and we were suffering. We were the only women's college left in the region, and we had to decide if we wanted to be a women's college still, if we wanted to exist still. And I said to the board, "If we're going to be a great women's college, we have to great women's sports because Title 9 requires it." A Ockershausen: To be competitive. Patricia McGuire: And be competitive. At first the board was like, "Eh. I don't know about that." And then, you might remember, the Board of Trade was working on the 2012 Olympics bid for DC. A Ockershausen: Absolutely. Right. Patricia McGuire: And I got mixed up with Board of Trade people working on that. I met the Women's Sport's Foundation, and I went back to the board and said, "You know what? That's right. We're not going to build a gym for five or ten girls. We're going to build the Trinity Center for Women and Girls in Sports and make it a destination venue around Women's Sports." And that was actually a legacy of the 2012 Olympics movements in D.C. That facility. A Ockershausen: It energized you. Did you tell the board it was going to cost $20,000,000? Patricia McGuire: I did. I did, and they were, by that point, they knew me well enough they weren't shocked. We raised a lot of money around the concept. A Ockershausen: Right You got to do it. Benefits of Building Trinity Center for Women and Girls in Sports Patricia McGuire: And we got about 40,
David Carpenter on Secret Service Deputy Director William J. Callahan and recent change in command at Secret Service ~ "It is a good sign. He was actually. . . just been appointed. He was Deputy Director prior to . . . the election. When the former, Joe Clancy, the former Director, retired, or left, he was a natural to keep continue running the agency. That continuity is critical. It's critical to everything."
David Carpenter (right), with Andy Ockershausen (left) in-studio
A Ockershausen: This is Our Town. I'm so pleased with our next guest, a man I've known for over 30 years. He's the type of guy that makes you feel real safe. He's the epitome of security. We invited him to Our Town because he can give us some personal insight on what it takes to have the kind of confidence to be a special agent in charge of the Presidential Protective Division of the US Secret Service. Dave Carpenter went on to serve as former ambassador and assistant secretary of state and then was hired as vice president of Global Security of PepsiCo. Dave Carpenter, you're part of Our Town. I'm so glad you decided to come back. David Carpenter: Andy, I can't tell you what an honor and a privilege it is to be here. One, it's great to see you. Two, just to be a part of this is special to me, thank you. A Ockershausen: Our Town is something that Janice created because we lost track of so many people, like Dave Carpenter. We didn't know you were back here until Jim Wells, who shall remain anonymous- David Carpenter: Yes, please. A Ockershausen: ... If we can do that. I don't know how we do that. David Carpenter: I beg you. A Ockershausen: Dave, I found out so much about you. You're from the Midwest. What happened in your background in growing up that led you to the Secret Service? David Carpenter: It's like anybody else, it's a combination of being in the right place at the right time, a little bit of luck, and some networking with actually friends of my family. I'm originally from Denver, Colorado. A Ockershausen: Is that were you were born in Denver? David Carpenter: I was born in St. Louis- A Ockershausen: Wow. David Carpenter: ... When my parents were there watching a Cardinals baseball game. A Ockershausen: This is a great story. David Carpenter: At the seventh inning stretch, my mom decided it was time for me to arrive. They whisk her off to the hospital. I'm now, on my place of birth, is St. Louis, Missouri. A Ockershausen: What year was that, David? David Carpenter: 1947. A Ockershausen: Wow, and the war is over and you're almost a war baby, but you did miss that. David Carpenter: Just missed that. A Ockershausen: Your dad was quite involved in Oklahoma, was he not, with Phillips? David Carpenter: Yeah, my father was a ... Actually, he's from Arkansas originally. He was- A Ockershausen: You're from all over aren't you? David Carpenter: We're from everywhere. They're still trying to figure out exactly our lineage. He was from Arkansas. He went to a school that had a total of eight boys in the school. They won the state basketball championship three years running. A Ockershausen: Of Arkansas state? David Carpenter: In Arkansas, based on, solely on him. First of all he was a big man. He was about six eight. This was in high school. Two, he was just one of those gifted athletes. A Ockershausen: He could do everything. David Carpenter: He could do everything. He went on to play for ... First of all, he's in the Arkansas Hall of Fame. He was inducted at the same time with Joe Garagiolo and Bear Bryant. A Ockershausen: Oh, my. David Carpenter: Which was a pretty good group to be sitting at the head table with. Went on to play with Phillips 66. Which was the AAU Powerhouse. A Ockershausen: That was a big deal. Ft. Wayne had a team. They played all over the Midwest. David Carpenter: Right, Akron, they were ... It was a precursor to the pros. A Ockershausen: That's right. It was as step up.
Jackie Bradford on Jim Vance NBC4/WRC ~
"He told me the story the other day...He said he was out at Betty Ford and one of the nurses came into him and said, 'Come here.' She took him into this room where there were stacks and stacks of letters and she said, 'Who are you?' 'Who are you?' Because he has lived his life so out loud and he's been nothing but honest with himself and with his viewers that is why he is so beloved."
Jackie Bradford, President and GM NBC4/WRC (right) and Andy Ockershausen, Our Town host (left)
A Ockershausen: This is Our Town. This is Andy Ockershausen and I am so delighted and happy and everything to welcome our next guest here. She's not really a guest. I would describe her as a general manager's general manager. Jackie Bradford: Okay. A Ockershausen: She's actually a president and a general manager. I've known this young lady for so many years and I've seen her in action and what she's done for her company and the greater Washington area is unbelievable. She has a unbelievable relationship with her staff. It kind of reminds me of me. You've got to get close to the people and you've done that Jackie. It makes a big difference. She's actively involved with the community with the DC Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Washington Board of Trade, the Urban League, and it goes on and on and on because she believes in involvement and it has paid off so much for Channel 4. She's the president of Channel 4, but her team has produced one of the largest health expos in the country for Our Town, or any town. She's opened 2 regional news bureaus, one's an investigative team among many other community endeavors to lead Channel 4 to continue to be the top TV station in the market. She plays a heck of a game of tennis and I'm so glad she's back in Our Town. Welcome, Jackie Bradford. Quit While We're Ahead! Jackie Bradford: Thank you Andy. Wow, we should just end there. A Ockershausen: Quit while you're ahead. Jackie Bradford: Yeah, quit while you're ahead. A Ockershausen: We're not ahead yet. I was telling Jackie, and she knew this already but there may be a lot of people in our audience that don't, WRC and WMAL were joined at the hip at one time. We were both stations of the NBC network, red and the blue. I recall growing up with them in a building with a young, smart aleck from Alexandria named Willard Scott. He was the messenger in our building for both sides. Jackie Bradford: Do you think he's going to do okay? A Ockershausen: I said he's a nutcase but he's going to do fine. But that's a relationship WMAL and WRC have. And we would use each other's talent but that was in the old days. It doesn't happen anymore. But Jackie, you were here in the financial world at one time. But you grew up ... you're a Baltimore girl. From Baltimore to Virginia and UVA Jackie Bradford: Baltimore. I left before I got that accent so I always like to say I left in the 5th grade ... A Ockershausen: Before Balmer. Jackie Bradford: Before Balmer, before it went downhill. But I graduated from Woodbridge High School, here in Virginia. A Ockershausen: Wow, I know Woodbridge very well. Jackie Bradford: Yup. And went to the University of Virginia. I'd consider that local. Wahoo-wa. A Ockershausen: Well, the high school, was it called ... did it have another name? Jackie Bradford: Nope, we were Woodbridge. . .the mighty, mighty Vikings. A Ockershausen: There's only Woodbridge High? Jackie Bradford: Yup. A Ockershausen: They had some great athletic teams, I remember reading about that. But to go to UVA is quite a feat. Jackie Bradford: Yup. A Ockershausen: Well at one time you may remember, there was a boys school and the females went to Mary Washington. Jackie Bradford: Yup. A Ockershausen: And I grew up in Northern Virginia for a while and it was a great tribute ... anybody got in school at UVA was very fortunate. Is that correct? Jackie Bradford: Very fortunate.
Mark Ein on Venus Williams after she won a tie breaker to win the championship and Kastles Tennis' second perfect season ~
". . .she said 'I wasn't just doing it for myself. I was doing it for a team. I was doing it for a city. I was doing it for the name on the front of the jersey, not the back.' She will literally cite that as one of the highlights of her career. For Venus Williams to say that, I think is a great summation of what this can mean to people."
Mark Ein (right) and Andy Ockershausen (left) in studio
A Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen and this is Our Town and our special guest is Mark Ein. I'm going to tell you a little bit about Mark. As I tell everybody, Mark, Our Town includes Annapolis, PG County, it's Montgomery. It's as far as our signal goes. As you probably know, we have a great signal because once we get up there, it goes all over the world. This is a podcast. Mark was an investor and an entrepreneur. He's built companies over the course of his 22 year young career, but that's another interview. Today, we're here to talk about the man, our neighbor, our friend, the kind of guy who steps up to the plate and bids on lunch with me. Why? I don't know, as an auction prize. A sports enthusiast who has done some pretty creative thinking in the sports arena with Kastles Tennis and the World Team Tennis. He's a philanthropist. He puts his money up, his energy to educate children in the DC area. Mark Ein, welcome to Our Town. Mark Ein: Thanks. That was a really generous introduction and I can't tell you how happy I am to be here with you, Andy. That auction item, I think, was the single best item I've ever bought at a charity auction. I had so much fun. Every year, I wait for that to come up again so I can get it again. A Ockershausen: We're waiting for Shuster. Yeah. We'll come up with something for you. Mark Ein: Good. A Ockershausen: That's a real thing that Eric has started for his school and his mother. It was a teacher in a Special Ed out there, but we love that. We love to be involved. One of the secrets of your success, Mark, and we preach this to everybody, you get involved in the community. You're not just in it for the rewards. You're in it to give. It pays off for you. Mark Ein: I appreciate that. I feel really lucky with the life I've been able to have. I grew up in this area. I grew up in Chevy Chase. A Ockershausen: You're Our Town. On the Giving Culture of Our Town Mark Ein: Yeah. It has been. The opportunity I had to move back here 25 years ago after being in New York and LA and Philly and Boston, all over the place, and coming back, and the opportunities I've had, I feel so fortunate. One of the great things about this community, you talked about Eric Shuster, yourself, but so many people. Part of the culture of this community, I think, is giving back. That's really something that's embedded in the people who make this town move and to me, it's one of the many things that makes this such a wonderful community to be a part of. The Reward A Ockershausen: It's amazing the people in your life and you've grown up with and almost universally, they're givers and they give back, Mark. The more you give, you get back much more than you ever give. Mark Ein: You know, that is a nice bi-product of it. I think that is the way the world worked. It's great that it does. I think when you do it, you have to do it not because you obviously never expect anything to come back, you do it out of genuine care for what you're doing. Frankly, the act of giving is the most rewarding part of it. You don't need anything back. What you get back is that feeling of helping other people, helping organizations that are making a difference, doing something more than just for yourself. I've been blessed as we all have and I'm just happy to be in Our Town. A Ockershausen: No. You made such an impact coming back into Our Town and getting involved, but you give so much through your investment companies ...
Chick Hernandez on one on one interview with Dan Snyder when Snyder wasn't giving interviews ~
"He interviewed me for six minutes. We put it online because it was hysterical to watch this guy ask me questions. What do you like eat? All kinds of off the beaten stuff. By the time we turned it around, I did him, it was good."
Chick Hernandez in studio interview
A Ockershausen: This is Our Town and having an opportunity in Our Town to talk to one of Washington's most renowned sports broadcasters. Chick Hernandez: Well, I can't wait for this. Who is this? A Ockershausen: They used to be sports talents. Now they're broadcasters. Chick Hernandez: Are they? Talent. A Ockershausen: Like there are no more sales people. They're account executives now. That's happened to our world. Chick is a very dear friend and has been so important to Comcast Sportsnet and its growth, and we want to talk about that, but I'd like to go back to Chick Hernandez to where he is born. He's a local guy. He's an Our Town guy. Born and Raised in Our Town Chick Hernandez: I was born in Providence Hospital October 31st. Won't give you the year because I never give my age because of my young looking skin. You can't tell right now on this podcast. But, born in DC, raised in DC, lived on R Street for five years then went out to Silver Spring. A Ockershausen: The migration. Chick Hernandez: The migrations. Single mother, the white Irish Catholic from Annapolis. A Ockershausen: Well, you share the same hospital. Only my problem is I was born there 88 years ago in March. Chick Hernandez: Wow you are ancient. A Ockershausen: Providence Hospital. Chick Hernandez: Providence Hospital, yeah. A Ockershausen: I was asked to do a commercial for them. Chick Hernandez: Really? A Ockershausen: Yeah, for their 75th anniversary, and I did the spot as being born in Washington, being third generation. That was the old Providence Hospital, over in southeast. Chick Hernandez: My wife was born in the same hospital just 10 months later, exactly 10 months later in the same hospital. A Ockershausen: The one out in Brookland. Chick Hernandez: I don't know where. I was too young to remember. A Ockershausen: But, Chick, so you migrated out of the city, and your family moved out- Chick Hernandez: Moved out, Silver Spring, Silver Spring, 9112 Piney Branch Road, apartment 103. Single mom raised me. I always say that, you know somebody asked me a while ago, "Do you miss having a dad?" I said, "I don't know what that means because I felt like my mom was my dad too." I thought she did a heck of a job raising a rambunctious kid, and I was- A Ockershausen: How many children? Chick Hernandez: My sister came 14 years later. Mom took her time. A Ockershausen: Mom was busy. Chick Hernandez: For 14 years I was a solo. Literally each year the pool would open up. A Ockershausen: Apple of his eye. Now someone in your family died. Was it your grandmother? Chick Hernandez: I've had a bunch of people die. What are you talking about? My aunt died last year, this April, this past April. A Ockershausen: No, this was five or six years ago. Chick Hernandez: My mother did in 2010. A Ockershausen: That's what, yeah your mom died. St. Joseph's? St. Joe's? Something like that. Chick Hernandez: My kids went to St. Joe's. My mom had a congenital heart defect. Had a great surgery, and then got an allergic reaction to the medication and died several days later. Same thing with my aunt. Same operation, died in the hospital. Not a great memory, Andy, but thank you. A Ockershausen: You got to remember the bad. That's what the future is. Chick Hernandez: My mom was a hippie growing up, and she taught me about- A Ockershausen: All this happened in the Silver Spring area not in the city. His Dad - Carlos Patato Valdes Chick Hernandez: Absolutely, yep, yep. All Silver Spring. The chief thing that my mom taught me really was about race. Here's a white lady who was raising a kid of col...
Arch Campbell on Channel 4 ratings back in the day ~
"We couldn't get arrested. In fact, we used to ... You know, Patty Hearst was kidnapped and started robbing banks back then. We used to say that, 'When Patty Hearst was on the lam from the FBI, she anchored the 5:00 news on Channel 4, because that way she knew that nobody would see her.'"
Arch Campbell (right) with Andy Ockershausen (left) in studio Our Town interview
A Ockershausen This is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town. Arch Campbell: Oh, ho, ho. A Ockershausen We have a special guest ... Arch Campbell: Whose town is this? A Ockershausen Who has one of the best jobs in show business. He gets to go to the movies, he goes to the theater, he goes to concerts. He sees great entertainment. He never pays. He's been doing it close for 40 years. If every channel and every radio station had an opportunity to have Arch McDonald, as a friend of mine. Welcome to Arch Campbell on Our Town with Andy Ockershausen. Arch Campbell: Does anybody come on this show who's actually employed anymore? What is this? This is the parade ... You ought to call this the "When I" show. When I worked here, when I worked there, when I was working, when I. I'm pretty much retired, but I've been in broadcasting more than 50 years. I spent 40 years on television in Washington D.C. A Ockershausen That's incredible, Arch. Nobody else can match that. Arch Campbell: How do you think I feel? A Ockershausen You were wired from time to time. Will the real Arch McDonald please stand up? Arch Campbell: I thought I'd last about three years. You said Arch McDonald. A Ockershausen I know, but you know what? I used to do that when you were a talent. Arch Campbell: I loved it, when I had talent. If there's anyone listening to this podcast, under the age of 90, maybe we should explain that Arch McDonald was a beloved baseball announcer. He called all the baseball games for the Washington Senators. He was a great a sportscaster. I came to town, and he died in the late sixties, like 1968. You know later, I made friends with a lot of people, and one of my friends is Jim Silman. A Ockershausen Oh my, Jimmie. Arch Campbell: Arch McDonald died on the train coming back from a baseball game in Philadelphia. My friend Jim was with him. They were playing bridge on the club car of the metro. A Ockershausen Oh my God. I didn't know that story. Arch Campbell: When I got to town in '74, Arch McDonald had died, but he was still well remembered. The guy who hired me, who was the boss at Channel 4, was named Bruce McDonald. My name is Arch Campbell, and of course the Campbells and the McDonalds had this great feud in Scotland, way back when. A Ockershausen It all came into play. Arch Campbell: Arch McDonald had a son, Arch McDonald Junior. A Ockershausen Archie, the salesman. Arch Campbell: He ran a station up in Frederick or some place. A Ockershausen Hagerstown. Arch Campbell: I would get mail for Arch McDonald. Then I met you. I used to come over here when Chris Core was on WMAL, and hang around Chris. We were never sober, neither one of us, but we had a lot of fun. I'd run into you, and you would say Arch McDonald to me. At first, I thought, "He's having a memory skip." A Ockershausen "He's dumb." Arch Campbell: "He doesn't really ..." It took be about 15 years to figure out, "Oh no. He's screwing with me. He's screwing with me. He thinks nobody knows who I am. He wants me to think that." I loved you from the word go, but when I figured that out, I knew ... A Ockershausen Well, Sheila did too, so that made it okay. His wife was Sheila. Arch Campbell: My first wife. A Ockershausen A very successful ad executive, very successful. Arch Campbell: You know, she's still in town, and now she leads groups on trips to Paris. A Ockershausen That's what I understand. She's a traveller. Arch Campbell: She speaks French. A Ockershausen Marvelous, marvelous.
Giuseppe Cecchi on Italian architect Luigi Moretti and Moretti's work on Watergate ~
". . .we had to convert it from strokes of pens in meters into design, working drawings, in inches. . .He was a genius. I think the Watergate is a really a fantastic architectural project. . .he was that kind of prima donna genius. . . you couldn't change . . . a comma of what he did. . .we hired a local architect here, and I was sort of the marriage counselor between these two . . ."
Giuseppe Cecchi (right) - Visionary Real Estate Developer - and Andy Ockershausen (left)
A Ockershausen: This is Our Town, this is Andy Ockershausen and I have just a delightful guest here, who has been a very dear friend for many years. He's a visionary in a Real Estate development. He's built close to three million square feet of office space and three hotels. He was building mix-use office space before it was the rage. He saw the importance of technology even before Silicon Valley when he built Techworld. He saw the trends for senior living with Leisure World. His name is synonymous with Watergate. He came to America from Italy over 50 years ago, probably now over 60, to start a company and build a great future for our town, for our community. And I've seen him play tennis for many years and I've played tennis with him. He's a very dear friend who's had discussions with his wife in three languages, I always got a big kick out of that. Welcome Giuseppe Cecchi to Our Town. Giuseppe Cecchi: Thank you, Thank you. A Ockershausen: Which is really almost your town, now. Giuseppe Cecchi: Well I've been here 57 years. A Ockershausen: And you came . . . Giuseppe Cecchi: And I came for a three year assignment . . . A Ockershausen: And stayed! Giuseppe Cecchi: And I'm here after 57. From Milano to Washington DC A Ockershausen: What was your first build, was your first build in Watergate? Giuseppe Cecchi: Well there was a building before Watergate, it was called Potomac Plaza Terraces, which was a little piece that came in the deal when we bought the Watergate side. It came with another piece about a block away. A Ockershausen: I got it. Giuseppe Cecchi: And it had already drawings ready to go and just to pick up a permit at that time it was easy to pick up a permit. Doesn't take two years like now. And so we decided to build that as an experiment as a pilot project. A Ockershausen: Right, before the big one. Giuseppe Cecchi: And we did 190, at that time condominiums did not exist in Washington, so it was called cooperative. We built a cooperative building, with 190 units, it was successful. We made a million dollars, I think of profit. So then . . . A Ockershausen: Then they go for the big one. Giuseppe Cecchi: The top of the company decided, let's go and develop the Watergate. A Ockershausen: And you were born in Milan, Milano. Giuseppe Cecchi: Yes. A Ockershausen: And that's where you got into the learning how to be a builder? I mean, you went to college there and Giuseppe Cecchi: I went to college there. I graduated as a civil engineer, as a structural and mechanical engineer. And then I went to work for this company, the Societa Generale Immobiliare, in Rome. And I worked for them for several years, and then when the opportunity come to go to America. Very gloomy because I had a little English background. You know, I had spent a couple of vacations in Ireland, in the Channel, Jersey near England, and so I had enough to qualify. I was a bachelor so it was easy to move and less expensive to move. So they put me in the teams that they sent to ... they opened three location in this continent. One in New York, one in Mexico City, and one in Montreal. And I was a part of the New York office. And the task was to scout for business opportunities. And the business opportunity we found in New York was a piece of land in Washington that was a company in New York that had an option on the gas company ...
Chris Plante on the interactivity of radio talk shows ~ "We are the original interactive media. We invented interactive."
Chris Plante, Talk Show Host on WMAL radio in Our Town and elsewhere
A Ockershausen: This is Our Town. This is Andy Ockershausen. Our guest today, unlike most of Our Town have been, are native but he's not a native. He's a relative newcomer, but he's not really a newcomer. He's been around. He started out on WMAL here in Our Town with a local broadcast, and now he's being heard all over America. He's on Westwood One, he's a regular on Fox News, but he's not a baby when it comes to Washington politics or holding his own in a room full of liberals. He's had a lot of experience growing up in a media family in Chicago, a family of Democrats so I hear. His mother and grandfather were on radio and television, and his stepfather is still in the news business. He's been 20 years at CNN and they've been preparing him for his daily talk show, and the most popular radio show probably on WMAL radio is The Chris Plante Show, and welcome to you, Chris Plante. Chris Plante: Thanks. Thanks for having me. A Ockershausen: Our Town. Chris Plante: Yes. A Ockershausen: You're a big part of Our Town. You, let's say, copted Our Town because not many people do what you do on radio. Chris Plante: I never wanted to be part of this town, but here I am anyway. [Laughter] I got stuck here somehow. A Ockershausen: You wanted to go back to Chicago where your family was so prominent, correct? Family Legacy - Following in Their Footsteps "On Air" Radio and Television Chris Plante: We moved around a lot truthfully. I spent most of my years, my formative years ... I'm still in my formative years, in Chicago growing up, Glenview and Winnetka on the north shore of Chicago. A Ockershausen: The gold coast. Santa Barbara, California - College Years Chris Plante: The Winnetka part certainly anyway. It's very nice. I've been here for the majority of my life now though. I fled Chicago when I was 18 years old and went to Santa Barbara where the sun shines and a whole of lot of other things. A Ockershausen: You went to school in Santa Barbara? Chris Plante: I went to school for a very long time. I never finished, but I went to school for a very long time. A Ockershausen: UC of course? Chris Plante: I went to Santa Barbara City College forever, and then I started at UC Santa Barbara. I was busy and I was married and I had a job and I lost interest, and I figured I already knew it all, so they didn't have much to teach me, so I moved on from there. That's when I went into the news business. Winnetka, Illinois - New Trier Schools A Ockershausen: In high school you were in Chicago, and then you moved west ... Chris Plante: I did. New Trier West High School and ... A Ockershausen: Wasn't Jack Benny from Winnetka, Illinois? Didn't I hear that name? Chris Plante: There are a lot of people from Winnetka. Donald Rumsfeld ... A Ockershausen: Famous name. Chris Plante: The New Trier school system, Charlton Heston and Ann Margret and Rumsfeld ... A Ockershausen: Northwestern. Chris Plante: All kinds of people. My mother went to college at Northwestern. One of my younger brothers went to college at Northwestern. Chris Plante's Mother and Grandfather "On-Air" A Ockershausen: Your mother was in the broadcast business when you were growing up, when you were in school? Chris Plante: My mother's father Pat Barnes who was not a liberal, he was a good conservative, but I didn't realize that. I didn't learn that until I started doing the radio show here at WMAL. My grandfather, my mother's father, was in the radio business from the time that he came home from World War I. He fought in the army in World War I and France, and when he came home he got into the radio business. When my mother was seven years old, she was already doing radio shows in New York, National Broadcasts. I have a recording of one of them from Christmas Day 193...
George Allen on "learning to be yourself" in politics after he switched out his boots for wingtips and lost his first election~ "The best advice I ever got was from a guy named George Beard who was chewing tobacco at the Green County Fair. He was a delegate from Culpeper, and I said 'Oh, you're chewing tobacco here in public.' He says, 'You got to be yourself.' There's no better advice."
Susan Brown Allen, and Senator George Allen at Our Town Season 2 Launch Party
Andy Ockershausen: This Our Town. This is Andy Ockershausen and I've known our next guest for close to 50 years. It goes so fast. His name is a household name to anyone who as ever lived in Our Town for even a few years. His father was a big deal in Our Town, and our guest was an even bigger name in politics and government. He was a senator, governor, member of the House of Representatives. I mean, I don't know what he hasn't done. He wasn't born here, but his impact on the State of Virginia and Our Town was legendary. Welcome Governor, Senator, Felix Allen. What's in a Name? - George Allen Legacy in Our Town George Allen: George Allen. Andy Ockershausen: George. George Allen: Felix was my grandfather's name. Andy Ockershausen: I knew that. I met your grandfather when they came to a game. I'll get into that with you in a minute. And your grandmother. George that's incredible. I was wondering, were you a junior and Janice found you as Felix. I love the name. George Allen: Yeah. My father's middle name was Herbert so - Andy Ockershausen: Yes. I knew that. George Allen: So we had different middles names so - Andy Ockershausen: George H. Allen. George Allen: Yep. Andy Ockershausen: Your dad was certainly a legend to Our Town and what he did for us, and to have you come along ... It's just unbelievable George. The name means so much in Washington. I think that name helped you get elected a couple of times didn't it? George Allen: Yeah. Bunch of Redskins fans. Cowboy fans would always give me a hard time with it, and fortunately the Redskins when my father was there, never had a losing season and he brought in a winning tradition for the Redskins. And if it weren't for my father going to the Washington Redskins, I would not be in Virginia. To be honest with you - The Road to Our Town Andy Ockershausen: I can understand that. But you were born in Whittier and your dad was coaching there? George Allen: Yeah. My parents were married in Sioux City, Iowa and his first head coaching job was at Morningside College. He's originally from Michigan near Detroit - Andy Ockershausen: I knew that. George Allen: And any rate, I guess during the period my wife ... My wife. My mother was pregnant with me during that period, then I was dropped in Whittier. And so he was head coach at Whittier College. They have the worst, least fierce name for a team. The Poets. The Fighting Poets. And you know we're just like pathetic. What we're going to kill you with rhyme. But that team - Andy Ockershausen: But that was Richard Nixon's school George Allen: Yeah Richard Nixon went ... He wasn't there at the same time as my father, but that's when they first became acquainted with one another. The other great thing at Whittier is in their conference, they played Occidental and Jack Kemp - Andy Ockershausen: Quarterback. George Allen: Was a quarterback at Occidental. And out of the people who motivated me to get involved in politics, the most two inspirational people to me were Ronald Reagan, and Jack Kemp. And Kemp coming from the world of football really was very consistent with my way of looking at a meritocracy. And some of this you reflect on later in life, but growing up in football myself and my father's teams, and they were all very close. Andy Ockershausen: You part of it. The whole team. George Allen: Yeah. And even with the Bears. Those were first training camps when my father was an assistant coach with the Bears and from second to eighth grade ...
Larry Michael on what would be better than the Washington Redskins playing in Super Bowl LII ~
". . .the perfect scenario here would be, the Redskins go to the Super Bowl in 2017, which would mean 2018, and the day before the game is played, we get where Joe Jacoby is going into the Hall of Fame."
Larry Michael, Voice of the Washington Redskins
A Ockershausen: What a great opportunity for you in Our Town to hear about the voice of the Washington Redskins, who's going to be now a voice of the Washington Redskins WMAL thank you, thank you, thank you. A very dear friend and a big, big man in broadcasting in Our Town, Larry Michael. Welcome to Our Town. Larry Michael: Hi, buddy. How you doing? A Ockershausen: Larry, we've had such a great, great time with you. I look about all the stuff you've done, and I can't believe it until I've seen it and read about it. You have been involved in so much, but you never left town. Larry Michael: Never did, and one of my highlights is working with you. A Ockershausen: Oh, Larry, the good old days. Larry Michael: The telethon. A Ockershausen: Oh, boy. The good old days and now, Larry. I read so much about you, but I didn't read- Larry Michael: Got a lot of notes there, don't you? The Early Years in Our Town A Ockershausen: Anything about you until I talked to you about your beginning in Our Town. Your family moved here from Chicago. Larry Michael: Yeah. I was born in Chicago. My parents were from Sparta, Greece. In fact, my brother was born in Greece. A Ockershausen: Spartans? Larry Michael: Spartans, yes. Yes, 100%. Then from Chicago, they moved to D.C., Southeast D.C. when I was two, so there is a picture of me in a Cubs shirt as a baby, but that's it. D.C. from then on. Then a year after that, they moved to Silver Spring, Maryland, Four Corners area of Silver Spring, and I lived there, grew up there. I consider Silver Spring my hometown, really, but I was born in Chicago. A Ockershausen: But that's still Our Town. Silver Spring is Our Town. Larry Michael: I think so. A Ockershausen: Annapolis is our town. Larry Michael: I think so. A Ockershausen: Everything is within, what you got, about eight million people in our big broadcast schedule. Larry Michael: Yeah. A Ockershausen: Including Baltimore. . .they know you, Larry. Larry Michael: My dad had an establishment in D.C. and obviously, we went to D.C. Stadium. A Ockershausen: Not an estab- a very fine restaurant. Larry Michael: Well, it's wasn't that fine, but it was a restaurant. I say establishment, some of them might think the wrong thing, huh? I said it. Obviously, we'd go to D.C. then RFK Stadium, and me and my brother would go, and later with friends, and just never left the area. Went to school here and had a couple of opportunities to leave, but- Four Corners Elementary School | Sligo Junior High | Northwood High School A Ockershausen: You went to grammar school and high school? Larry Michael: Went to Four Corners Elementary on University Boulevard. It's no longer there. A Ockershausen: Right. Larry Michael: They've got an assisted living home there or something. I went to Sligo Junior High, which is still there on Dennis Avenue, and I went to that fine, the Harvard at the Mid-Atlantic, the University of Maryland. A Ockershausen: Well, where'd you go to high school? Larry Michael: Northwood High School. A Ockershausen: Oh, Northwood. Larry Michael: Silver Spring, Maryland. A Ockershausen: That was closed. Yeah. Larry Michael: University, I skipped that. And in fact, Northwood was closed for a long, long time because of a lack of enrollment right there, and it's right there, Kent Mill area, right before you get to Kent Mill- A Ockershausen: Know it well. Larry Michael: On University Boulevard, before you get to Wheaton and Northwood High School was my high school. Still hang out with some of my buddies from back then.
Ed Henry on the story that was the impetus for the title "42 Faith" ~
"It's a lesson for all of us, and that's why we call it 42 Faith. It wasn't just Jackie's faith, Branch Rickey's faith, I think a lot of these players on the Dodgers had remarkable faith."
Ed Henry - Author, 42 Faith: The Rest of the Jackie Robinson Story
A Ockershausen: A friend in need is a friend in deed, and this man is a friend. He used to be a fresh faced kid, he made a huge impact on Our Town. He's not fresh faced anymore. Ed Henry: Wow. A Ockershausen: Ed Henry is a transplant from Queens, New York. Ed Henry: Mm-hmm. A Ockershausen: Came to Washington as a journalist, to work for Jack Anderson. Ed Henry: That's right. A Ockershausen: How about that! He's another success story who found his way to WMAL radio. Providing political insight into a morning show. We had a morning show here called Harden and Weaver, it's not with us anymore. He worked with Chris Core, and Chris Plante. In fact, he worked everywhere from Roll Call to the Washingtonian, to CNN, Fox News, he's covered the Hill, the White House. He's covered some incredible national news stories. And the main news himself, with a fabulous new book about Jackie Robinson. Please welcome Ed Henry to Our Town. 42 Faith: The Rest of the Jackie Robinson Story by Ed HenryEd Henry: Thanks for having me! The book's called 42 Faith and you told me you had a little story about Jackie Robinson. Weren't you walking through National Airport? A Ockershausen: No. Ed Henry: When he- A Ockershausen: I had invited Howard down to be the ... Howard Cosell and Jackie Robinson Ed Henry: Howard Cosell. A Ockershausen: To be a ... Cosell, he's ... There's only one Howard. Ed Henry: There's only one Howard to you. Like Frank ... A Ockershausen: Everyone else didn't get to meet him. Whenever ever I say, JB who's sat right in that chair. You know JB, you know . . . Ed Henry: I know JB. A Ockershausen: He's our guy. Well, Howard and I . . . I had to pick him up at the airport, and when he got in, this is before cellphones. This must have been in the early 70S. Ed Henry: 1972 72. A Ockershausen: He got a phone call, somebody at the gate gave him this message, he had to make a phone call. He had to call Rachel Robinson, that Jackie had died. Ed Henry: Yeah, October 1972. He was only 53 years old. A Ockershausen: That is incredible, but to be there, to be part of history when he got that message. He had been close to him, he used to ride the train with him. I didn't know that they lived up at Pound Ridge, or some place. Ed Henry: Yeah, it's amazing what, we get into all these different layers of this story but, the old Brooklyn Dodgers of the forties and fifties, they used to take the subway to Ebbets Field. I mean, you think about now, these players who make 150, 250 million Bryce Harper, here in Washington is talking about his next deal being over $400 million, almost half a billion dollars, for a baseball player. Are they worth it? Are they not worth it? It'll be a bar room argument for a long time, but these players didn't make a whole lot of money, even if they were world famous. A Ockershausen: Howard’s point, . . Jackie rode the train. Ed Henry: Yeah. A Ockershausen: Because he rode the train. Going home to Pound Ridge or some place and he met Rachel and the family. Dodgers, Flatbush and Stickball Ed Henry: One of the characters in my book is Jerry Reinsdorf because he's the owner of the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Bulls, he became famous in Chicago but he grew up in Flatbush. And he played stickball with Duke Snider. You know Willie, Mickey and the Duke? Could you imagine playing stickball now with Jason Werth or Ryan Zimmerman, I mean, I know Ryan but you don't play stickball in the street, a 10 year old kid doesn't play stickball with Duke Snider. But Duke Snider lived in a little apartment in Flatbush and took the subway to Ebbets Field.
Rick "Doc" Walker on motivation - "My philosophy is that you have to learn how to push your own button. . . if I teach you how to hit the reset button, then you can reestablish yourself. Because I’m not going to be there to hold your hand. . . People have power within themselves, they just need help getting there."
Our Town host Andy Ockershausen and Guest Rick "Doc" Walker
Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen, and this is Our Town. I've known our next guest, I don't even call him a guest, our next friend almost 40 years. That's a long time. He's a giantin his profession. He was the UCLA Lineman of the Year Honorary, a Rose Bowl Champion when he explained to me that he beat Ohio State, that ain't easy. The AP named him an All-American. Then he played starting tight-end for Coach Gibbs in the Championship game of 1983 Superbowl of the '82 champions. If you remember Doc, that was a strike year. That was then and now is now. Doc, where does he not work? He's the Redskins' pre-game show for Fox 5. He's the analyst for ESPN Radio with Sonny, Larry, and Chris Cooley. He works at Comcast Sports Network. He hosts the ProView on MASN. He owns the ProView, which is also an excellent magazine. He co-hosts a daily talk show on ESPN Radio 980. I'm exhausted just thinking about it. What does he do in the off-season? He has his own business. A motivational speaker and was chosen one of the regions top speakers. We'll get into that later. Where does our guest not work? Please welcome my dear friend Rick "Doc" Walker. Rick Doc Walker Hey Boss. Andy Ockershausen: You are the best. Incredible. I call you because when I listen to you, you are as good an analyst as I've ever heard of a game. And I've been listening to football since the Redskins were broadcast by Harry Wismer. Andy Ockershausen: Oh I know you are. You are so important to Our Town Doc. And you've gotten around so much, and what you've contributed is your thoughts to young people make a big difference. It does Doc. Rick Doc Walker Well most people here are afraid of barriers. When you're in Southern California, I mean we go 100 miles to a party, like to San Diego and L.A. Well here, people from Virginia don't go to Maryland. Maryland don't go to Virginia. D.C. doesn't go to Virginia. So in most of my days I'm in Fairfax, Montgomery County, Prince George's County, all in the same day. I mean I just- Andy Ockershausen: That's Our Town. You get around in Our Town. Rick Doc Walker But if you're not from here. People here are landlocked. And they have these fences built. And they're so limited in my opinion. Andy Ockershausen: But the river closes a lot of that. It scares people to cross that river. I've seen it both ways, Doc. Rick Doc Walker Yeah, but still. I have a car. People go ... Well I'm over in Prince George's County I go, "Okay, I have a car. I'll be okay." Prince William, I go to Woodbridge, Springfield- Andy Ockershausen: Where do you not go? Whatever happened to your restaurant that I remember so vividly. Rick Doc Walker Scoreboard. Andy Ockershausen: I remember Scoreboard very well. Rick Doc Walker Yeah, we had a great time. The problem is in that business, if you grow too fast, we had a great idea, great concept- Andy Ockershausen: Great food, incidentally. Rick Doc Walker Great food. But if you stay in one place, you got a shot. Two, you cut your resources in half. Most people aren't worth their weight in terms of work ethic. You know the average person is lazy as hell. And so most people are out trying to get what they can take not what they can earn. So you better be in the management business, otherwise everything you have will be gone. So I've learned a lot about civilians since I stopped playing ball. Andy Ockershausen: You almost have to live there. Rick Doc Walker Well yeah, the smart people do. Andy Ockershausen: The restaurant business. Rick Doc Walker Duke was always there. He got to be there by the cash register.
Female sports - Growing Up in the 60s and 70s Christine Brennan - Our Town Season OneChristine Brennan: Yeah. I still own the family home where we grew up in Ottawa Hills. A Ockershausen: Is that right? Oh wow. Christine Brennan: Yep. I go back for Thanksgiving, Christmas. When I’m doing some speeches. I do a lot of charity work. A Ockershausen: You’re in a hotbed of sports right there in Toledo. Christine Brennan: Exactly. This is in the ’60s and into the early ’70s. I graduated high school in ’76, when girls were not encouraged to love or play sports. Yet, I had a dad, I’m the oldest of four kids, and my dad, who had been a football player in high school in Chicago, and then went to Drake and played football for a year in Des Moines, then went into the army at the end of World War II, my dad was saying, “Hey, my daughter wants to play sports? Play sports.” My mom jokes I was born size 6X and kept right on growing. I was really tall. I’m the tallest kid in the neighborhood. I’m taller than the boys. They wanted to play sports with me. Every other girl was shooed away. “Get out of here. We don’t want you to play.” Of course, there’s no organized soccer. There’s no tee ball. You just played. A Ockershausen: In the ’60s, right. Christine Brennan: Sure. You just played. The kids, you just played in someone’s front yard or down the block or in the field. We would just go play. Goddard Field across from the University of Toledo and I’d be with all the boys and that was it, and me. I was the only girl. I was natural. I was a good athlete, and so they wanted me. They always picked me first to be part of the baseball team or whatever. We’re Mickey Mantle or Al Kaline up to bat. My dad … A Ockershausen: Kaline Detroit. Christine Brennan: Yeah, exactly. Close by. My dad, he taught me how to throw the ball properly. The old term “throw like a girl,” which we should retire as a nation because now we’re teaching, of course, all of our daughters to throw the ball properly, so “throw like a girl” is a compliment now with all these millions of girls and women playing sports because of Title IX. The old days, in the ’60s, girls were pushing the ball. A Ockershausen: They pushed it. Christine Brennan: My dad wouldn’t tolerate that for any of his daughters, much less his son, so I knew how to fire the ball and throw it and cock it behind my arm and throw it. I never threw like a girl, even though of course that term is ridiculous now. I don’t know if anyone’s heard. A woman actually ran for President. News flash. I don’t know if you’ve heard the news. A Ockershausen: We’ve read the papers. Christine Brennan: Hello, let’s move beyond “throw like a girl.” Back then, I didn’t throw like a girl.
Chris Broullire on what he and his wife should have done when they saw changes in his mother-in-law -
"What we should have done at that time and we didn't know, we didn't know enough is we have a terrific website, ALZ.org. Anything you want to know about Alzheimer's or dementia is available on ALZ.org"
Andy Ockershausen and Chris Broullire
A Ockershausen: This is Our Town. It's Andy Ockershausen. I am delighted with our ... I don't call him a guest. He's too much of a friend and so close to him over the years, a local guy, a prominent fundraiser, extraordinary salesman. I guess you have to be to raise the kind of money that he's used to raising. Chris Broullire: Is it fundraiser or fund raiser? A Ockershausen: Well, it's both. Why not have fun when you’re raising funds? Chris Broullire: Okay, that sounds good. A Ockershausen: He is currently the chapter president and CEO of the Alzheimer's Association. I met him at least three decades ago. He's going to say longer, but I’ve known him in the radio business and the broadcast television business and the cable business and Chris Broullire, welcome to Our Town. Chris Broullire: Well, thanks Andy, it's great to be here. It's great. A Ockershausen: Our Town covers Annapolis. It covers Vienna, Virginia. We go as far as the Blue Ridge Mountains. We consider everybody in this big, huge bowl of what may be 8 million people as Our Town. Chris Broullire: You are humongous. A Ockershausen: Half of them live here, which is great and the other half are going on their way out of town. Chris, I go back with you so far but I did not know your background as a local yokel. Chris Broullire: Can I tell you the first time I ever met ... Yeah, but can I tell you the first time I ever met you? It was in the lobby right here at WMAL and I was referred to you by Tom Curro, Tom Curro Lincoln Mercury, and he said ... A Ockershausen: Oh, I know the name ... Chris Broullire: He says, "Chris, go see my buddy, Andy Ockershausen," and I was just desperate for a job, right out of college, trying to get a job anywhere, especially in radio. "Go see my buddy, Andy Ockershausen," and you spent about 20 seconds in the lobby with me telling me, "You got no shot, kid, good luck, call Dick Eurie." That was my first meeting with Andy and I thought, "Thank you so much for ..." A Ockershausen: I probably did you a favor and you don't realize it. I spent a lot of time wasting your time. You didn't have that time to waste because you were looking for a job. Chris Broullire: Yes, I was. A Ockershausen: But believe me, I have done that so many times to tell kids or beginners, "You got to start at the bottom. You come to WMAL looking for a job is not the bottom.” I hate to say that but it's true. Chris Broullire: Well and at the time it was at the very top, the top of the top. A Ockershausen: Well, I did this to Howard Bomstein. I made him so furious. He didn't speak to me for years because he wanted to handle our business and I said, "No, we are doing business with people we love. I'm never going to change. Why do I waste time to watch a presentation?" Anyway, we got by it. He's now one of my best friends and so are you Chris. Chris Broullire: I had to get that in there, okay. A Ockershausen: You were out of college, but you went to school at the University of Maryland, but before that you grew up in the Greater Washington area. Chris Broullire: Yeah, born and raised in DC. I was born at Doctors Hospital, which was at 19th and I, which is no longer there. It's an office building now. A Ockershausen: We just went by it the other day and Janice said to me it's a Children's Hospital. Chris Broullire: Yeah. A Ockershausen: Can you imagine what's happened to our town? Chris Broullire: Yeah, it's changed a bunch and went to Campus School, which is a little eight room grade school near Providence Hospital. A Ockershausen: I know it well. Chris Broullire: I went to Gonzaga, met my ...
Tommy McFly on what teachers should do with kids who talk non-stop in the classroom -
"The kid in the class who the teacher always says, "Stop talking." They need to be in speech and debate, because you get to channel your argument. You get to channel your ability to stand in front of the crowd where they actually encourage you to be in front of the crowd in a classroom making a ruckus."
Tommy McFly - Radio Host 94.7 Fresh FM - Weekdays 6 - 10 A.M.
A Ockershausen: I'm so delighted to have a very special, young guest. We haven't had many, Tommy. Thank God for you. The Washington Post says our next guest is a “local Ryan Seacrest”. That's quite a tribute when the paper says that. Janice says he is cute, sweet, very high energy, and by all accounts the future of modern radio. I applaud that. Doing it the old fashioned way, making list as a member of his radio family, one at a time, Tommy McFly is doing it right. Tommy, welcome to Our Town, and welcome back to your old home at WMAL Q107 Studios. Tommy McFly: Absolutely. It's so great to be back here today. A Ockershausen: Now you came back as a major star. When you left there, you were just starting to ... Tommy McFly: I was a nobody. They threw me out of here. A Ockershausen: Now, you were never nobody. When you worked with Jack Donovan, you were so popular and still are. The best part that I found out about you Tommy, and I didn't know much because ... I'm being honest with you. I'm not a listener, because I don't even know what Fresh is anymore. I know what callers are. Somebody said, "He's Fresh." I don't know what Fresh is. I don't know when that happened. Five years ago? Tommy McFly: About six years ago, yeah. Fresh re-launched as sort of a contemporary pop station. We play songs from Katy Perry and Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars. All your favorites, Andy. A Ockershausen: They are favorite, but they're all over the country. Right? There's a Fresh in every market. Tommy McFly: There's a couple Fresh. CBS Radio has ... Right now there are two Fresh left. There's a Fresh in New York and a Fresh in D.C. A Ockershausen: Okay. The rest of them, they changed the formatting. Tommy McFly: At one point, we had three. There was as Chicago Fresh. Absolutely. A Ockershausen: You have three people in your cast too. That number three keeps popping up. Tommy McFly: I do. I work with my two best friends, Kelly Collis and Jen Richer. A Ockershausen: How lucky can you be? Tommy McFly: Honest to goodness, having the opportunity six years ago to start a morning show in a major city like Washington- A Ockershausen: Wow! Tommy McFly: In a city that we all love. A Ockershausen: Capital of the world. Tommy McFly: Absolutely. I completely agree that this city is more important than New York and more important than Los Angeles by far. To be able to do it here for a great company that believed in us and let us. They put me who was a yelling night jock and my sarcastic, recently divorced neighbor who lived down the street and my friend who came from news, and let us do a morning show in Washington. It was an unbelievable opportunity. A Ockershausen: Wow! Tommy McFly: It's funny. Kelly, my co-host, says that sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. A Ockershausen: No question about that. Tommy McFly: We hit the lucky streak on that one for sure. We for six years- A Ockershausen: Luck follows hard work, which to me is speed. Your hard work was the luck, come from your hard work. Tommy McFly: Well, thank you very much. A Ockershausen: It's true. It's true in life. The harder you work, the luckier you'll get. Tommy McFly: We always say that we are not the funniest or best looking show, but we will outwork you every day of the week. A Ockershausen: Tommy, you do it in so many ways. Now, let's talk about the original McFly. When you were a child, you got involved in radio. What is your hometown? Is it Scranton? Tommy McFly: It's Scranton,
Harden and Weaver on remote on Memorial Day at The Henlopen Hotel, Rehobeth Beach, Delaware. The Senator calls for the March which is Stars and Stripes Forever in honor of all United States fallen troops.
On The Radio with Harden and Weaver, by Frank HardenA Ockershausen: Frank, we were always taking Harden and Weaver on remote. On this particular day, we were in Rehobeth Beach, Delaware on our annual Memorial Day trek at the Henlopen Hotel. Let's listen. Jackson Weaver: I guess that's what counts. What's our march this morning? Frank Harden: Stars and Stripes Forever because it's Memorial Day and we are marching in honor of all of the fallen in all of the wars that the United States has been engaged in. Jackson Weaver: Well then, let's start it off here. Frank Harden: Folks in the room, stand back. The Senator's about to start the march. Jackson Weaver: Forward! A Ockershausen: Absolutely incredible to have Frank Harden here live and in color. We'll be right back and don't turn your podcast off.
You can listen to Frank Harden's entire Our Town interview here.
Jim Vance on Washington football back in the day - "I used to walk to the games, RFK. I can't tell you how many times I've walked home and it's a one way street going west. People would stop their cars at 11th and C and get out. And the people would come out of their houses. . . everybody was having a party in the streets of DC because we beat Dallas. We beat the Cardinals."
Jim Vance - Legendary News Anchor News4 Washington DC
A Ockershausen: Welcome back to Our Town. This is Part Two with Jim Vance. This is Andy Ockershausen. Jim, the thing that we always see in my mind, was Channel Four was Vance, the sports shows, what you would do with George ... It was just incredible. Your chemistry with Michael was unbelievable. And he was not an easy person to get along ... Another Philadelphia guy. George Michael Jim Vance: George could be a major pain in the butt. A Ockershausen: That's right. Perfectionist. Jim Vance: But, part of what people sometimes found so grating about George was what I figured out right away. George is an unrepentant perfectionist. As it regards his element of concern, his sports broadcast, his show, he demanded nothing but perfection. There's so many things I admired about George not the least of them, one of the people I met last Saturday at the Golden Circle Award thing was one of George interns from back 25 years ago who remembered so well how he used to have to wear a tie every day. I admire George for making his interns come to work every day wearing a tie. You were talking earlier about .. A Ockershausen: Felix. Jim Vance: about Felix respecting his audience. It's also a matter of respecting the craft. I appreciate ... And nobody respected the craft more than George. Beyond that I never knew a harder working man in my life, Andy, than George Michael. A Ockershausen: He seemed to be possessed when he was around his own show. Then he did it with the special show. Jim Vance: With the .. A Ockershausen: He made Sports World. Janice Ockershausen: Sports Center? A Ockershausen: Sports Machine. Jim Vance: Sports Machine. Thank you so very much. Before George taught ESPN how to do it. A Ockershausen: Absolutely he did. Jim Vance: I'll never forget the day I was going to the station and these construction crews in there like, "what the hell." They had this big crane. The very first satellite was being put up in our parking lot and some people were angry, because it took away at least five parking spaces which were at a premium. A Ockershausen: Absolutely. Jim Vance: Then I think now I can't even count the number we have in there now. That was George. His foresight was so sharp and so incredible. Then the number of people he brought in who then went on ... A Ockershausen: A lot of young people he taught the business to. We hear it all the time. Jim Vance: Taught the business to. Lindsay to this day, sings the praises of ... A Ockershausen: Lindsay Cadillac I call her. Jim Vance: That's good enough too. Except I call her Lindsay Rolls Royce. A Ockershausen: She's great. So many people that went through George. The team and Bob Ryan was such a part of your interplay with the staff. The Chemistry WRC-TV: George, Bob, Arch, Doreen and Jim Jim Vance: And Arch. A Ockershausen: Arch. Jim Vance: And they all came at about the same time in the early 80s. Bob, George, and Arch. A Ockershausen: And Doreen. Jim Vance: Well Doreen came later. Doreen is now with us 27 years. A Ockershausen: I know that's incredible. Jim Vance: Well now let me tell you what's even more incredible. This is a testosterone overloaded set with George, Bob, Arch, and me. Here comes Doreen, this drop-dead gorgeous. Big hair ... A Ockershausen: Yeah big hairdo. Jim Vance: Right. From Philadelphia just late of Tennessee or someplace. Walked in and made it clear on the very first day, "don't be punking me out, because I can hang with you guys.
Jim Vance on the proper way to learn the language - "What’s it called? Diagramming. Remember we had to learn how to diagram a sentence? That’s how you learn the language by diagramming. When you know where every word goes and why it’s there. And what its point is. What its value is. I keep from hearing from all these kids I see today. Nobody ever taught them diagramming. They don’t even teach it anymore." Our Town host Andy Ockershausen and Legendary News Anchor Jim Vance, News4 A Ockershausen: And this is Our Town. We're so delighted, and honored frankly, that our next guest is a regular in our house. He probably doesn't know it, but we used to see him twice a night, now we only see you once. Jim Vance: But I like your house, man. I like the way you've done it. Janice Ockershausen:Thank you. Jim Vance: Janice, it's gorgeous in here. A Ockershausen: Jim Vance started out as a teacher. We'll find out what he was teaching. He's been a hostage negotiator, he's been Washingtonian of the Year. The two are not related, but he's had 19 Emmies. That's incredible. He's in the Black Journalist Hall of Fame. He's a member of the Silver Circle of the National Association of Television Arts & Sciences, an imposing figure with unbelievable street cred. His opinion pieces give him a personal connection to his audience. He's a force to be reckoned with. Welcome to Our Town, your town, Jim Vance. Jim Vance: Well, thank you, Andy. And I appreciate so much being here. And, Janice, thank you so much to the both of you. I mean that sincerely. There are so few people, and you can attest to this, in this town that we can speak of as friends for almost 50 years. That's to be treasured as far as I'm concerned, man. A Ockershausen: What we've found out when we brought back the idea of Our Town, was the talk about Our Town to people, and everybody was saying, "well gee, I haven't heard from him." Or, "I didn't know he did that. Gee that's just great." So we've been so fortunate to have people such as Jim Vance. And really thinking that Our Town is special. Jim Vance: Right. A Ockershausen: And even though he was born in Pennsylvania? And he went to school in Pennsylvania, and he went to Cheyney University. I didn't know that, Cheyney University is part of the state system isn't it? Jim Vance: It used to be. When I was there it was one of the 12 state teachers' colleges. And I need to say, because I need to make the alum proud, Cheyney in fact is the first HBCU in the country. It wasn't founded as Cheyney, because it was founded as a trade school for black people in America by the Quakers. In I think, if I'm not mistaken 1837. Now there are some of the other HBCUs every time I say that, they raise their hand or raise their fist and say, "no, we were first, because you weren't really a college then." Or whatever the case may be. I say to hell with them. Cheyney is the first HBCU in the country and I am so proud to have been there. And may I say that, I am also so proud of the graduates of Cheyney. Ed Bradley and I, late of 60 Minutes- A Ockershausen: I was at a recent party that was a salute to you. And Ed Bradley was the main speaker. I was there. Jim Vance: Yeah, you remember that? A Ockershausen: A special night. Jim Vance: But he and I went to Cheyney together at the same time, played ball together, lived together. I was the best man at his first wedding. He was the best man at my first wedding. And we've each had a couple or three, but anyway ... We hold that in common as well. Anyway, I am so proud of him and of all the other graduates of Cheyney State. It's now called Cheyney University, but for all of who ... I came out in '64, so for all of us were there back in the day, it's still Cheyney State. A Ockershausen: Jim, that's well over 50 years ago. But you were born in Ardmore. Is Ardmore on the main line? I see it in my mind's eye? Jim Vance: You know what?
People have done so much for our community, Kurt Erickson with an alcohol program, Jim Dinegar, President of the Greater Washington Board of Trade, Catherine Meloy, Goodwill Services, Irene Pollin, Abe’s wife, has written a beautiful book, and Lyles Carr of the McCormick company. Announcer: GEICO presents Our Town, Season Two. A 30 minute podcast produced by Best Bark Communications, a small but fierce client-centered marketing company powered by decades of experience and well-established business networks. GEICO, 15 minutes can save you 15 percent or more on car insurance. Now, here's your host, Andy Ockershausen. Andy Ockershausen, Our Town Podcast HostAndy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen and you're listening to Our Town. Season one of Our Town was a complete success. We interviewed over 50 guests, including some of our favorite people like Sonny, I don't have to say Sonny who, you know, Chip Akridge, Frank Harden, Frank Herzog, Regardie, I don't even have to say his first name, Catherine Meloy, Susan Lacz and Harry Jaffe. The list goes on and on. Now we're going to go on to Season Two.
We've got Jim Vance in a fabulous interview, I beg you to listen to it; Kathleen Matthews, Doc Walker,Chris Plante, Diana Mayhew, Senator George Allen who was also Governor George Allen, Joe DiGenova among others, here in our Season Two line up. So we'll have them and many more.
The amazing part of Our Town is we've heard from hundreds of friends and people whether it's on the street, whether it's in a dinner party, whether it's in church, they all have been listening to Our Town. People come to us out of the blue and say, "We've heard what you're doing and we love it. We want so and so and so and so."
We've had tons of recommendations from people to be guests on Our Town and we try to accommodate most of them, but right now we'd like to acknowledge and thank our friends at GEICO, for underwriting Our Town. GEICO has been a responsible and important contributor to our town for over 80 years. It's a wonderful, wonderful company. It's headquartered here, it's a worldwide company, number two in all the insurance companies in the world and we just love GEICO and thank them so much for their support. GEICO people and they know this is a great place to live and to play and to work. We thank them for that and we thank them for their support. Remember, 15 minutes can save you 15 percent or more on car insurance. That's our GEICO.
Now here's a look back at some of the highlights from Season One; like Women in Our Town. Some very important people like Christine Brennan. Christine Brennan in studio during Our Town interviewChristine Brennan on Joe Gibbs Christine Brennan: I think you can make the case; the greatest coach in NFL history. I know that's saying a lot. Andy Ockershausen: He's got a record that proves that. Christine Brennan: Three Superbowls, three different quarterbacks. Andy Ockershausen: Three different teams. Christine Brennan: Right. Not one of those quarterbacks will ever make the hall of fame. Andy Ockershausen: I understand that. Christine Brennan: Yeah, Joe Theismann, Doug Williams. Andy Ockershausen: Don't tell Theismann that. Christine Brennan: It's our secret. Don't tell him. Joe, if you're listening, sorry pal. But Doug Williams and then Mark Rypien. Three different quarterbacks, not a one of them is good enough to be in the hall of fame and Joe Gibbs wins Superbowls with all three including two strike years. The coach is amazing and to deal with, on the record, he'd get mad about something, he'd call me at home angry about a headline, I said, "Joe, coach," I'd call him coach, "I don't write the headlines." He goes, "I know, I know, will you bring the guy that writes the headlines out here one day and let me talk to him?" You know, like there was one guy writing the headlines, there was probably fifteen people writing headlines. But we'd have this conversation,
Andy Ockershausen on Season Two Our Town - "Well I just heard this morning from Gordon Peterson. He agreed to be on the show. If you don't remember Gordon Peterson, you haven't lived in Our Town because he was Mr Channel 9. Those kind of people are coming back to us, and they want to be on."
Andy and Janice Ockershausen, Season One Ender and Looking Forward to Season Two
Announcer: GEICO presents Our Town, Season Two. A 30 minute podcast produced by Best Bark Communications, a small but fierce client-centered marketing company powered by decades of experience and well-established business networks. GEICO. 15 minutes will save you 15 percent or more on car insurance. Now, here’s your host, Andy Ockershausen.
Janice Ockershausen: Hi, this is Janice Ockershausen, the executive producer of Our Town, and we wanted to look at Season One. This is a transition piece, and we wanted to let people know that we are finishing Season One and starting Season Two.
Andy Ockershausen: We had 53 guests in our first season, were going to have at least 40 more in our second, and we hope you've enjoyed listening to their stories. You know, we've got stories of success, of failure, some happiness, some sadness, prosperity, we had people that failed that were on this show. We have a homeless person who talked about the city and what she goes through. It makes this Our Town tick, the people.
Janice Ockershausen: You know what? It makes it personal. What has been really exciting for me, listening to every podcast then re-listening to it and presenting it, it's a wonderful thing because you have experienced with these people, all hand-picked people, all hand-picked guests by either you or me, and we know them, we have lived through some of these exciting times, and it was so interesting to hear it from the horse’s mouth.
Andy Ockershausen: Well you know, Janny, that has been a big revelation to me. For whatever reason, I got a lot of stuff in my cranium. I guess I absorbed and kept everything I ever heard of, and it's like a computer, but to have people talk about things that I grew up with, and to be able to understand what they're saying, has been a great boon to me and to them. I can get questions and ask questions of people that think I don't know, and I know because I was there.
Janice Ockershausen: Yeah, you're incredibly well read, and your memory is unbelievable. It's the little details that you're able to connect with your guests that make it so interesting and so full, and so flavorful. The texture of Our Town is remarkable.
Andy Ockershausen: The people of Our Town have made it so great over the 50 years of that we are talking about, and we've got more to come, but the guests that we've had, and they don't really feel like guests. They feel a part of Our Town, which makes me feel great.
Janice Ockershausen: They're our family and our friends.
Andy Ockershausen: Absolutely. They're great friends.
Janice Ockershausen: If you look back at a little bit of the list of people we had, were Bill Regardie, a fantastic interview, Cary Hatch, Sonny Jurgensen, Dexter Manley, Lon Anderson, Wendy Rieger.
Andy Ockershausen: You know, Tommy Loverro, that he just started his own show.
Janice Ockershausen: With Andy Pollin.
Andy Ockershausen: Andy Pollin, and listen, Irene Pollin called us to be on with us. You know, we've had people like Frank Herzog, boy nobody forgets him. Paul Berry, my god, Paul. Christine Brennan, Johnny Holiday, golly what a great talent.
Janice Ockershausen: We had Charlie Brotman before he was Charlie Brotman. We had Henry Sacks, our dear friend, and probably the most meaningful guest for me, I guess symbolically, was that we based Our Town on the principles of The Harden and Weaver Show, our first guest and our last guest. Actually he was the first one that we interviewed, and the last one we out on for Season One, was our dear friend Frank Harden.
Frank Harden on "The Senator's" 'Forward March!' one morning -
"That’s right and I think one of the funny things that happened there was the Senator always gave the forward march command and one day we got a call from a representative who said 'When the Senator said "Forward March!", I was stopped at a stoplight! I put the pedal to the metal and took off!'"
Frank Harden, Legendary Harden and Weaver Show, WMAL AM 630
A Ockershausen: This is a very special day for Our Town. Frank, we didn't coin that name, it's Our Town. That's the suburbs and everything we grew up with, but it's so special to see Frank Harden and to have a chance to talk to Frank because I lived through those years and the best years of my life. I want to correct part of what he said in a book. That is about the size of the Harden and Weaver audience. I would tell you, Frank, at one time, Harden and Weaver had one out of every four listeners in the Greater Washington area, that is stupendous! Nobody's ever come close to that, even the Super Bowl doesn't do any better than that, one out of every four. Welcome Frank Harden! Frank Harden: Thank you very much! A Ockershausen: Yeah. Now, the beauty that I have in my life is when I came to WMAL, Harden and Weaver were here, but they were Frank Harden and Jackson Weaver. They were just guys on the staff and you refreshed my memory by reading what you guys, and how you started. I'm fascinated by how you got into radio and how you got into radio at WMAL. Frank Harden: Well, I came here in 1947. A Ockershausen: Right after the war. Frank Harden: Right after the war and I had been in Denver working at a station out there. A Ockershausen: KSL, I remember the call airs from your book. Frank Harden: Oh, do you? A Ockershausen: Yes. Frank Harden: Okay! A Ockershausen: Big powerful radio station, KSL. Frank Harden: Yeah. You remember more than I do because one of the things that I've lost through all of my infirmities is my memory, I can't remember a lot of things. People say them to me and I say "Are you kidding?" A Ockershausen: Frank, that's not unusual. You got so much packed in there after all those years. Let's listen to a conversation you had with Tim Brant about earlier days in your military and broadcast career. Frank Harden and Tim Brant on WMAL in 1999 - D-Day Remembrance Frank Harden: 9:10 here on News Talk 6:30, WMAL on this 50th anniversary of D-Day. 1944 it took place, I can remember exactly want I was doing on D-Day, 1944. Tim Brant: Can you really? What were you doing? Frank Harden: I had been out of the Army for four days. Tim Brant: Is that right? Frank Harden: That's right, four days, medical discharge from a general hospital up in Pennsylvania, Deshon General Hospital in Pennsylvania. I more or less predicted D-Day because everybody was expecting "When's it going to happen? When's this going to happen?" A lot of us had been in the hospital for a long time with no active therapy of any kind, we were just there, just there in the hospital. Tim Brant: Just lying around. Frank Harden: Yeah, a bunch of guys from the North African Campaign, a bunch of guys from the Italian Campaign. We were all there. One day, they started calling off names. "Come down to the Colonel's office. Go down to the commanding officer's office." Went down there and one by one, we were standing in a line out in the hall, I'll remember that. As each guy would come out, he had been handed his discharge or told that he was being separated from the service. The only thing that we could speculate was that they were cleaning out the hospitals to get ready for D-Day. Tim Brant: Wow. Frank Harden: Sure enough, it happened four days later. Tim Brant: Well, people say too that there was a feeling. For instance in the various plants, they had to step up certain things, construction and that the trains were loaded.
Carol Ross Joynt recalls advice she received early on in her career from Merriman Smith - I remember to this day some advice he gave me that has always served me well. He said, "When you cover Washington, you're going to get invited to a lot of parties. At the parties are going to be the people you're covering. Just remember they're not your friends." He said, "You're better off not going to the parties, but always remember the ... people you're covering are not your friends."
Carol Ross Joynt, Author, TV Interviewer , and Producer
A Ockershausen: This Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town. I am so delighted today to introduce you to a person new to my show, new to WMAL, as far as I know. This is still WMAL. Carol Joynt, welcome. Carol is the author, producer, and Emmy winning producer of Innocent Spouse, a story about her own life experience, guest wrangler, Janice added that, producer at MSNBC and Hardball, host of the Q&A Café, magazine writer, ex-saloon owner, proud mom. This is a great thing, a breast cancer survivor. She's a real fighter, a woman who doesn't like surprises. Welcome to Our Town, Carol Joynt. Carol Ross Joynt: Thank you. Yes. Carol Joynt. Here I am. A Ockershausen: Carol Ross is not from Washington. You were not born here. From Denver to Our Town Carol Ross Joynt: Carol Ross was born in Denver, I'm happy to say. I was born in the Rocky Mountain state. A Ockershausen: Oh my. Carol Ross Joynt: I was a military brat, then, we moved many other places and then ultimately ended up here, because my father ... A Ockershausen: Army? Carol Ross Joynt: He came here to be at the Pentagon with the Air Force, then retired and went to George Washington University, where he was the Assistant Dean of the School of Business. Then, he went out to Warrenton, Virginia and ran a think tank called Airlie House. I parted ways with them amicably, but when they moved to ... A Ockershausen: ... He is your father. Carol Ross Joynt: Yes. I graduated from high school, and they moved to rural Virginia. I said, "I'm heading into the city." That's what I did. A Ockershausen: You had been in Colorado up until then? Carol Ross Joynt: No. We'd been ... A Ockershausen:... You traveled with the Air Force. Mount Vernon, VA Carol Ross Joynt: I'd spent my teenage years growing up by Mount Vernon, since it was so close to our house. These were the times before homeland security. My friends and I, when Mount Vernon would close in the evening, we'd just jump the fence and have the coolest time, respectful, cool time, just wandering around George Washington's Estate. Janice Ockershausen: Sonny Jurgensen and his wife, Margo ... Carol Ross Joynt: ... were doing the same thing? Janice Ockershausen: They lived right next door. A Ockershausen: They got a key. Somebody gave them a key. They had a lock on that fence. Carol Ross Joynt: As it should be ... A Ockershausen: ... They could walk right in. Carol Ross Joynt: ... if you're Sonny Jurgensen. May I just say, that it's such a thrill to be here. I'm just daunted by the company of the other guests, Sonny being one of them. A Ockershausen: Yes. Of course. Carol Ross Joynt: I don't know what I'm doing here. A Ockershausen: His wife maybe, but not him. Don't be… Carol Ross Joynt: Anyway ... A Ockershausen: ... They had a key. They could go in. I went on the grounds with them a few times. Was your dad a pilot? Was he a flyer? Carol's Dad's Military Service Carol Ross Joynt: He was a pilot in World War II. He dropped paratroopers on Normandy Beach ... A Ockershausen: Wow. Carol Ross Joynt: ... On D Day. A Ockershausen: A multiple-engine pilot too. Carol Ross Joynt: He was from Minnesota. He was from Thief River Falls, Minnesota. A Ockershausen: Did he go to the Air Force Aca ... That was before the Air Force Academy. Carol Ross Joynt: Rainy Lake,
Chuck Conconi on how his Playgirl Magazine article about Sally Quinn landed him a gig at The Washington Post -
"I wrote a piece for Playgirl Magazine and in it I basically said ... When The Washington Post proud profaned Sally Quinn died each morning on the ABC television news, it was seen in Washington . . .that God and divine retribution did indeed exist. Ironically, she liked it so I had had lunch with her and, all of a sudden, I get a call from The Post."
Chuck Conconi, Legendary Our Town Journalist and Theatre Critic
A Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen and this is Our Town and we're talking with and going to talk with a very, very good friend of many years and a legend in journalism in Washington, D.C., Mr. Chuck Conconi. Thank you for being with us, Chuck. Chuck Conconi: Andy, thank you. I hate for you to say many, many years. I always worry about being known as a legend because legends are great stories but not often true. A Ockershausen: So many people know the name Conconi and know you but they don't know and I did not know until we started talking here today where you were born and where you went to school and this was a surprise to me. I always thought you were a native. Chuck Conconi's Italian Immigrant Parents and Ohio Coal Mines Chuck Conconi: No, I'm not a native. I grew up in a town called New Philadelphia, Ohio. My parents were ... Mother and father only had eighth grade educations. They were an immigrant Italian kind of family and I ... They all worked in the coal mines. Every male in my family, my father, my uncles, they all worked in the coal mines because when they first brought the first immigrants over from Italy, they advertised there's jobs in America when they got here. It was the coal mines and so they spent their time in the mines. I was the first, I think, male in my family to escape the mines. A Ockershausen: The coal mines in Ohio or Pennsylvania? Chuck Conconi: Oh yes, no, no, coal mines in Ohio. Around this area around New Philadelphia, Ohio. It was sort of in Northeastern Ohio but it's big coal country. Sometimes the ceilings are low, I mean some of them, what I'm saying is the roof is only like four foot so you're working bent over all the time and they worked in the ... In the old days when they carried these carbide lamps with flames in them and you always think about, God, how awful that was because you have methane that goes in the mines and boom! My father once told me, he said, "You don't know what darkness is like until something happens and it all goes. You lose all sense of up or down or sideways." A Ockershausen: Oh my God. From Business to Journalism at Kent State University Chuck Conconi: So luckily I was the first in my family to go to college. I went to Kent State University in Ohio because ... A Ockershausen: A wonderful school. Chuck Conconi: Yeah it's a wonderful school and I had no ... A Ockershausen: Is that a state school? Chuck Conconi: It's a state school. I almost flunked out. I was just an abysmal student. I didn't know what I was doing and finally ... You're going to find this hard to believe. I thought the only thing you could be is an engineer or a businessman, believe it or not, and I knew I couldn't be an engineer because my math skills were abysmal. So I thought I'll try to be a businessman. I kept flunking economics and all those courses and finally, I mean desperation, I have been in my third quarter on academic probation, my last and out the door, and I pick up the school catalog and I'm paging through it and I stumble onto something, School of Journalism. I thought I didn't know you could major in something called journalism. Believe it or not, I didn't. So I went over and the guy took a chance on me and everything clicked, changed everything in my life and I became a Dean's List student and then I went out to Northwestern Graduate School and my first working experience was in Chicago.
Roger Cossack on the most exciting legal moment of his life -
"I had my voice, and I had my moment. I lost six to three. Nevertheless, it was . . . my one and only time before the United States Supreme Court, but it was probably the most exciting legal moment of my life. My mother was there, and my son was there and my wife was there."
Roger Cossack, ESPN Sports Legal Analyst and Law Professor
A Ockershausen: This is Our Town. This is Andy Ockershausen, and we're talking and going to talk to Roger Cossack, the 1999 Vanity Fair one of the movers and shakers of Washington radio, TV and broadcast. 1999, do you remember that year, Rog? Roger Cossack: I was going to say that must be another Roger Cossack. A Ockershausen: Vanity Fair of all mag. What happened to Broadcasting and USA Today and so forth? Roger Cossack: No, they never recognized me. A Ockershausen: Sports Illustrated. Roger, tell us now. You are from the West Coast. You're a West Coast guy, but you grace our town and have for many years, and we have really appreciated it. Tell me about your early life on the coast, LA. Roger Cossack: Well, I went to UCLA undergraduate and UCLA law school. A Ockershausen: Where'd you go to school? I mean, to grammar school. Cheremoya Avenue Grammar, Hollywood High and Ricky Nelson Roger Cossack: I went to Cheremoya Avenue Grammar School, but probably the most notable place I went was, I went to Hollywood High School. A Ockershausen: Hollywood High. Roger Cossack: I went to Hollywood High School, and my claim to fame is, is that I sat next to Ricky Nelson. We both sat on the bench for the football team, and neither one of us played too much. A Ockershausen: What a famous, famous, fabulous high school, though. Hollywood High. Roger Cossack: Yeah, it was- A Ockershausen: Was it on Sunset? Roger Cossack: It is on Highland Avenue between Sunset and Hollywood Boulevard. It was a great time to go to Hollywood High School. A Ockershausen: Oh my God, yeah. Roger Cossack: It was a fun time to go. A Ockershausen: Celebrity school, right? Roger Cossack: Well, yeah. There were a lot of celebrities who went there. I'm trying to think of some of them. I think, as I told you, Ricky Nelson, but I can't remember any of them now, now but there were some. There were always, you know, pretty girls who were leaving to go be in the movies. That's the way our- A Ockershausen: A lot of friends of mine from ABC Television who lived on the West Coast, their kids went to Hollywood High when they were coming up in the business. It was so important that they get that LA feeling. Why would you then go to school, you went down the road to UCLA? UCLA Undergrad and Law School Roger Cossack: Well, UCLA it was a very good reason, Andy. A Ockershausen: Did your family live down there? Roger Cossack: Well, my family lived in Los Angeles, but- A Ockershausen: West Los Angeles? Roger Cossack: Not so much. We lived in Hollywood, and the reason that I went to UCLA is because, it was a very good reason, was that UCLA, it was and is a public university, and that was where I could afford to go to school. It was inexpensive and it- A Ockershausen: One of the most gorgeous campuses in the free world. Roger Cossack: It's a beautiful place. It was a great opportunity for me to be able to go there. It was very inexpensive, and get a great education. In fact, I loved it so much I stayed six years. There was a couple of little- A Ockershausen: That's irregular. Roger Cossack: Yeah, a couple of little interruptions- A Ockershausen: Roger. Roger Cossack: Which we won't go into, but nevertheless I stayed six years. Then, the UCLA law school let me in and I was able to get a legal education at UCLA law school. A Ockershausen: Did Ricky go with? No, he went into showbiz. Roger Cossack: No, Ricky went on to bigger and better things.
On lack of transportation at Washington DC Women Shelters -
Right now we don't have laundry services. The women have to walk over to SOMEs from where we are at 1st and O, take a van over to Adams Place NE to do laundry and then the van doesn't come pick them ... there's not good bus transportation there.
Our Town Special Guest, Advocating for Homeless from the Inside
A Ockershausen: This is Our Town and this is Andy Ockershausen. I have a great, great sense of something important here today for our show and Our Town, and that's to meet with someone that I'd never thought I'd meet with in the show, a homeless person, who I think is very important to this city and to Our Town. Thank you for being here. We got a lot to talk about, so I want to get started. She has a great laugh, very smart in math, she's a smart woman and she lives in a shelter. Our Town Special Guest That's right. A Ockershausen: How long have you been in a shelter? Our Town Special Guest A little over three years. Early Years and Career A Ockershausen: That's incredible. Now, tell me about your early years. You're a local girl. You grew up and were born in Forestville, Maryland, went to school there, went to high school in Maryland. Our Town Special Guest Right. A Ockershausen: What high school? Our Town Special Guest Suitland. A Ockershausen: And you had a wonderful life in Suitland and you graduated. Our Town Special Guest That's true, yes. A Ockershausen: And I know you're very, very fluent in math. Math, I don't know anybody fluent or efficient, but I know that. And then you moved to North Carolina. You got involved in the government of the United States. Were you working for the Air Force or for Uncle Sam? Our Town Special Guest I was working for the Air Force, Uncle Sam, DOD, I was at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base for four and a half years. A Ockershausen: In Goldsboro, North Carolina. Our Town Special Guest Yes. A Ockershausen: And you did some work in Jacksonville, North Carolina also. Our Town Special Guest Yes. I was down there for about fifteen years during the nineties and early 2000's. A Ockershausen: Wow. And you are civil service? Our Town Special Guest Yes. A Ockershausen: That shows me that you must have a lot of talent and you still end up coming back to Washington. Why didn't you stay in North Carolina? Government Career - North Carolina Our Town Special Guest There were a few issues when I worked for the government. I ended up getting ... In my early years working at the commissary, I got promoted ahead of my peers and I was 18, 19, 20 ... 18, 19 when I started. By the time I was 22 I was promoted above my peers and they were forty-something and I think they held it against me. And they thought evil thoughts, maybe that I had worked ... A Ockershausen: Something special to get promoted. Our Town Special Guest Right. Something special, exactly. A Ockershausen: But, that's not unusual in business, whether in government or in life. Even in the broadcast business there are people who ... I had an age problem when I started because I started at the bottom and I got promoted and I was in charge of people who had once I had worked for. It's difficult to do and you've done that, but that caused you problems. Our Town Special Guest Yes. Eventually. During the 90's I was working for the government still, but I was doing good. Every time they asked me to do something I always went above and beyond. I always was given a good pat on the back. A Ockershausen: You performed. Our Town Special Guest Performed, everything came out glowing, they were happy with everything. I would fix things for people that were well above my pay grade level and, like I said, they always called on me to help them out and I always came to and thought sooner or later I'll get rewarded. Then they started giving me a hard time at work and said that you had to be c...
Johnny Holliday on Howard Cosell -
"He takes my headset, puts it on, "Angel, let's go. Let's go." He goes, "3, 2, 1. Hello, everyone. Howard Cosell, the Sports Arena in Los Angeles. Time to talk about the American ... Back in a moment." Takes a break, comes back, does the second half. Now we're going to do the show for National. Does the same thing, takes his headset off, throws it down in front of me, picks up the cigar, looks at me and says, "That's how you do a show" and walks away. He had no stopwatch. He was right on time."
Johnny Holliday, TV and Radio Sportscaster, Actor and Former Top 40 Disc Jockey
A Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town. I was just singing the song about, "Oh, Johnny, oh, Johnny." I don't know. It's an old song but I'm an old song too. Johnny Holliday is one of the most favorite, favorite wonderful people in the world and a very dear friend of mine and of WMAL. I followed his career even before he didn't even know it because he hopped around the country. Johnny, thank you for being with us. This is Our Town, Johnny. This is College Park, Vienna. Johnny Holliday: This is your town basically. A Ockershausen: At one time it was. Johnny Holliday: But still is. Believe me. A Ockershausen: This has been yours but when you came to WMAL you lit a light on us that never went out and all the things you did here for us and what you did for the University of Maryland. Remember we started with this broadcast and I even recall Johnny Holliday in something called the Washington Federal. Johnny Holliday: I do remember that. Yes. The now defunct Washington Federal. That was a good experience, though. A Ockershausen: You know what, Johnny? We went first class with that if you remember. There were three of you. Johnny Holliday: That's right. A Ockershausen: Pete Wysocki worked with you and you did the play by play and you had one of the extra Redskins… Johnny Holliday: I think, didn't Kim McQuilken was the guy? A Ockershausen: He was the quarterback. Johnny Holliday: He was one of the analysts, yeah. A Ockershausen: Kim McQuilken. Son of a gun. Johnny Holliday: Yeah, back-up quarterback with the Redskins. A Ockershausen: Who else was on the broadcast? His son became a Redskin later. The football player. He played for the Cardinals. He was traded to the Redskins. Johnny Holliday: Oh, that would have been ... Was it Terry Metcalf? A Ockershausen: Terry Metcalf. Yeah. He was a sideline reporter. Johnny Holliday: Right. Exactly. A Ockershausen: With Jack Scarbath. We've had some great people work at WMAL, but Johnny, not as great as you. Everybody knows you from the University of Maryland. They don't know about you as I do because I found out many years ago your talents are so many. One that particularly impressed me is the radio disc jockey. The days are gone, Johnny. I don't know of any disc jockeys. Top 40 Disc Jockey - WHK - Cleveland Johnny Holliday: Yeah, I tell young guys today that it's too bad that they couldn't have been in yet back in the '60s, late '50s, '60s, '70s before the broadcast whole industry changed. A Ockershausen: World changed. Absolutely. Johnny Holliday: In those days the disc jockeys were like pied pipers. The kids could connect, the young adults could connect with the guys. The recording artists could connect with them as well. It was a whole different atmosphere as compared to what it is today. I'll never forget in Cleveland I had two record hops every weekend to supplement my income. A Ockershausen: You always did that, Johnny. Have you ever worked anywhere when you weren’t supplementing your income? Johnny Holliday: I'm still doing it today after all these years. In Cleveland I had a dance on a Friday night and a dance on a Saturday night sponsored by Coca-Cola. We had WHK color channel 14 ... A Ockershausen: Powerhouse radio station.
Henry Sacks on his song writing -
"I'll tell you right now, to be honest about it, everything write, I I make fun of people. But I do it with a smile on my face, and a smile in my heart. I don't try to hurt nobody, and people don't get mad at me."
Henry Sacks - Homegrown Songwriter and Ukulele Maestro
A Ockershausen: Hi. It's Andy Ockershausen and this is Our Town. We're speaking with one of the great bonafide local characters of all time. A man I have known intimately for over 75 years. Henry, this goes back to the playgrounds. Sherwood for you and Rosedale for me in Northeast Washington, D.C. Henry Sacks, who most of the guys we grew up with called you Dave Sacks. How did this happen? Henry Sacks: Middle name. A Ockershausen: What middle name, Henry? Henry Sacks: David. A Ockershausen: Oh. I never knew that. Why are we all calling you Dave? Henry Sacks: Damn if I know. I never figured that out either. A Ockershausen: Why didn't you say something, Henry? What'd they say when you went in the Army? Henry or Dave? Henry Sacks: They said, "Wake up." Growing Up in Southeast DC A Ockershausen: Henry grew up, as I did in Washington, D.C. in the playgrounds because that was our lives and the Boys Club. Southeast Boys Club, Henry, where you were a member. Don't fall out of the chair please. Henry Sacks: No. No. No. Charlie Reynolds? A Ockershausen: Absolutely. We had a wonderful place that we both worked on called H Street Northeast, which is now a big industrial and restaurant place, Henry. Henry Sacks: Right. A Ockershausen: Have you been down to H Street recently? Henry Sacks: No, but Cully was telling me. He says he's going to pick me up. We're going to ride there. I want to see my old house on K Street. A Ockershausen: Well, you can see it all. Henry Sacks: Pop paid $2,800 for it. They're going for a million and a half now. A Ockershausen: Too bad you don't live there, but Henry worked ... I don't know whether he worked or hustled at a pool room on H Street. Henry Sacks: Three of them. A Ockershausen: I was working there, at a print shop that was folding. The Kiplinger Letter, I was reading that when I was in high school. I didn't know what Kiplinger meant, but I read the letter every Saturday night before people got it on Monday, and Henry, I found out more than you did at the pool room. Henry Sacks: Well, the pool room was a way of life then, Andy. You know what I mean? In fact, the main thing about Gus's pool room down at 9th and H Street Northeast, it had the greatest hamburger the planet has ever had. 15 cents. It had the big piece of hamburger meat, and all that stuff, and cole slaw on it. A Ockershausen: What were you doing with a hamburger in a pool room? Henry Sacks: Get some lunch, man. You've got to eat something at the little café up front. The guy, Sam, that run it, we used to call him Chewing Tobacco Sam. He chewed tobacco, and when you ordered hamburgers you'd say, "Give me a hamburger with everything, no tobacco juice." He's spitting all the time. Club Kavakos A Ockershausen: Henry, that's one block from Club Kavakos. Henry Sacks: One block from the most famous place that ever was. It was maybe the greatest nightclub in the history of Washington. Let me tell you how strong it was. When the New York Yankees won the world championship, it was either '54 or '55, I've got the picture of them on my wall. The big guys came down there to celebrate. Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, Yogi Berra, they were all at the table, and they came down there. A Ockershausen: To Kavakos? Henry Sacks: Yes. It was a hot place, Andy. Pete Generos was the biggest bookmaker in Washington. He used to own Rocky Marciano. The only way Marciano could get a shot at the title, which he kept for 49 fights, for Pete to get rid of him. So Al Weill, the big guy in the fight racket come down from New York. He had all them dunskis with him,
Pat Malone on promoting Washington DC at MLB Expansion meeting -
"I just took my whole script and I chucked it . . . I gave my pitch from a passionate fan's point of view of why Washington should have baseball back in DC. When the meeting was over, George Steinbrenner, he comes up to me and says, 'Pat, I got to tell you something. When you took that script and you whipped it in the trash, I looked around the table, and everybody is now watching what you were saying and they were listening to what you were saying.'"
Pat Malone, Mr. Baseball, Washington DC
A Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen and this is Our Town. We have a special guest today that I attribute the idea, and you can live with it, audience, or not. This man is more responsible than anybody I know to bring baseball back to Washington. When I first met this young man, he was a Sergeant in the United States Air Force. I said, "He ought to be defending us instead of promoting baseball," but there he was. That's Pat Malone. Pat, welcome to Our Town. The Early Years Pat Malone: Andy, thank you so much. I want to tell you something. I'm just overjoyed to be here, really, because this is a part of Our Town which you and I both as Washingtonians- you're a fourth-generation Washingtonian. I'm a second-generation Washingtonian. This is just beautiful. I'm really happy to be here with you. A Ockershausen: Pat, it's about Our Town and you're such a big part of Our Town and I know that. I'll get back to that Air Force uniform first and last. Pat, you're from Punta Gorda, Florida? Pat Malone: Well, I'm from here. I was born at Georgetown University Hospital, so I'm a second-generation Washingtonian. A Ockershausen: What were you doing in Florida? Pat Malone: Dad said you couldn't play golf in the winter, so we moved to Florida. A Ockershausen: Was he a government employee at the time? Pat Malone: No, Dad was a golf pro. A Ockershausen: I didn't know that. Pat Malone: Yeah, sure. He was up at Burning Tree with Max Elbin. He was at Norbeck with Henry Girardi. A Ockershausen: He had all the good clubs then. Pat Malone: Absolutely. Yeah, yeah. A Ockershausen: I used to play a lot at clubs and never, like Nat Allbright. You remember Nat of course? Pat Malone: Yeah, sure. A Ockershausen: Your dad went to Florida and you went with him and you were born in Florida? Pat Malone: No, I was born in DC. A Ockershausen: And moved to Punta Gorda. Pat Malone: Yup. I actually ... A Ockershausen: Went to high school in Sarasota. Pat Malone: Sarasota and in Punta Gorda, yup. A Ockershausen: You graduated and you said ... Why did you come back? Your dad came back to Washington? Pat Malone: No. Actually what happened was I had a graduation present. It was either a 1970 Chevy Impala, a convertible cherried-out, or a one-way ticket back to Washington DC. I looked up and I saw that one-way ticket. I wanted to come home. A Ockershausen: You got back to Our Town. Pat Malone: I came back to Our Town. A Ockershausen: Thank God for that. I'm sort of a, what do you call it? A weirdo. I never left Our Town. Every place I've ever been, I always thought Washington was a lot better than any place I could be. Pat Malone: I'll tell you, Andy, it's when you leave Our Town you really appreciate Our Town. A Ockershausen: You know it and I know it, Pat. Then you went to school at American University. Pat Malone: Yup. Went to AU. Go Eagles. A Ockershausen: You're a marketing manager. It got you in the Air Force. Military Service - United States Air Force Pat Malone: I joined the Air Force. I was actually at Greendale Golf Course in Fairfax County, in the Alexandria part of Fairfax County. I joined the Air Force in 1978 and retired in 1998. A Ockershausen: You got 20 years. Pat Malone: 20 years. Yup. A Ockershausen: You enlisted. Pat Malone: I enlisted.
Mel Krupin on building his first restaurant - "The funny thing is, he says to me, 'They’re beveled mirrors.' I came home to my wife and I said, 'What’s a beveled mirror?' She said, 'It’s a mirror that . . .The edge, they’ve got a little thing on the edge.' I thought 'a mirror’s a mirror. I shave every morning. I don’t see no edge.' Anyway, we built the restaurant."
Mel Krupin, The Tummler - Legendary DC Restaurateur
A Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen and this is Our Town. We have a delightful guest today, a man who is so respected in the city of Washington. I wish he still had his own joint. Mel, you don't mind me saying that. Mel Krupin is a relic from a time when what made a restaurant big in D.C. wasn't its celebrity chef or its food; it was the big man who ran the joint, "The Tummler”, who knew where to see Caspar Weinberger or Jack Kent Cooke or Mo Siegel or who else and he could kibitz with the customers. Tummler, a person who makes things happen. That's our Mel Krupin. Welcome to Our Town, Mel. Mel Krupin: Thank you, Andy. Nice to be here. A Ockershausen: How did you end up in Our Town? We're so delighted that you did. You're from Brooklyn, New York. Mel Krupin: I'm born in Brooklyn, New York in 1929. I'm a Depression baby. A Ockershausen: So am I. Mel Krupin: I was born on October 14th and I think Depression started on the 19th or the 20th of the month. A Ockershausen: You didn't bring the Depression with you, though. Mel Krupin: No, no, I came in 1968. A Ockershausen: Why Washington? Why would you pick Washington? Mel Krupin meets Duke Zeibert Mel Krupin: At that time, I was in the meat business and there was a fellow that I was working with who played the cards with Duke's partner, who was Max Siskind. A Ockershausen: Duke Zeibert? Mel Krupin: Duke Zeibert. He was a partner in the Duke Zeibert's restaurant. In the early years, Duke was working at Fran & Bill's and five fellows used to come into Fran & Bill's and play cards in the afternoon and one of them was Max Siskind. He was a lawyer for the Democratic National Committee. He was a counsel. In New York, he opened up a stationary store, which today would be Staples. In other words, if you called up, you need pencils and pads, they would deliver. He was on 41st Street and Lexington Avenue. A Ockershausen: In Midtown? Mel Krupin: In Midtown. Mac Radman was a friend of mine and he said, "I have a friend who's looking for a manager for a restaurant that he's a partner in in Washington D.C. Would you like to go and work there?" I said, "I would love to go to work there but I don't think my wife would let me because I don't think she's going to leave her family and the kids in school and we should move to Washington," but then I heard the name of the restaurant and I said, "Oh, we ate there in 1966." Then I waited a year and he came back to me. He made the same offer. I said, "You know, let me go try it and see." I met with Max Siskind. We had a long talk and he liked me and he said it would be good for me to go to Washington. He said, "But you've got to go and meet Duke Zeibert." I said, "Okay. Now, how do I get to meet Duke Zeibert? I have to fly down." Well, at that time, Eastern Airlines only charged $15 to fly to Washington. I said, "I can go for $15 but then how do I tell my people that I'm working with why I'm going?" I was with the Little League for about six years. My son played and then I stayed on but I got an award from one of the Dodger ballplayers. I forgot his name. A Ockershausen: The Brooklyn Dodgers, of course. Mel Krupin: The Brooklyn Dodgers. I said, "I'm going to Washington. They're going to give me an award for the Little League." That's how I got out and they didn't know where I was going. I flew to Washington and then at six o'clock, I got into the restaurant and Duke wasn't there yet. Then he came in for dinner and we sat down and we talked. He looked at me.
Christine Brennan on choosing a career -
I've never worked a day in my life. I am doing what I love, and for the young people out there, boys and girls, men and women, whatever, who are thinking about life and what they'd like to do, if you do what you love, as you know, Andy, Janice, you know, you never work a day in your life."
Christine Brennan, Sports Columnist and TV Commentator
A Ockershausen: Hi, this is Andy Ockershausen and this is Our Town, and we are delighted to have a very, very favorite person, someone who I've known for almost 30 years who's a bulwark of sports writing in America, a very dear friend, Christine Brennan. Christine Brennan: Andy, it is great to be with you and Janice, who we'll hear from at some point, right? Janice. A Ockershausen: It's her show. I'm here as an interviewer. It's her show. Christine Brennan: Of course. You're just the arm candy. Yes, it's great to be with you both. Thanks for having me. Really appreciate it. "It's a Girl" A Ockershausen: We were talking about my first encounter was a story I heard from the Washington Redskins, or somebody on the organization, said, "The Washington Post has hired somebody from Miami that's going to be the beat writer for our team." I said, "What's big about that?" He said, "It's a woman." I said, "Oh my." I don't think they said woman. I think they said, "It's a girl." Christine Brennan: That says something about something. A Ockershausen: I said, "We're going to be hearing from that." The first time we met was at Jerry Smith's funeral. Christine Brennan: Jerry Smith's funeral. It was in '86. A Ockershausen: You had been covering the team before that, but we hadn't met. You'd met all of our staff and everything. I said, "This is not a girl. This is a woman. She knows about this business." From there on, I was a great admirer of everything you did. I know it was not easy for you. Christine Brennan: Yeah, it was always fun. A Ockershausen: ... But you came from Miami, where you had trouble down there too with the guys. Christine Brennan - Trailblazer - Women Sports Reporters in the Locker Room Christine Brennan: Yeah, though not as much. We're talking back in the early '80s. A Ockershausen: 30 years ago. Christine Brennan: More than that. '81 is when I started after Northwestern at the Miami Herald. There were no cellphones and no answering machines and no DVRs. I think Rutherford B. Hayes was President. It seems like that long ago, but I think that that's important when folks listen to this, Andy, that we are talking about a different time. There are thousands of women covering sports today and everything is fine and there's equal access in the men's locker room, equal access in the women's locker room for men, male reporters. We're there. We've been there for 30 years. Back in the day, you're absolutely right. The Miami Herald, I covered the Florida Gators for two seasons and the Miami Hurricanes. I did a lot of Miami Dolphins coverage. There was some talk about the locker room. I wasn't allowed in that Florida Gators football locker room in '81, but here's the deal, and this is why you knew things were changing: Don Shula, the great Don Shula, Andy, almost as great as you. Maybe almost as old as you. A Ockershausen: You know, he played for the Redskins. Christine Brennan: Right. Oh, I know. There's a whole history there. Don Shula, one of my heroes as a girl growing up. Now I'm covering his team not as the beat writer, but as a backup writer. I was there a couple times a week and in the locker rooms on Sundays. What he did, here you've got a devout Catholic who goes to church every day, who goes to mass every day. A Ockershausen: Mass. Every day he went to mass. Don Shula - "You're going to wear robes" Christine Brennan: As conservative as you would think anyone could be, who in I believe it was '82, told his players, "You're going to wear robes.
Lyles Carr on community service -
"I get much more credit than I’m due. To me, it’s the almost irrationally committed leaders and staff of the community service organizations in this Region and their supporters that really deserve the applause. They’re the ones that do the real work. We just try to support them."
Lyles Carr, Senior Vice President The McCormick Group - Leadership Greater Washington
A Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen and this is Our Town and we have the pleasure, a distinct personal pleasure to me to talk with a very dear friend who's made a great impact on the city of Washington. A name most of you don't know but you should is Lyles Carr is with The McCormick Group. Lyles, welcome to Our Town. Lyles Carr: Andy, I'm pleased to be here although I figure you needed some comic relief at some point so that's how you got me. The Early Years A Ockershausen: Until we talked, I had no idea you were a suburban guy. I always thought of you for whatever reason as Northern Virginia and DC. Then I started talking to you and found out you're from Palmer Park. Lyles Carr: Yeah, it's interesting. A Ockershausen: It's incredible. Lyles Carr: I was born over in Eastern Maryland and ... A Ockershausen: Waterfowl country. Lyles Carr: Yep. My mother's family is from down there and my mother's still there and so I feel like Easton Maryland's home but my father and our family moved into Palmer Park in 1957 when I was six or seven years old and at the time we were the first family into the second section of Palmer Park. A Ockershausen: They expanded. Lyles Carr: That was really the farthest outlying suburb. Well, there became five sections all together. This is pre Bowie and so I grew up in there. I used to take music lessons down on Minnesota Avenue and go to church in Seat Pleasant. A Ockershausen: You don't go there now do you? Lyles Carr: Actually I do go there but it's for different reasons. A Ockershausen: It's a different world. Lyles Carr: My friend Butch Hopkins down there then ran Anacostia Economic Development Partnership and down and around Marshall Heights with some of the non profit work. A Ockershausen: Those names are so familiar to me. I'll give you my little story and then I'll let you get yours. Charlie Brotman a very dear friend of mine started representing ... He said, "I've got a kid out here that's going to be so great in Palmer Park and he's in the boys club and we're prepping him for bigger things like the Olympics." He said, "I'm not getting paid, I'm doing this," this is a true story, "as a pro bono." The kid's name was Sugar Ray Leonard. He was Ray Leonard then. Then they added the Sugar Ray. I knew about Palmer Park and all those kids that grew up there. There's some terrific athletes. Lyles, how did you get connected then? You went to high school? No, you didn't go to high school back then. Lyles Carr: No, I went to elementary school and junior high. In fact, Kent Junior High is now a police substation in Palmer Park and then I went away to Episcopal High School in Alexandria. A Ockershausen: You crossed the river? Lyles Carr: Yeah, I was third generation and had an option. You can go to the school or you can not got to school I think. Both my father and grandfather had gone so as a legacy they probably had to take me if I went. A Ockershausen: Were you a boarder? Of course. Lyles Carr: Boarder. They're all boarders. At the time, it was 270 boys and since then, 1991 they brought in girls as well and I think it's been terrific for the school. A Ockershausen: We went through the same thing at St. Stephens and they joined with St. Agnes. Now it's one school. That was a Till Hazel effort. Another Board of Trade guy that I got to meet through the Board. That got you started in a different world. It was a different world than where you grew up. Lyles Carr: It was. It's interesting,
Tommy Curtis on the impetus for "Meetin' and Greetin'"
"You came up to me and said, 'You're doing a great job,'" and I think I just had huge ratings or whatever it is. You said, 'Tom, you know. I want to say this in the way Andy would say it, because he was a legendary boss and a great guy. He said, 'Tom, I don't think that cruisin' and boozin' is so correct anymore. Can you come up with something else?" You didn't say, 'Stop using 'cruisin' and boozin''," but you said, 'Come up with something else,' and that's how meetin' and greetin' began, thanks to you."
Tommy Curtis, The Matchmaker Meetin' and Greetin'
A Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen and this is Our Town, and this is a special, special broadcast for me, a podcast, to introduce this man that I've known for many, many, many years. The actual creator ofthe iconic American phrase, "meetin' and greetin'," my guest is a local legend according to the Washington Post, and according to WMALFM. He was a Yale man also, and has the unique distinction of having appeared on the front page of the Post Style section, Metro section, Sunday magazine, and a story on page one. In addition, the City Paper profiled him in a lengthy cover piece. Further, he is a subject of an acclaimed filmmaker, Dave Nuttycombe's short documentary, Match Me if You Can. My guest today is Tommy "The Matchmaker" Curtis, and he's back from Hollywood. Tommy, welcome to Our Town. Tommy Curtis: All of that is because of you, sir. I got to tell you, this is the man that discovered me. A Ockershausen: You can't blame me for that, Tommy. Tommy Curtis: It is, it's true. A Ockershausen: You are Hollywood royalty. Your family, they must have had great roots in New York, where your family's originally from. Correct? Tommy Curtis: Exactly. My grandfather was Gentleman Jack Cohn, and my uncle was the, what do you call it? I don't want to say hated, but the very controversial Harry Cohn. A Ockershausen: Harry Cohn. Tommy Curtis: He was King Cohn A Ockershausen: A studio mogul. Tommy Curtis: Right. A Ockershausen: The first time I ever heard the word, mogul, it was about Harry Cohn. Tommy Curtis: Gentleman Jack, they argued consistently over the years, because he was the business end, and King Cohn was this guy that was actually, they say- A Ockershausen: The creative part of the business? Tommy Curtis: Yeah. You know what? In the movie, The Godfather, the legend is that was my uncle Harry's horse, in his bed. A Ockershausen: Is that correct? Tommy Curtis: Because he gave the part to Sinatra in From Here to Eternity, that made Sinatra's career. That's the story, I understand. That's a myth, or whatever. A Ockershausen: Yeah, but it's a good story. Tommy Curtis: Yeah. A Ockershausen: That's unusual to have the business side in New York and the creative side in Hollywood. Tommy Curtis: Exactly. A Ockershausen: Your family was the New York side. Tommy Curtis: Right. A Ockershausen: You've got so much to talk about, Tommy, but I ran into your name the first time when you were running for the office. I don't know whether it was the school board or something with the city, and you had a place called Wayne’s Love on K street. I couldn't believe it. I said, "Here's the guy, a saloon owner, wants to be on the school board. What is this all about?" Tommy Curtis: May I just say one thing about that? John F. Kennedy's grandfather, Honey-Fitz, was a saloon owner too. I used that all the time in those days. I said, "Well, it's not that bad." Don't forget, I did go to Yale, so I'm not completely- A Ockershausen: You're a Yale man. Tommy Curtis: I'm a Yale man. That was the little castle on K street; you're right. A Ockershausen: What a great place thought. K street was beginning to come alive then, right? Tommy Curtis: Right. Of course. A Ockershausen: The city was beginning to come alive.
Charlie Brotman on Sugar Ray Leonard and success negotiating his first professional fight:
"First professional fight, the youngster normally gets $400. That's just tradition and normal. We were able to negotiate with Baltimore for $40,000, considerably higher. We worked with him the rest of his 15 year career."
Charlie Brotman, Public Relations Expert and Announcer of Presidents
A Ockershausen: This is a special treat for Our Town for our million of listeners to have the most famous announcer in the history of the President of the United States, Charles Brotman, a native Washingtonian, grew up here, went to Tech High School, and fortunately moved to West Virginia at one time. Charlie Brotman: At one time. Getting Started in Broadcasting A Ockershausen: That's where he got started in broadcasting, as I recall. Charlie Brotman: Correct. I went to the National Academy of Broadcasting. A Ockershausen: And graduated. Charlie Brotman: And graduated. It doesn't exist anymore, but it was on 16th Street. A Ockershausen: Know it quite well, 16th and R Street. No, no. Higher there. Park Road. Charlie Brotman: Yeah, in that area. A Ockershausen: Charlie, did you get your first radio job in West Virginia? Charlie Brotman: Ronceverte, West Virginia. A Ockershausen: Wow. Charlie Brotman: When I graduated, they said they'll get me a job. At first, they said it was in Owosso, Michigan in the wintertime. I told the people who were going to move me to Michigan, I said basically, "I'm busy right now." A Ockershausen: Call me. Charlie Brotman: Finally, when all my friends went back to school in the summertime, that was fall, and I had nothing to do, I said, "I better see what's available." What was available was Ronceverte, West Virginia. That was near the Hotel Grand ... What was the name of that hotel? A Ockershausen: Bedford Springs? Charlie Brotman: No. A Ockershausen: Something like that in West Virginia? Charlie Brotman: No. A Ockershausen: West Virginia? Wheeling? Anyway. Charlie Brotman: That famous hotel. A Ockershausen: Greenbrier? Charlie Brotman: Greenbrier. That's it. A Ockershausen: Wow. That's a resort. That's fabulous. Charlie Brotman: Yeah, so I would go- A Ockershausen: Did you live at the Greenbrier? Charlie Brotman: I used the Greenbrier, played golf there, swam there like I was a guest. A Ockershausen: That's the best. Charlie Brotman: I interviewed, goodness gracious, the Prince of Wales. Is that possible? A Ockershausen: Yeah, he could have been visiting there. Absolutely. Charlie Brotman: Yeah. He was visiting the Greenbrier, and I had a little microphone and tape recorder that I put right behind a plant. I was interviewing the Prince of Wales. He said that he'd just gotten off a golf course. He says, "Don't tell anybody, but I gave myself some “gimmes” I would never have made. A Ockershausen: That sounds like Bill Clinton. The Prince of Wales was King of England for a while. Charlie Brotman: That's it. A Ockershausen: He abdicated. He married a woman from the state of Virginia. Charlie Brotman: Yes. A Ockershausen: Wallis Simpson. Charlie Brotman: Correct. A Ockershausen: We all know that, Charlies. We learn a lot. Charlie Brotman: She was a really lovely lady. A Ockershausen: I'll bet, being at the Greenbrier. That started you, and you've interviewed celebrities your whole life now, whether it was in live radio or over a PA system. Then you came to Washington and said, "I'm going to be in the PR business." Charlie Brotman: Correct. A Ockershausen: How'd that happen? Charlie Brotman: Yeah, basically everything has a beginning and end. I hope the end isn't soon, but in any event, when I got into broadcasting, I decided that I wanted really to get into sports. That was my thing. I wanted to be a sports announcer. A Ockershausen: Ah-ha, we share that. Washington Senators Announcer Charlie Brotman: Yeah. Finally, when I went to Orlando,
Mark Russell, the laughter of politics, on roasting "Charlie Brotman -
"Why did I want to get on? Because it was a roast and you must go on first. It's an old rule of the Friars Club. The guy to say, mmhmmhm gets all the laughs. In Charlie's case, there's one obvious reference. I talked about how wonderful RFK Stadium was and that there's no AstroTurf at RFK Stadium and the only AstroTurf there at all was on Charlie Brotman's head. Referring of course to his magnificent hairpiece made by little old ladies in Iran."
Mark Russell, Political Satirist and Entertainer
A Ockershausen: I'm Andy Ockershausen and this is Our Town. We have the distinct pleasure of talking to a Washington legend who is also a Buffalo legend and he's my legend and his name is Mark Russell. Mark Russell, WMAL and Bill Trumbull Mark Russell: Thank you Andy. Thank you. You gave me my first job in radio, right in this building. WMAL, this was the first nonsmoking building in the city. It opened in the late '60s, early '70s and people said, that's never going to work. You can't smoke in the entire building? A Ockershausen: That's right, it drove Bill Trumbull crazy. Mark Russell: I was on with Bill Trumbull and you gave me that job too. A Ockershausen: Absolutely. Mark Russell: We were on Sundays. This was when WMAL carried the Redskin game so this was off season. A Ockershausen: Right, I recall. Mark Russell: Trumbull and I are on and we have a new sponsor, a billiard academy. Not a sleazy pool room but a billiard academy. We said, we want to welcome our new sponsor, fancy billiard academy, that's what they call them now. Bill said, I don't know how wholesome they are. He said, I was there the other night and I engaged two little old ladies in a game and I beat them and they took me out behind the place and broke my thumbs. A Ockershausen: Only Trumbull. Didn't we do something with you in a snowstorm too, had to pick you up somewhere? Mark Russell: I was home and I couldn't make it to the station. Again, it was a Sunday. Tremendous snowstorm and they gave me the names of the schools that are closed. Okay, read these names. This school is closed, this school is closed, this church is closed. I said, the Pixieland Day School, which was where my daughter was going, a little day school. Pixieland Day School will be open but the Pentagon will be closed. Well, the switchboard lit up. The Pentagon is closed? What do you mean? A Ockershausen: Only you, Mark Russell. Mark Russell: I'm surprised you didn't fire me then. A Ockershausen: Those were the great days of WMAL but we want to talk about you and your early days in Buffalo. Were you born in Buffalo, New York? Mark Russell: Yes, I went to Catholic school. A Ockershausen: Tenacious. Mark Russell: I was 18 years of age before I knew that Protestants also played basketball. As a young man I dodged the draft, I did it my joining the Marine Corps. A Ockershausen: I did not know that. The Marine Corps Mark Russell: After the nuns in Catholic school, Marine boot camp was a piece of cake. I enlisted during the Korean War, the forgotten war. I never forgot. I was wounded in that war. It was Tijuana but I was wounded. A Ockershausen: Where did you go to basic in Camp Lejeune? Mark Russell: No, I went to Parris Island, which was déjà vu going on these days. A Ockershausen: It was tough. Mark Russell: They've got a huge scandal now, a horrible thing. I was there. There were seven Marines killed back in 1953. They were drowned by this drill instructor who was busted down from Staff Sergeant to Buck Private. We've got this hazing going on now, which is tremendous. A Ockershausen: Were you on the base? Mark Russell: No, I was there before that. We had to shine our shoes, not this corps fam stuff. A Ockershausen: You worked. Mark, I did not know. Mark Russell: Yeah, it was in '53, '53-'56. A Ockershausen: Of all my life, I never knew about that.
Ray Schulte on going out on his own -
"Once I said that to myself I go 'What am I doing? What am I doing? What am I doing?' I was just so focused. I just said, 'I'm going to do it.' I had no idea that Don Mattingly was going to be the 1984 batting champion."
Ray Schulte, Sports Marketer Extraordinaire, Schulte Sports
A Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen and this Our Town, and we have the great pleasure today to talk to the president, owner, chief medical officer, chief boss of Schulte Sports founded in New York City in 1984. Ray, welcome to our town. Ray Schulte: It's my pleasure to be part of Our Town. A Ockershausen: Our Town, right Ray. You knew that. Ray Schulte: Yes, I did. A Ockershausen: I wish it was my town, but it's not. It's Our Town, everybody has it. Ray, I found out about a lot of things about you, and knowing you personally of course makes a big difference, but to find out about your early years in New York. I thought you were from up New York State but you tell me Westchester. Ray Schulte: That's where I was born. I was born and raised in Westchester up near Peekskill, West Point. A Ockershausen: Big bucks. Ray Schulte: You keep saying that. A Ockershausen: They're building a new bridge. Is that the Tapan Zee Bridge across the Hudson? Ray Schulte: It's an old bridge. A Ockershausen: Goes over to West Point? Ray Schulte: Close to it, yes. A Ockershausen: It's a big, huge bridge. It's going to be eight lanes or something. It's probably a public works project. Ray Schulte: Have you ever been to West Point? A Ockershausen: I love it. Absolutely. Ray Schulte: It's one of my favorite places. A Ockershausen: We took Janice up there. My wife Janice, of course. We were guests of the Commandant of Cadets, and they were playing football. They were playing Harvard. I went to the football game and I called my friend Henry, the bookie, and said, "Henry, I'm betting. Harvard, they got the worst looking uniforms. Nothing looks alike. They're awful. I'm betting on Army." Harvard decimated them, beat the hell out of Army, but that's away from West Point. Isn't that a fabulous post, isn't it? Weschester, NY | SUNY Cortland State | Tampa Ray Schulte: It's fantastic. I was born and raise in Westchester. Then I went to school in Cortland State. That's up near Ithaca, Cornell. A Ockershausen: It's SUNY? Ray Schulte: That's a SUNY school. Yes. Spent four years up there. A Ockershausen: That's close to Rochester? Cold country? Ray Schulte: No, it's actually in between Ithaca and Syracuse. A Ockershausen: Oh, I see. Cold country, right? Ray Schulte: Cold country. A Ockershausen: The finger lakes? Ray Schulte: Close. A Ockershausen: What did you do in the winter in Cortland besides drink? You told me a story about the bars. Ray Schulte: Remember, we were college kids. We spent a lot of time downtown just mingling and getting to know other people. You know how it is. A Ockershausen: 10,000 for SUNY. They're six campuses all over the state of New York? Ray Schulte: Yes. I loved it. I went up there to play football and lacrosse and baseball. It was fun for me, and then I graduated there and went down to Florida in Tampa. A Ockershausen: How do you go from Westchester ... Did you go to Miami first or Tampa first? Ray Schulte: After I graduated, my whole deal was I was going to go down and visit my brother who went to the University of South Florida, and my uncle who worked in Tampa he had just started a radio station in Tampa, WRBQ. A Ockershausen: Is he still alive? Is the station still on the air? Ray Schulte: Yes. It's changed formats. A Ockershausen: Oh, I'm sure. The whole world has changed. Ray Schulte: It's still down there. I went down there. My intent was just go down and visit and then go cross country. Ended up going down there, spent all my money, ended up having to get a job, but it was good. I wanted to work for my uncle but there was a nepotism clause so I c...
Marty Aronoff on sitting in the broadcast booth - "My elbow is one of the most televised elbows in the country, because it's usually in the shot. Sometimes I tell friends of mine, 'If you say something nice, I'll write your name on my elbow.'"
Marty Aronoff, The Legend Native Washingtonian
A Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen, and this is Our Town. We're talking to the busiest guy in Our Town, the man who knows all, sees all, and tells all, but nobody knows him. That's why we're so delighted to have him and a chance to talk to the real Marty Aronoff. Marty, welcome to Our Town! Marty Aronoff: I'm glad to be here, Andy. Looking forward to it. A Ockershausen: I don't know how we caught you on the rebound, but you're not doing a game tonight or you didn't do one last night, but you got one coming up, right? Marty Aronoff: I'm doing game five, the deciding game, tomorrow night for Fox Sports. The Dodgers at the Nationals with Kenny Albert A Ockershausen: Right here in Wheatey-ville, right? Marty Aronoff: Absolutely, and it's one of the big events in Washington sports in a long time. A Ockershausen: Oh, I tell you Marty, the town will be going crazy. I'm sorry that they have to take this fifth game, I thought they were going to win. I just felt so good at getting Kirshel out of there was a made thing, but it didn't happen. Anyway Marty, Janice just pointed out to me, being a dummy, I assume everybody knows Marty Aronoff is the world’s greatest statistician. Marty Aronoff: Thank you. A Statistician A Ockershausen: Now tell us what a statistician is. Marty Aronoff: I sit right next to the announcers at every event I work. I work mainly with ESPN, I do their Monday night football, I do college football for them. I do the NBA, major league baseball. I'm observing the game. I give notes to the announcers that I don't want to ever break up their rhythm when they're saying things over the air, but as I make observations I'll give them notes. If something happens that I think sort of has a historical bent to it, something today that may have related to a game in past years, I'll pass that on. I'm talking to the people down in the production truck, in the television truck, about graphics we can put up to supplement what the announcers are saying. I've been doing it full-time since 1983 and I actually started part-time in 1975, so it's been a long and fruitful career. A Ockershausen: Long and wonderful career! Now tell us about the early days. You are a Washingtonian. A native. Wilson High School, Penn State and Northwestern Marty Aronoff: I am, I was born in Washington, I went to Wilson High School. A Ockershausen: It's our neighbor up here, WMAL. Marty Aronoff: Absolutely, and I graduated in '56, I went to Penn State for four years, majored in mathematics. Then went to Northwestern and got a masters in business, and I came back here to Washington, I worked for the federal government for 17 years at mainly what was called the National Bureau of Standards. A Ockershausen: I remember that so well, my god. Marty Aronoff: Then I started doing the statistics part-time as sort of a hobby with a friend of mine, Warner Wolf, and loved it so my I decided to see if I could be maybe the first person to make a full-time career out of it. A Ockershausen: Why would you go to Penn State? Does that offer some course that, obviously is has nothing to do with statistics, but you picked Penn State, obviously. Marty Aronoff: Well, having lived in the city all my life and my closest friend who I was with in high school had been admitted to Penn State. He said, "You know, Marty, you might like to go to this school." I went up there with him and loved the campus. A Ockershausen: You could ride back and forth together. Marty Aronoff: Yeah. A Ockershausen: Not a bad idea at that time. Marty Aronoff: Absolutely. A Ockershausen: That was in the early '60's, right? Marty Aronoff: '56 to '60, I was there.
Guido Adelfio on his passion for travel - "It's hard work. It's a lot of energy to fly to Europe for three days, do stuff the whole time, and fly home and head right back to the office, but I love it. The beneficiaries of that are our clients."
Guido Adelfio, Global Travel Expert, Bethesda Travel
A Ockershausen: We have a special guest here today for Our Town. A man who knows Our Town and probably knows your town and their town and every town. It's Guido Adelfio from Bethesda Travel, a very, very dear friend of WMAL for so many years. Guido, where did Bethesda Travel start? Guido Adelfio: Good morning, Andy! A Ockershausen: We did that already. Guido Adelfio: We did that? A Ockershausen: It's not morning, it's night. La Familigia, Antonio and Margaret Adelfio, and Bethesda Travel Guido Adelfio: Thanks for having me. Bethesda Travel started in a dream of my parents. In 1961, my father was working for Air France. A Ockershausen: He had been in the Italian Air Force. Guido Adelfio: He had been in the Italian Air Force. He was trained as a lawyer. They met in Capri, believe it or not. Got married here in the States. Went back to Italy. I was born. Back to Canada. A Ockershausen: I've been to your place where you were born, if you remember that. Guido Adelfio: That's right. That's true. A Ockershausen: I loved it. Guido Adelfio: Then, we stayed a few years in Canada. He got his law degree. Came to the States, practiced as a lawyer then started working for Air France. He was doing very well. The way I heard it, I was a child at the time, there was a promotion. Well, the French guy got the promotion and the Italian guy was left sitting at the desk. He said, "The heck with this. I'm going to start my own business." That was in December of 1961. A Ockershausen: Oh my god . . .that's 70-some years ago. Guido Adelfio: Well, not quite, but ... A Ockershausen: Feels like 70 years. Guido Adelfio: Almost 60. A Ockershausen: Guido, but did he start in Bethesda? Guido Adelfio: In Bethesda, right on Waverly Street. If you're familiar with the Vamoose Bus? A Ockershausen: Yes. Guido Adelfio: Where it stops on that same block, we had a rented office. In the day, it was the Suburban Trust Bank Building. Nearby, you had the Hot Shops. No metro yet. Bethesda's really changed. A Ockershausen: You mentioned two businesses that don't exist anymore. Guido Adelfio: Correct. A Ockershausen: Suburban Trust and Hot Shop. Guido Adelfio: There was also a Dart Drug. A Ockershausen: That's what happens. Guido Adelfio: There was a Dart Drug and a Grand Union. There was a Grand Union. A lot of stuff. A Ockershausen: Guido, when he started in the business, it was a different world, of course. He was on the ground floor of what was going to be the future, is travel. Guido Adelfio: Correct. A Ockershausen: I mean, people who help other people travel. Guido Adelfio: Absolutely. A Ockershausen: He was really on the ground floor. What Stamps Had to Do With It Guido Adelfio: When he was in University, he had two experiences, actually, three. One as a child. His uncles had a shipping agency. They used to bring home, this was a kid in the '30s in Italy, Mussolini was in charge. They used to bring home stamps from all over the world, decorated stamps. Sri Lanka, Brazil, Finland. As a child, that wakened him up that there was a world outside of Palermo, Sicily. A Ockershausen: Amazing. Guido Adelfio: Absolutely. That woke up his imagination. Then, after the war, he went in the Air Force. Then, he was in University. At that time, he had two jobs. One was, I think he thought he would meet more girls, but he got a job at the fledging Club Med that started right after the war as a tour guide. A Ockershausen: A Club Med! Guido Adelfio: Taking people, French visitors, it was called "Club Maaseik," at the time. This was '48, '49. Then, he morphed that into a job at the train station in Palermo assisting travelers who had com...
"Often imitated, never duplicated, where the elite meet to eat." ~Tommy Jacomo of The Palm Restaurant
Tommy Jacomo, The Palm Restaurant, Washington DC
A Ockershausen: This is Our Town with Andy Ockershausen. I'm delighted to have a man here that I've known since he came to Washington, and I remember in 1972, Tommy. Tommy Jacomo, as far as I'm concerned, is the mayor of the D.C. restaurant world, and certainly knows more famous people than any ten people I know. Tommy, welcome to Our Town. Tommy Jacomo: Pleasure, thanks for having me Andy. Beginnings A Ockershausen: It's a long way from New York, New York. Tommy Jacomo: It's all downhill. A Ockershausen: You grew up in the Queens, right? Tommy Jacomo: Correct. A Ockershausen: Went to school in New York City? Tommy Jacomo: Yeah, very little schooling, I was hustling most of the time. A Ockershausen: Your family was in, was your family in the restaurant business? Tommy Jacomo: My father was a bartender at Waldorf Astoria for 40 years. He started in the men's bar, in the Waldorf Astoria, those days, no ladies were allowed in the bar. A Ockershausen: Men's bar only? Is that right? Can't do that now, of course. Tommy Jacomo: No. Then he came ... [crosstalk 00:01:05] A Ockershausen: I think that bar on the Mayflower was a men's bar. Tommy Jacomo: Maybe, then they turned it into the Bull and Bear. That's where he worked until the end of his career. A Ockershausen: Your father ran that restaurant all those years? Well that was a great, great place. The Waldorf was the place in New York, correct? Tommy Jacomo: One of the best hotels in the city, yeah. A Ockershausen: I love the Waldorf. We used to go up with Sonny and Margo Jurgensen to the Giants game, Janice and I did, and stayed at the Waldorf, but they were the good old days. Tommy, you worked in New York then, you got into the bar business in New York? Tommy Jacomo: It was 1993, I got a job in the New York Hilton hotel as a barback, that's where you just prepare for the bartenders. You cut the fruit, get ice. A Ockershausen: Was that a new hotel at the time? Tommy Jacomo: Brand new, just opened up, 1963. A Ockershausen: Wow. Tommy Jacomo: Yep. A Ockershausen: I remember the great, great, New York Hilton was a great hotel when it opened. It was one of the jewels in the Hilton crown, along with the Waldorf and so forth. Was anybody else in your family in the bar business? Your dad, of course. Tommy Jacomo: No, my brother's in the catering business. A Ockershausen: Which brother? Tommy Jacomo: Raymond. A Ockershausen: My friend Raymond? He was in the catering business in the city? Tommy Jacomo: Yes. A Ockershausen: Or in Queens? Tommy Jacomo: In Queens, Flushing. A Ockershausen: Very successful, I would imagine. Raymond knew the business side of it, right? The Palm Restaurant - Getting Started, Washington Intelligentsia and Competition (Then and Now) Tommy Jacomo: Yes. I came down to be his personality. A Ockershausen: Then this thing happened, because I lived through part of it with your people. A friend of mine came to me and said, we're putting a group of people together to entice a New York restaurant to open a Washington division. It was, what did he call him, Peter Palm Tree? Tommy Jacomo: Mark Sandground. They put the group together. A Ockershausen: Mark Sandground, and what's I'm thinking, Dickerson, Wyatt Dickerson was in that group. Tommy Jacomo: That's correct, yes. A Ockershausen: That's where I first got close to him. I knew his wife, because she had worked as Nancy Handsman, and then she became Nancy Dickerson. She had worked at WMAL at one time, and Wyatt asked me to get in a group, and I met all you guys, and met the Bozzis and the Ganzis? Tommy Jacomo: Correct. A Ockershausen: What was your connection with the Bozzis and the Ganzis? Tommy Jacomo: My brother Ray and Bruce Bozzi are joined at the hip, just been best friends since kids.
"There are a few people in the world you can say you’ve known for over 50 years and Donald Dell is one of them." says Our Town host Andy Ockershausen.
Donald Dell, Tennis Icon
Andy reads a description of Donald Dell from a Washington Post article that pretty much sums up who he is:
Arguably the most powerful man in his sport, Dell is a political animal. He was an advance man for Robert Kennedy in 1966 and in RFK's presidential campaign in 1968, and in style and substance he remains a Kennedy man, equally idealistic and well-versed in practical politics. He has Establishment credentials - Landon School '56, Yale '60, Virginia Law '64 - but can wear brass sknuckles with his Ivy League suit. He is polished, sometimes charming, but not bashful about using strong-arm tactics.
As a sports agent and founder of ProServ (now known as SFX), he’s represented some of the biggest names in sports such as Michael Jordan, Arthur Ashe, Moses Malone, Stan Smith, James Worthy, and John Lucas . . .In 1972, Jack Kramer and Donald Dell founded the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). The bylaws were written in Dell's offices, and he was the first Executive Director. He ran the ATV and was the general counsel for eight year.
Donald Dell as a Tennis Player, Advance Man for RFK and Lawyer As the youngest captain ever of the US Davis Cup Team, Donald talks about the early years and how he got started in tennis. He was fortunate to have lived across the street in Bethesda from Edgemoor Tennis Club. “I lived about 50 yards away from the club and I’d play all day long, all summer long.” Andy added that Edgemoor was a hotbed of good players like Fred McNair and Fred Kovaleski. One of the great things about Edgemoor was that they had a rule, if you were a good player - highly ranked, you could get right in without having to wait, so that great players wanted to play there and Donald got the benefit of playing with the best in the sport.
Playing championship tennis opened the world up to Donald to associate with movers and shakers which allowed him to take advantage of opportunities he wouldn't have otherwise. He tells a funny story about his experiences as a player in Russia, over the course of 4 years, Donald went to Russia 8 times. He was approached by the CIA to help with the defection of two top Russian players. Just as he was about to close the deal to help one of the players defect, his Russian player came home to find his beautiful wife in bed with the gym teacher. The player pulled a gun out of the night stand and shot the teacher dead. The Russian was sentence to 8 years in jail.
The late Robert Kennedy was a very dear friend of Donald's. Kennedy hired Donald as his advance man of his 1968 presidential campaign. Donald was responsible for hiring Rosie Greer and other football players as part of his security detail. Bobby and his wife Ethel loved tennis and Donald played with them on a regular basis and taught him how to hit a backhand.
Andy asked about Donald’s decision to go out on his own after his former law firm invited him to set up shop at Hogan & Hartson representing top tennis players. Donald said, “I decided to do my own thing with one other person." "I was really ironically the first tennis agent anywhere in the world January 1970, when I retired from the Davis Cup. . . what really helped me the most was having been a player, and being a winning captain on the Davis Cup Team."
Gonzales v. Pasarell, Wooden Tennis Rackets
Andy and Donald swap stories about the two day, no tie breaker Wimbeldon match between 41 year old Pancho Gonzales and a much younger Charlie Pasarell. At the time it was the longest match in history of Wimbledon. Donald and Andy continue to discuss the way tennis has changed in the past 40 years. Donald remarked that the game was all different then - equipment, surface, and how the players play, are the difference. The matches were also much shorter.
"The firecrackers go all over the place. . .one of those photographers that just drove around, his name was Bill Beall, a nice guy, he took a picture when I was talking to the child, the child was with his mother. His father was in the military and was out of the country." ~Maurice Cullinane
Andy Ockershausen: We are delighted, exceptionally delighted, in Our Town to have a special guest that I've known for more years than I hate to admit but he's a special man, Maurice Cullinane, former Chief of Police of the Metropolitan Police Department, who is a native Washingtonian.
Maurice Cullinane - Retired, Chief of Police, Metropolitan Police Department
Andy Ockershausen: Maurice Cullinane was a Navy veteran, got out of the Navy in 1951 and became a cop or a policeman as we call them now but when he grew up they were cops and they were great and things were different but they really weren't, Cully.Your years in the force saw a lot of changes, a lot of things happen. They were tumultuous in the seventies and I recall people saying this is great, we've settled all the problems now and look what we're facing.
1977 Hanafi Siege
Andy Ockershausen: Cully was the first police chief to face the so-called terrorists, Hanafi Muslims, and I don't know what year was that Cully. 77? Maurice Cullinane: 1977. Andy Ockershausen: And they were doing serious, serious threat to our city. Maurice Cullinane: Actually, they came into the B'nai B’rith at ten-thirty in the morning seven gunmen they took a hundred and twenty some hostages there. Andy Ockershausen: At the B’nai B’rith? Maurice Cullinane: At the B’nai B’rith and I went up and was trying to talk to them, find out what that was their complaint and we were just yelling up and down the steps and I got notified several hours later that they took over the Islamic center up on Massachusetts Avenue. There was three gunmen in there and so we went back and we had a command center setup because we were having so many demonstrations and I tried to talk to them and then they took over the district building and that's where shots were fired. A young reporter, his name was Maurice Williams, was killed and… Andy Ockershausen: Was he the only fatality? Maurice Cullinane: He was the only fatality during the whole time but the Marion, who, Marion Barry, who was later then called the mayor for life, he was shot, he was on the council at the time, and he was shot and the bullet hit him in a place that would have killed him but the bullet bounced off of the walls before it hit him and it was spent (Note: It is reported on Wikipedia that "The gunmen also shot D.C. Protective Service Division police officer Mack Cantrell, who died a few days later in the hospital of a heart attack.") A: And he was not a target then it was an accident almost? M: They were just shooting at random it was something, just an unusual situation. Back in 1973 the black Muslims had been attacked up on 16th street and there was a fellow, his name was Hamaas. This wasn't actually his name, he could have changed it legally I don't know, but his name was McGee. He was 54 years old and he had been in the Army and he got discharged for mental instability and he was with the black Muslims. The black Muslims just appeal to a very small number of blacks because they were advocating . . . A: very militant group M: they were extremely militant and he was not so he dropped out of black Muslims to be in just an orthodox Muslim but he did it with the letter that irritated the black Muslims and they came in 1973 to a house that was owned by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and they killed five of his [Hasaam's] children, one of whom was just months old, 2 to 3 months old, and they killed a total of seven people and so the homicide squad came and locked them up. They came from a Mosque up in Philadelphia but it was really a cover for a bunch of criminals and they locked them up and they convicted them and all them went to jail fo...
"I'm waiting, Andy . . .for the day in a few years not too long when my grandchildren and I will jump on a ferry in Georgetown take it down to the stadium, and before we go into the stadium, on a saturday afternoon game, we're going to change into our bathing suits, dive into the Anacostia, swim and have lunch that's what I'm looking forward to." ~Mark Tuohey
Ernie Baur, Wendy Rieger, Mark Tuohey and Lucille Baur
Mark Tuohey - a name not well known to the average citizen of Our Town, but he is a key player in the law of some of the most visible trials in local politics over the past 30 years and is one of the people responsible for bringing baseball back to Washington.You’ve probably seen Mark Tuohey sitting in the second row in box seats at the Nats games, in the "Halls of Justice" for some of the city’s more interesting cases or sitting next to the Mayor of our Nation’s Capital, he’s the venable Mark Tuohey and he’s Andy’s guest on Our Town.
Born in Rochester, NY, the home of America’s most recognizable brands like Kodak, Xerox and Wegman’s, Mark Tuohey is the son of an FBI agent. He attended Bonaventure and went to Fordham University Law School. In talking to Andy O during this interview, he shared some incredible stories about growing up in upper state New York, sitting next to America’s most famous coach Vince Lombardi and prosecuting such cases as the Columbus Day Bombing Case, White Water, Enron and representing Congressman Bob Ney in the Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal. He’s been referred to as one of Washington's "go-to" white collar defense attorneys.
Andy asked Mark Tuohey about current projects he’s working on for Our Town in the Mayor’s office. Mark shared a few thoughtful ideas about RFK stadium - as a great location for the Washington Redskins to return to Washington, bringing to mind the fact that RFK is the very best place to serve the tri-state area. Other places like Sterling or FedExpress Field don’t satisfy the criteria as well as RFK has done. Andy and Mark both agreed that rebuilding the RFK complex is a fantastic idea. The old St. Elizabeth’s site is now going to be the home court facility of the Washington Mystic’s and a practice facility for the Wizards.
The soccer stadium is also in the works for completion in the next couple of years. Once completed, Tuohey suggests that the city will see the improvement and development of the community just like the Lerners and the Pollins did with the Nationals' Stadium and the Verizon Center, which will also rejuvenate the Anacostia area in and around the Southeast and Southwest waterfront. Mark gives most of the credit to Mayor Tony Williams who was committed to seeing an area of the city transform.
Most recently Mark Tuohey talked to Andy about his decision not to pursue his run for DC Attorney General but dropped out of the race to endorse his friend Karl Racine who he felt was a better fit for the position. Shortly after that he was hired by newly elected Muriel Bowser as her General Counsel.
Andy and Mark turned to personal matters acknowledging that Mark has been married to his wife Marty for close to 50 years and they have three boys who have started a foundation using sports to bring young folks between the ages of 8 and 18 together using the notion that if you learn to play together you can live together. It’s a program that is now all over the world in Israel, South Africa, Northern Ireland and on the West Bank and Cyprus. He’s very proud of his boys.
We hope you have enjoyed this all new episode of Our Town with Andy Ockershausen and Mark Tuohey. We invite you to listen to each new episode of Our Town as they roll out over the next several months. You can subscribe to the Our Town podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or if you complete the subscription form in the sidebar to the right, you will be notified by email when the next episode appears here on the website.
The phrase “living legend” gets tossed around a lot but there is no better way to describe Ernie Baur, long-time D.C. news and sports director and producer. In this fun and story-filled interview, Andy O. and the 14-time Emmy winning reminisce about the go-go years of local television programming and the diverse personalities that made it so special. Ernie Baur - Emmy Award Winning Producer/Director
Born and raised in a Bethesda that has long-since faded from memory among the concrete and steel buildings of today, Ernie attended our Lady of Lourdes until 8th grade. In 9th, grade Ernie attended Good Counsel (hitchhiking to and from the all-boys Catholic school), and ultimately graduated from the co-ed high school right behind his house, Bethesda Chevy Chase.
Deciding that more school was not for him (“I went to Montgomery College for about an hour and a half”), Ernie Baur was grilling steaks at the local Bonanza when his first break in broadcasting came as a part time copy boy at Channel 9. His prowess on the football field playing with the station crew team in the local flag football beer league game earned him an invitation for a paid internship. This would be just the beginning of the important role football would play in his life and career.
Among the news anchors that Ernie ran copy to in those early years at Channel 9 was Sam Donaldson, who would go on to fame as a dogged reporter covering the White House for ABC. “Donaldson, he was a heart attack waiting to happen. He did everything to the last minute . . . what a character. You know he auditioned once… at channel 7 and we didn't hire him. The opinion of the group was this guy's a jerk and yeah, I'm not gonna argue. He was high maintenance but a great broadcaster. He’d always come up to you and say ‘I'm surrounded by incompetents everyday’.”
But it wasn’t just on the news broadcasts where Ernie learned his craft. As stage manager of the Saturday morning Ranger Hal show “I used to run the puppets, Hal did the voices. You get behind the screen and you put your hand up you’re Marvin Monkey, Dr. Fox, Oswald Rabbit.” And, of course, Ernie has a story or two about trying to do the show after a few late nights at The Dancing Crab.
While brief, Ernie Baur got his first directing break at Channel 7, working with another DC broadcasting legend Ed Walker on AM Washington, pairing Walker with Ruth Hudgens. But Channel 9 wanted him back and they sent a very special envoy to recruit him. “Fortunately for me…the person that they hired to replace me was awful, so awful to the point that they came back to me and they had Gordon Peterson take me out and say we need to get him back. Jim Snyder was a news director Ben Schneider and John Baker was a producer they're the ones that said ‘Look we gotta get Ernie back okay and whatever it takes and so Gordon got me back.” And it was at Channel 9 the Ernie met Lucille, his wife of 43 years.
Of course, one of Ernie Baur’s great contributions to DC broadcasting lore is his work with NFL football and creating “Redskins Sidelines.” But that is not the only “sidelines” Ernie worked – for 15 seasons (and including 6 Super Bowls) Ernie worked as the “glove man” – the sideline guy who wears big orange gloves and indicates timeouts on the field. “Yeah I did it for “The Catch” the famous play in 49er history by Dwight Clark (in the 1982 NFC Championship Game against the Cowboys). I was there for that.”
Glenn Brenner, the quick-witted and beloved sportscaster started out as the “third-string” sports anchor on Channel 9 but within a year was the “guy.” And, the rest is history. As the “Warner Wolf Show” morphed into “Redskins Sidelines” once Wolf had left the station. Once Sonny Jurgensen joined “Sidelines”, the format was set and its popularity grew among Redskins fans.
Many of the behind-the-scenes stories of “Redskins Sidelines” have passed into Washington broadcasting lore. Sobriety of the hosts and the guests could some...
Howard Bomstein is a native Washingtonian. Listen in to Howard talk to Andy O about his immigrant parents, school, his family, the Army, his early career choices, opening and closing the doors of his advertising agency, and landing on his feet at the Washington Post. Howard Bomstein - Advertising Manager Washington Post - Our Town
Howard also shares personal stories such as how he fell in love with, and married, Polly, and how it was that he and Andy ended up in a feud that lasted many years until a mutual friend interceded. One thing for sure, you will come to understand Howard’s staying power in the market: connections, connections, connections.
Howard Bomstein was born in Washington DC in 1948 to immigrant parents. His Dad immigrated to Baltimore in 1920, and graduated from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy in 1935. When he found he could earn $5 a week more in DC, he and Howard’s Mom moved there, and ran the Pharmacy at Union Station. Howard never knew his Dad. He died 12 days after Howard was born. His Mom raised him as a “single Mom”. She didn’t remarry until Howard was in his early 20s.
Howard began his life with his Mom and Dad on Roxanna Road NW just south of the 16th Street Circle. In 1961, his Mom moved the family to Montgomery County where he went to school. Howard attended Blair High School in Silver Spring, and went on to the University of Maryland where he graduated with a degree in Information Systems Management. He says “Unfortunately it was not something I was very good at . . . I was terrible at it. . . to this day I'm terrible with computers.”
Andy asks Howard about his family and how he and his wife Polly met. Polly worked as a receptionist for Howard’s advertising agency, The Bomstein Agency, and they were moving offices. “I remember the day I was smitten with Polly. We were moving the office . . . literally across the street . . . basically carting things from one office to the other. The [new] office had hardwood floors and I remember as we were moving things in Polly caught my eye because she was wearing blue jeans and Nike tennis shoes and a sweatshirt and I just thought she was beautiful.” Howard and Polly have three beautiful daughters all of whom are college grads. Andy chuckles and tells Howard that he looks a “little heavier now” now that he’s finished paying tuition. A conversation ensues between Andy and Howard about college in today’s world and we learn that Howard is an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland. He teaches marketing and branding.
Andy asks Howard what led him into advertising and starting his own agency. Howard Bomstein takes us through life after college and some of the jobs he had before creating The Bomstein Agency. In 1970, before graduation from the University of Maryland, Howard knew he was going to be drafted so he enlisted in the Army and “rose to the enormous rank of specialist fourth class and my military occupational specialty MOS was a 76B20 I was a clerk typist. . . in a supply unit and what you learn to do in is to count blankets. “ He became very good at counting blankets before leaving the Army and coming home to go to grad school.
Howard Bomstein graduated with a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Penn State, but instead of working in public administration he took an offer to work for his cousin in the home building business. He became an assistant in the marketing department at US Homes for $8000.00 a year doing statistical analysis. “In the Fall of 1974, we had a recession. It was pretty severe. . .” and was due to price control of gasoline. “So, Herman came to me and said I'm sorry I've got some bad news but I have to lay you off because we're not selling any houses and the markets terrible.” All was not lost, however, because Howard had gotten to know Bill Regardie. Bill and his wife, Renay, had Housing Data Reports to which US Homes subscribed.
Harry Jaffe is a brilliant award winning writer and author, and a media strategist. As Andy O puts it Harry covers the good, the bad and the ugly of Our Town. Andy calls him a local celebrity, a friend and welcomes him as a special guest in this all new episode of Our Town. Andy wants you to get to know Harry Jaffe. The Harry no one knows.
Harry is a Philly boy and can’t escape it. He says “I wish that I could root for the Washington Nationals but I don't like them because I'm a Phillies fan. . .” He says this even after leaving home at 17. He recalls that Wilt Chamberlain and his older sister attended high school together, and he himself attended the high school where Kobe Bryant would eventually go. Although he applied to several colleges, and was even recruited by Dartmouth to play Lacrosse, his Dad had the final say on where he would attend – Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA where the Washington Redskins had training camp for many years.
Harry and Andy talk Lacrosse and how popular it is in the Northeast. Back in the day, Harry tells Andy, he “played Lacrosse with wooden sticks that really hurt when you hit somebody and that was why I love lacrosse is because it's the only sport where you can legally hit somebody with a stick.”
Harry goes on to talk about Dickinson College. It is a liberal arts school that doesn’t prepare one for any profession much less journalism. Harry came out of college as a decent photographer and that’s what got him into journalism.
Andy asks Harry about how he came to Our Town. The first time, Harry says “was in 1971 when I was arrested for the May Day protests. I was arrested on Dupont Circle. I was a senior in college. They took me to the DC jail and I wound up suing the Federal Government because it was an illegal arrest. About ten years later I got paid 1500 bucks in a settlement because we sued in a class action suit.”
Next stop for Harry after college was Vermont. He tells Andy he was a hippie but even so he had to make a living and went to work for the Rutland (VT) Herald as a weekend photographer in 1974. He said “it was like the hand of God came down and said ‘Harry your home.’ I adored being in that newsroom and I learned how to type I learned how to be a reporter.”
Harry Jaffe covered Patrick Leahy the first-term senator from Vermont - a Watergate baby elected in 1974. In 1978, having been at the Rutland Herald long enough, Harry applied for a press secretary job with Leahy and he was hired. That’s how Harry started working in Washington DC. Not much for being Leahy’s mouthpiece, Harry left his press secretary gig in less than a year and went back to journalism. He wanted what he wrote under his byline, plus Leahy “kept disappointing me. I love Patrick. He’s a good Senator but he did things that I felt were not up to snuff and so I left.”
Jaffe went to work for a non-defunct small news service, States Service, that covered Washington DC for small towns and small papers all over the country. After working for States Service, Harry freelanced pieces for the Washington. He also wrote Post Watch for the Washingtonian Magazine. Andy and Harry discuss the popularity of the column during the 90s and early 2000s. It was the most read column in the magazine. At the time, a lot of people didn’t like the Post, so when Harry wrote about the Grahams, Ben Bradlee or Sallie Quinn people ate it up.
Jaffe tried not to be a media critic. Rather he just told stories about the people behind the bylines. He made characters out of the writers such as Sally Jenkins, Tom Boswell, and Tony Kornheiser. Jaffe goes on to say that Kornheiser hated him, but that was ok because Jaffe says he wore that as a badge of honor. Andy and Jaffe talk about how Jaffe’s work on Post Watch was necessary to keep the Post and its writers straight and call them on issues on which they might turn a blind, or take too far. Andy recalls the Post’s feud with WOL in Northe...
Tim Brant, recently retired American sportcaster is Andy Ockershausen’s guest in this episode of Our Town. Tim grew up in Our Town, played football at University of Maryland, had a short lived pro-football career, and a stellar career as a sportcaster on radio and TV.
Listen in to hear Tim Brant recall one story after another of life as a sportscaster in Our Town, including what happened as he broadcast Muhammad Ali v Alfredo Evangelista fight at the Capitol Center in Landover, MD, and when he had to tell Paul "Bear" Bryant that he was playing football at Maryland instead of Alabama. You’ll love listening in to this interview because Andy and Tim are dear friends. Their mutual admiration is apparent throughout the interview.
Tim grew up right here in Our Town. In fact, his family has been in the Washington area for generations and have helped to make the Washington DC area what it is today. He and his brothers were all very talented in sports. Tim went to high school and played ball at St. John’s College High School. He went on to graduate from the University of Maryland with a degree in journalism and played football there as a defensive captain and linebacker. Later, he played for the Redskins before a career-ending knee injury.
Andy and Tim Brant met when Tim began work as a sports writer at WMAL radio. He attributes much of his career success to Andy who was a mentor to Tim in the early years of his broadcasting career. These two men recall Tim’s “very first big thing on the air”, the Ali fight. Tim did an amazing job of painting a picture on radio of the fight for the audience during the boxing match between Alfredo Evangelista and Muhammad Ali.
The next career move for Tim was the in TV. Tim remembers being so nervous to tell Andy that he was leaving the station. Andy’s was disappointed but wished him all the best. Andy did predict that if Tim Brant entered TV, he would “end up in Louisville” and, sure enough, Tim eventually found himself in Louisville covering the Kentucky Derby. He couldn’t resist calling Andy to let him know his prediction had come true. They shared a good laugh.
All joking aside though, Tim’s TV career is quite an impressive one. He has served many roles at ABC Sports, including host, sideline reporter, expert analyst and play-by-play. He joined ABC Sports as a college football commentator in 1982. After leaving for CBS in 1987, in 1991 Brant returned to ABC in the booth as an analyst and play-by-play man for College Football on ABC, a role he held until 2007.
Brant is often best known for his coverage of college football with Keith Jackson. While with ABC, Brant announced three National Championship games. While working with Keith Jackson, he was listed as college football's top analyst by numerous publications, including USA Today.
In 1987 & 1988, Brant was paired with analyst Hank Stram on NFL broadcasts. He also teamed with Jim Nance in 1990. In Nance's 2008 best-selling book, Jim says that he never forged a friendship as quickly with anyone as he did with Tim Brant.
Locally, he has hosted sport pre-game specials such as Are You Ready for Washington Redskins games.He served as Vice President, Sports at WJLA-TV in Washington through May, 2015. He previously served as the station's sports director from 1978 until 1982.
Tim currently lives in Potomac, Maryland with his wife Janet. They are very active in local charities. He has four grown children, Jason, Kevin, Lindsay and Julie. He has many grandchildren and feels so blessed with his family.
We hope you have enjoyed this week’s episode of Our Town with Andy Ockershausen. We invite you to listen to each new episode of Our Town as they roll out over the next several months. You can subscribe to the Our Town podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or if you complete the subscription form in the sidebar to the right, you will be notified by email when the next episode appears here on the website.
Lon Anderson has been friends with Andy O for over 40 years. Listen in to Andy describe the Lon Anderson he’s come to know. “He's a big voice in our town. He's helped us . . .get around town . . . You've heard his voice on radio. You've seen his face on TV news talking about one of the biggest issue that affects us daily. He's been on the pulse of transportation issues."
Andy continues, Lon's "name has appeared in The Washington Post more than 500 times - sometimes favorably I may add. He can speak on any topic related to traffic safety, holiday travel, speed cameras, gas taxes and driving in snow. He's been the spokesman for AAA Mid-Atlantic for most of his career. He sits with me on the Board of Directors of the Washington Area Regional Alcohol Program which grew out of some ideas that we had on WMAL years ago, with Jerry Sachs and others and we started this whole effort with WRAP. And, he's my friend of many many years and a great great citizen of Our Town.”
Lon Anderson and WMAL
Andy considers Lon Anderson part of WMAL just without being on the payroll because Lon was on the air so much back then. Andy and Lon take a walk down memory lane. The talk about the talent at WMAL back in the day. Harden and Weaver. Trumbull and Core – co-hosts of “Two for the Road. Ken Beatrice. Lon says of Trumbull and Core, that there “it was the generational gap there . . .that really made it . . .it wasn't a natural pairing that you would have expected . . . they were different generations. Boy, talk about making the evening drive a little easier for all those motorists.” Andy agrees that “it was so incredible the way they got on beautifully . . .they were entertainers. . . they were information outlets but really entertaining . . .that was the old WMAL to entertain people and make their drive safer going and coming to the office absolutely.” They go on to reminisce about WMAL’s popularity, at the time, with AM and PM commuters.
Education and Career
Lon went to Montgomery College and then University of Maryland. On the way to becoming AAA’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Director, he worked in public relations as spokesman for two different Secretary of Education and as a Vice President of Communications for a trade association. He began his career in journalism as a cub reporter with the Frederick Post where he covered Montgomery County council meetings as a part of the Montgomery County Bureau of the Frederick Post. The Frederick Post is alive and well and is published daily. Sometimes on weekends it is fatter than The Washington Post. Andy and Lon continue to discuss how things have changed geographically. Frederick is no longer the end of the world as it once was but very much a part of Our Town.
After the Fredrick Post, Lon became editor-in-chief of the News Express – a weekly community paper out of Bowie. After a couple of years at News Express, Lon bought a failing community newspaper, the Damascus Courier. He “decided it was time to go see if all the things I thought would make a good community newspaper work and happen.” He could see growth coming to the Damascus market. If he could just hold out it will come and he would be in clover. Lon renamed it the County Courier and expanded into Olney. Things worked out and Damascus grew as did Olney but then in the early 80s the recession hit. Lon ended up selling the County Courier to a competitor the Gazette Papers which ultimately sold to The Washington Post. The Washington Post ended folding the community papers.
Both Andy and Lon talk about how sad it is that community journalism is no longer. They continue the discussion about the general lack of newspaper readership and what that means. They finish up this segment talking Our Town newspaper history, including the demise of the Washington Star. Andy attributes its demise that in part to transportation problems in Our Town.
AAA and Transportation Problems Around Our Town
Dexter Manley, former Defensive End for the Washington Redskins, was nicknamed football's “Secretary of Defense” in 1986 by a top government official. Listen in to Dexter tell Andy O the story about how he received the nickname and from whom.
Andy says of Dexter Manley, “for many years a legend in the city of Washington. Manley "did so much as a player and so much as a human being”.
Dexter recalls that he and Andy met for the first time at training camp in Carlisle Pennsylvania, and how Andy won him over with a deal at the station, “I did a show . . .maybe for about a year and they paid me not one dime but they furnished my bedroom suit for free. I'd never heard of that before. I said where’s my money. Jack Kent Cook said get money don’t go for those deals.” Lots of laughter ensues and we see why Andy refers to Dexter Manley as a “character”.
Growing Up in Houston, TX and Oklahoma State University Football
Andy O and Dexter talk about Dexter’s childhood years in Houston, Texas. He describes the environment he grew up in as poverty and crime stricken and lots of divorce. He also describes his hard-working parents who made sure he went to church and grew up with good Christian values. Dexter talks about the guys in his neighborhood stealing bicycles, smoking marijuana, and drinking “md2020”, and how he chose to stay away from that. One of the most devastating times in his young life was when, while sitting on his porch, he looked down the street and saw his brother put into the backseat of a police car. His brother landed in a juvenile home from that encounter with the police. Dexter's brother played football at the local high school, and was his hero. He also saw young talented high school football players leave town to play in college only to get in trouble and return home. He knew he didn’t want this for himself. He went to school, sat is the front row, but despite his efforts he graduated functionally illiterate. He also tells Andy “I had such tunnel vision I wanted to play football trying to get out of that environment. I had 37 scholarship offers.”
Manley goes on to recall how in his junior year at Jack Yates High School he was recruited to play in college. This process brought him closer to his Dad. Growing up, Dex received little attention from his Dad. Despite how good he was at football – he was a high school all American - his Dad watched him play only once in high school. His Dad saw him in a different light once the coaches started to come around. So did the whole community. “They couldn’t believe it, Bum Phillips and Jim Stanley they are getting out of these limos coming to my gun shack house sitting up on blocks in the ghetto.” At a big breakfast in Houston, Bum Phillips, head coach of the Houston Oilers, said that Dex should play at Oklahoma State University. That’s all it took for Dexter to attend OSU for the next four years. He tells Andy that neither he nor his Dad knew then what all that meant, all they knew that these big names were telling him he had a future in football.
Dexter’s four years at Oklahoma State University were tumultuous. They fired head coach Jim Stanley and brought on Pittsburgh’s defensive coordinator Jimmie Johnson to replace him. Jimmie Johnson came on in Dex’s junior year, and was his coach for remaining two years. He had them winning games. Dexter goes on to talk about the OSU’s probation “for passing out benefits” to players. He recalls receiving the keys to a brand-new car. He tells Andy “I was coming off the practice field, Charlie Alexander said sit in the car that was a brand-new car, and I never forget. I never had hardly nothing brand-new so we turn the radio on, and we heard the news Elvis died, he said Manley, he gave me the keys, this is yours. And so, I'll never forget that as long as I live.”
1981 NFL Scouting Combine, Tampa Bay, FL
Andy asks Manley how the Washington Redskins found him.
Thom Loverro is a sports columnist, an author and most recently a podcaster. Thom uses his talents and experiences from years on radio to run his own podcast called Cigars & Curveballs. He’s hosted Cal Ripken, George Foreman, Joe Jacoby, Dusty Baker and most recently Max Scherzer. You can subscribe to Cigars & Curveball on ITunes or Google Play, or listen to the latest episode online at Washington Times.
Andy and Thom discuss Thom’s early years growing up in Brooklyn four blocks from Ebbets Field. One of Thom’s earliest memories was leaving the stadium after a Dodgers game. He tells Andy “I grew up in a Brooklyn Dodgers house and then when they left a New York Mets house.”
Andy and Thom discuss Thom’s early years growing up in Brooklyn four blocks from Ebbets Field. One of Thom’s earliest memories was leaving the stadium after a Dodgers game. He tells Andy “I grew up in a Brooklyn Dodgers house and then when they left a New York Mets house.”
The ballpark and team were an integral part of the neighborhood. Thom Loverro tells Andy “Gil Hodges’ brother-in-law used to be my barber when I was a kid. He had a neighborhood barber shop because the players then lived in the neighborhood everybody else lived. They didn't make a ton of money like they do now. Then they would stay close to the neighbors.” Thom was eight when he watched the legendary field torn down.
Sometime around 1965, Thom Loverro’s dad moved the family from Brooklyn to the Poconos, East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. He remembers it as very culturally different than Brooklyn. In fact, he recalls his first year in school there – 7th grade – “they sent me to speech therapy class because they thought there was something wrong with the way I talked and then they realize it was just my Brooklyn accent”. At the end of the day, Thom really loved growing up in the small town.
Thom started college at Miami, but he had to leave school under a cloud when he burnt down half of his fraternity house with a cigar on accident. He eventually wound up at a Jesuit School, the University of Scranton, a big difference over Miami. The University town was very isolated but it was what he needed to really straighten himself out and get focused on what he needed to do.
Thom decided he wanted to be a sports writer since he was 10. He is from a newspaper family and would read the sports sections of the New York Daily News and the New York Daily Mirror every night. He would read Dick Young and Jimmy Cannon and others like them. He started taking his dream seriously when he got to University of Scranton.
After college, Thom worked for a couple of newspapers in Pennsylvania and then eventually wound up at the Baltimore Sun. In 1984 he started there as a news editor and reporter. He oversaw a bureau out in Howard County, and then started reporting by covering the state for the paper in Annapolis. It wasn’t until 1992, when he started working for the Washington Times that he realized his dream to be a sports writer.
Andy asks Thom if it is unusual going from news to sports writing, and Thom said to some extent. He tells Andy “you don't see it happen much anymore but it was great for me . . . it's a lot easier right in sports than it is news - the rules are different - the news is much more accountable.” He goes on to say that his news training came in handy to cover “not just sports but all the issues that deal with sports such as the baseball strike in 1994 and the steroid stuff in baseball.”
At the Washington Times, Thom covered the Washington Redskins for one year in 1992 – Joe Gibbs’ last year, and then went on to cover the Baltimore Oriolesuntil 1995. Andy refers to Thom as a baseball expert and remembers listening to him on radio and people always wanting to talk to him about baseball.
Thom Loverro and Andy talk about how Washington eventually got its own baseball team. They almost had the Orioles,
Wendy Rieger, NBC4 news anchor, is host Andy Ockershausen’s guest in this all new episode of Our Town. Wendy recalls stories and experiences during this interview that will give you good insight into who she is, and how she got to be where she is today.
Andy and Wendy talk about how Wendy came to live and work in Our Town. Although not a native Washingtonian, Wendy says she “always says I feel like I'm from here because I came here when I was 22 from Norfolk Virginia. I went to school at American University . . .that's what brought me here . . .I was finishing up my school.” Wendy goes on to tell Andy about how it was she decided togo to American University’s School of Communication. This journey included dropping out of Old Dominion in her sophomore year, and taking up acting much to her Mom’s dismay.
Wendy’s interest in news started because of a job she held to make money while acting. She started doing the news on FM 99 because they needed to do news on Saturday and Sunday morning for the FCC. Wendy wasn’t a newsperson but needed the money and auditioned for the position “as an actor being a newsperson”. She got the job, did it for a year, and fell in love with news. That is what got her back into college. To this day, Wendy refers to this positive experience in her life when speaking with friends whose children are suddenly veering off course.
Wendy Rieger interned at WMAL and that’s where she and Andy first met. He knew right away that she “would go places”. She went on to work at 88.5FM. There she learned a lot, and at 26 became the local host of Morning Edition. She “learned about writing and long format radio and the use of ambient sound”. She tells Andy that she listened everyday to NPR writers, who she calls “magazines writers”, and that they unknowingly mentored her. She used them as examples of what she needed to be. She names Bob Edwards and Susan Stamberg as just a couple of those she admired. She felt lucky to be in an environment she considered “fertile ground” for her new career.
Wendy and Andy go on to talk about CBS and WTOP. Wendy tells Andy that WTOP was a whole different ballgame than NPR. WTOP was like the Indy 500 and NPR had a certain spa-like quality, in that it was just relaxed and much more thoughtful. WTOP was fast and furious, and she recalls the frenzy she experienced covering her first Right to Life march on Washington. She and Andy laugh as Wendy recalls wrestling with the phone booth phones and the alligator clips she had to use to file her stories.
Before getting a call from WRC-TV (NBC4), Wendy spent a short time at local CNN and that’s where she got her feet wet in television. She tells Andy “that was a whole ‘nother kind of mixing bowl explosion because now you have to add video to it so you had to be concerned about your video” as well as write your story. Wendy recalls her early years at WRC-TV (Channel 4) “during the drug wars” where it was normal for there to be four people executed inside a house just every other night. Wendy recalls Pat Collins and others who were part of the hierarchy of old street reporters that you could learn from and watch. She advises students “to study your job . . .study the people around you” to learn what you need to be good at your job. She goes on to tell Andy that she did that very thing for the first four days of her Olympic coverage. Even though she has been in the business for 36 years she had never covered the Olympics so she studied and quietly watched all the sports reporters who were in her area to figure it all out.
Wendy looks back when the competition was “at a wonderfully high rolling boil” and “it was about the story . . . you were in the trenches. . .” not like today it is all about ‘tweeting and social media . . . it really was meaty and you had great fistfuls of news back then. . .” Wendy was a trailblazer, and was so at a time when she had little support because the station was being...
Catherine Meloy, CEO of Goodwill of Greater Washington and The Goodwill Excel Center, is host Andy Ockershausen’s guest in this all new episode of Our Town, and who Andy calls “a wonderful wonderful friend.” Andy recalls welcoming Catherine to Our Town in 1983-84 and prompts her to start at the beginning . . . her life before Washington, DC.
Catherine was born in Camp Lejeune North Carolina. Her Dad was a Marine for 25 years, and now lives in St. Louis where he and her Mom decided to retire to be close to their parents, Catherine’s grandparents. Andy and Catherine discuss her emotional attachment to the military, and how she loves living now in Annapolis, a military town.
Catherine attended high school and college in St. Louis. She tells Andy, that “we had to pay for our own college at that time . . .and at the end of my Sophomore year I owed $10,000 in college debt .” I dropped out “because I just hated owing people money.” Afterward, Catherine went to work for the St. Louis Cardinals as an usherette, then went on to work in the club's executive offices for announcer Mike Shannon and the coach, Joe Torre. Catherine and Andy spend a minute or two recalling other great announcers such as Harry Caray, Jack Buck, and Bob Costas.
After the Cardinals, in 1976-77, Catherine went to work for the Sheraton Jefferson in St. Louis, at a time when there weren’t many women in executive positions. As luck would have it, they had a few women that were earmarked for their executive training program and she was one. Catherine moved to Kansas City. While there she attended an annual Sheraton meeting and saw the man who would eventually become her husband although neither of them knew it at the time because they didn’t even know each other. Catherine recalls “I did not know him. He walked from the back of the room to the front of the room just to be on this panel and I thought to myself if I ever meet that man I’m going to marry him. Little did he know.” A year later at the annual meeting in January in New York, Catherine and David Meloy met, fell in love, and the rest is history as they say. We encourage you to listen in to how this came about. It is a relationship truly made in heaven.
Catherine moved to Boston to be with David and decided then to leave the hotel industry altogether. Catherine tells Andy, that after leaving Sheraton, she “went door-to-door looking for a job and went to WEEI . . .and did the craziest thing . . . I just went into the radio station . . . and said I wanted to speak to the general manager . . .the general manager came out . . . I think he was so surprised that somebody would just knock on the door and say ‘here I am how about if I come work at this radio station’ . . . and he said anybody's got this much gumption you’re on I could start on Monday.”
Catherine and Andy discuss her stellar radio sales career starting at WEEI in Boston with the yellow pages on commission. Despite her fear of failure, she stayed with it and it turned out great. Catherine and David moved to New York and she was able to transfer to CBS stations there. Then on to Denver where in short order she was promoted to General Sales Manager. Catherine and Andy met after she and David moved to Washington. She worked at WBAL in Baltimore initially and then was recruited as National Sales Manager by Tony Reneau at WMAL. At the time (1983-84), Catherine was delighted to be working in the community in which she lived.
Catherine and Andy reminisce about meeting each other for the first time and how it just felt right to Andy to hire her. Listen in and you will clearly understand a shared mutual love for WMAL and the good old days when relationships with the advertisers and the audiences were so important and really what mattered. Catherine left WMAL in 1986-87 and moved to Alexandria to work for WCXR classic rock and then WGMS classical music which later became Sports Talk 980.
Our Town host Andy Ockershausen interviews two outstanding professionals, Attorney Mike Collins and Dr. Joe Novello, in this all new Our Town podcast episode. Andy introduces both men to us by telling us about their very different career paths, then segues into a long laundry list of what they have in common.
Up first is Attorney Mike Collins. He is managing partner of The Collins Firm and host of Legally Speaking radio show on WMAL. Andy prompts Mike to talk about his alma mater Notre Dame. Mike provides insight into his early years growing up in Chicago’s school system, and how he started Notre Dame at 16. They go on to talk about Mike’s Dad, the first Notre Dame fan Mike ever met. Although never having attended Notre Dame, his Dad had season tickets with 9 friends and he attended every home game for 49 years. The group was cut off from the tickets when the person whose name the tickets were in passed away. Mike went through a letter writing campaign to get his Dad reinstated and was successful. His Dad ended up with four season tickets for his lifetime, which Mike had to acknowledge and promise not to contest down the road.
As founder of The Collins Firm, Mike has been conducting estate planning seminars throughout the DC Metro for years. He used to charge for them, but not any more. Mike has made it his mission to educate people 50+ about estate planning. Mike realizes that most folks don’t want to think about planning their estate although they know it should be done. His free seminars are the perfect way to get people motivated to get their affairs in order starting now.
You’ll be entertained as you listen in to Mike describe his entrepreneurial experiences in Southern California. He and a partner started the first skate park and waterslide park there. Toward the end of his interview, you’ll laugh as you listen to Mike recall stories about his waterslide investment. These successful ventures resolved community issues for young and older people alike and made life more harmonious between the two groups.
Mike wraps up this first part of his interview with Andy by recalling his major and the changes that took place during his four years at Notre Dame, before he attended law school at Georgetown University.
Next you'll listen in to a personal conversation between Dr. Joseph Novello and Andy. Andy is quick to thank Joe for his help with Andy's then teenage son, who came to visit one summer. Andy says he never forgot the advice he received from Dr. Novello, and passes it on to this day to parents of teenagers.
They also discuss how Joe became a Navy flight surgeon. At the peak of the Vietnam War, Joe was a resident in surgery after medical school at Michigan. He knew he would be drafted so he signed on to the Navy Flight Surgeon program. When he was done, his orders took him to Puerto Rico. While there he and his squadron made hops to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base (GTMO) many times. Afterward, Joe went back to Michigan to do a residency in psychiatry.
You will also learn during their discussion that he was a child of immigrants and grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. His parents expectations were that one of their sons would be a professional and the other a priest. Joe became and doctor and his brother became a priest - well sort of. Joe's brother is Don Novello who played Father Guido Sarducci on Saturday Night Live.
Andy and Joe reminisce about Joe’s Saturday evening call-in show on WMAL. Joe mentions that it was somewhat unchartered territory which resulted in as Andy says “Some of the weirdiest calls”. Joe was very pleased with the service he provided his listeners on that show. His greatest moment though was not on his on show, but when he had to stay on to answer a few of Ken Beatrice's callers. Ken happened to be at training camp and was stuck in traffic so was late to his show. Dr. Novello stepped in to help out and took first two or three calls.
Marc Bluestein, Founder and CEO of Aquarius Sports and Entertainment, shares his passion for sports and marketing with Our Town host Andy Ockershausen in this all new episode of Our Town podcast. He is originally from Philadelphia, but grew up in Our Town, and as Andy tells him "is a big part of Our Town".
Marc Bluestein, also known as "Blue", grew up playing baseball and always dreamed of playing college ball. After high school he attended the University of Tampa and successfully “walked on” to the university’s baseball team. He realized after a short time that he couldn’t compete in Division 2 baseball in Tampa, and ended up transferring to the University of South Florida to concentrate on his studies. While at USF, Marc interned with the Tampa Bay Lightning after they joined the NHL in the 1992-93. He came back to Our Town after college, but is quick to say that Tampa holds a special place in his heart.
Blue began his career in Our Town with W.B. Doner Advertising in Baltimore. He eventually moved close to Doner’s offices in Baltimore and lived with three roommates. His starting salary was $18,000 and rent was $195 month. Marc would spend weekends with his then girlfriend in DC.
Marc Bluestein’s Doner accounts included FILA, marketing tennis as well as ski and snowboarding, as well as MidAtlantic Milk Marketing Association and First National Bank of Maryland, which later became All First and then M&T. These accounts not only involved media planning and buying but they all used sports sponsorships and sports media buys as part of their communications platform. For instance, FILA’s first big deal signed was with Sammy Sousa as endorser. Marc had become the sports marketing expert and was made Sports Marketing Manager at 23. He used this opportunity to build his own foundation for his career in sports marketing. After a few years, Blue packed a U-Haul and moved to Manhattan, where he had always dreamed of working.
At 26, Marc Bluestein went to NY to work for DMB&B and then Mediavest. Blue’s client list was impressive and he was able to grow his sports marketing experience further. For example, he worked with Coca-Cola Classic expanding their NFL & NASCAR programs. He also worked with Norelco who worked with MLB, X-Games and Gravity Games. One of the Norelco promotions was the 21 day challenge which involved ESPN radio’s Mike and Mike and Jim Rome.
Blue took advantage of an opportunity to move to Sports Illustrated. He drew upon his sports sponsorship experience to help them grow from selling print ads to offering sponsorship opportunities. SI wanted to take their brand and grow their two franchises with sponsorship opportunities. Marc Bluestein recalls the details of two incredible SI promotions that involved Miller Beer and Pontiac, respectively. You will want to listen in to the interesting stories of behind these promotions.
Marc and his wife decided to move to Washington DC, so Marc finished up in New York at Sports Illustrated and they came back to Our Town where he worked at Home Team Sports, now Comcast Sportsnet. The offer to come back was attractive, in part, because he would be working with all the sports teams he loved. Andy compliments Marc on the work he did at Comcast Sportsnet. He was a star and brought a touch of New York advertising with him, which benefitted his new employer.
Looking to advance, grow and figure it all out, Marc started looking at relocating but ended up accepting advice and guidance from a former client, Rick DiBella and, his boss, Jeff Parsigian. They suggested that he start his own business. So. . .9 years ago during the Thanksgiving holiday he downloaded an online template and completed a 15 page business plan, which was the impetus for his new company, Aquarius Sports Group. Andy and Marc discuss the very personal nature of the name Aquarius, and what prompted Marc to take the risk to start his own business.
Irene Pollin, a major contributor to the growth of Washington DC metro, is Andy O’s special guest on this all new episode of Our Town podcast.
Irene Pollin has recently released her memoirs, “Irene & Abe: An Unexpected Life”. Her book reveals the ins and outs of Irene’s life with her husband and business partner Abe Pollin. Irene now shares her memories with host Andy Ockershausen in this episode of Our Town.
Irene Pollin and Abe Pollin were introduced by Irene's Aunt Fanny who happened to be married to Uncle Dan of the Pollin family. Irene was 17 and living in St. Louis with her family. Abe,18, was living on the East Coast. After they met, Abe wooed Irene long distance – writing one letter after another. Irene recalls visiting his family in Washington DC in 1941 at their beautiful home off of 16th Street, NW. Irene and Abe dated more than a few years. Eventually, Abe not only successfully convinced Irene to move to Washington DC to be with him, but he also convinced her entire family to move with her. The two finally married in 1945 after the war.
Most know that Abe and Irene Pollin literally built Washington DC. Abe’s Dad was in the construction business through the 30s into the mid 40s. He owned an extremely profitable plumbing and heating business (during the Depression) and that made construction a natural path for Abe and Irene to follow. They built houses and apartments and then years later they found themselves building massive complexes such as the Capital Centre and the Verizon Center. The Pollins had a tremendous influence on Our Town and found it an exciting time of growth for Washington, DC.
Before Irene and Abe built the Capital Centre they were owners of the Baltimore Bullets. Irene tells Andy they never had any intention of owning a sports team but buying the Baltimore Bullets was a way to level out their lives. Prior to, they had suffered the loss of their daughter, and then Irene’s parents, so buying and owning the team turned out to be a good diversion. Listen in as, Irene vividly describes the intense feeling the first time they entered the Civic Center knowing that they were the owners.
Baltimore was not a basketball town, and their efforts to grow their team didn’t work. After 9 or 10 years, when the Pollins decided to leave, Baltimore did nothing to make them stay. Abe and Irene were builders so they decided to build an arena for their team, and that’s when the Captial Centre came into being in Landover, Maryland. The Baltimore Bullets became the Washington Bullets.
Building the Capital Center changed Our Town in major ways. Many big events that couldn’t come to Our Town before, could happen now. One of the most memorable events for Irene was one of Ronald Reagan’s inauguration celebrations. Frank Sinatra was on the bill for that evening, and Irene shares a story of what it took to meet him. Let’s just say she was less than amused.
Andy and Irene discuss the travels Irene writes about throughout her book. The Pollins traveled both with their sports teams, and for fun during off season. Together Abe and Irene enjoyed extraordinary trips to Africa, China and the Philippines. On their trip to the Philippines they were guests of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos. Irene laughs as she tells Andy about a wardrobe malfunction and how Wes Unseld held her dress together in the back as she got off the plane in Manila to a crowd of people.
In 1997, with a commitment from then Mayor Marion Barry, the Pollins decided to move their teams – the Washington Bullets and Washington Capitols – to inside the city limits of DC. At that time Pollins also decided to change the name of the Washington Bullets to the Washington Wizards.
Andy reminds us that both the Capital Centre and the VerizonCenter were built with the Pollins’ own money, they weren’t looking for handouts and incentives from the government. The VerizonCenter, previously known as the MCI Center,
Kurt Erickson is President of Washington Regional Alcohol Program(WRAP) and is Andy O’s guest in this all new episode of the Our Town podcast. Listen in as Kurt and Andy discuss the history of WRAP, how and why it came to be. They also discuss the good work done through WRAP regarding the issue of drinking and driving.
Kurt Erickson was born in Boston and moved to Our Town in 1970 with his family when he was a child. He attended Radford University and afterward worked 10 years for the American Lung Association fighting against tobacco use in a state fueled - at the time - by tobacco. Kurt now lives with his wife and three children in a small town outside of Leesburg - Waterford, Virginia one of the oldest towns in Our Town.
Kurt has been leading the non-profit WRAP as its President since 1999. WRAP takes the fight against drunk driving seriously- advocating for tougher penalties for repeat offenders as well as teaching the dangers of drinking and driving to school aged children. WRAP was founded in 1982 and was formed to fight drunk driving, drugged driving and underage drinking in the DC area.
Kurt also heads up the WRAP's public and government relations initiatives by serving as a registered lobbyist before Maryland and Virginia's General Assemblies as well as the District of Columbia's City Council.
Prior to WRAP, Kurt Erickson was Executive Director, public affairs director and registered lobbyist for the American Lung Association of Northern Virginia. (1988-1999) The common denominator in these two positions is prevention and youth. Erik is a hero in Our Town for taking on these issues on and helping us find solutions to these life or death problems.
WRAP has offered many innovative ideas for ways to reduce drunk driving such as offering free cab rides through their program SoberRide especially during the holiday season and other busy times of the year. Andy points out that everyone sharing the roadways is impacted by the safety provided by this service. Not only may it prevent someone from killing themselves but it may prevent the deaths of others who are not impaired. Kurt Erickson recites a staggering statistics to Andy from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that a third of drunk driving victims are non-intoxicated motorists, non-intoxicated occupants of motor-vehicles, and non-intoxicated pedestrians.
Kurt and Andy have a heart-to-heart discussion about the issues still plaguing our community when comes to alcohol and impaired judgement. The amount of drunk drivers on the road is still a huge concern in our town and around the entire country. We are losing 10,000 people a year to drunk driving. 70% of drunk drivers are men and the majority of accidents happen at night and on weekends.
Andy opens up the discussion of the parent’s role in this drinking and driving problem. Parents have a big responsibility in underaged drinking and there are real penalties. Kurt Erikson understands the parents’ perspective to want to “keep the drinking all under one roof” or “where they can have their eye on things” but if these kids are then allowed to get in a car, the parents are ultimately responsible for whatever happens next.
Kurt emphasizes that when it comes to alcohol, it is all about impaired judgement. There should be a designated exit route planned ahead of time. Thinking ahead is crucial to safety with alcohol. Personal responsibility is ultimately what it will take to make this problem. The cost for this problem is too high to tolerate any longer.
Kurt applauds Andy and all of his support in the efforts of the WRAP. Andy calls drinking and driving “a national tragedy”. Andy recalls days when his buddies were not so pleased with him as he went against the fundamental philosophy of happy hour and allowing bars to stay open past midnight.
We hope you have enjoyed this week’s episode of Our Town with Andy Ockershausen.
Susan Lacz, CEO of Ridgewells Catering, speaks with Our Town host Andy Ockershausen about her life and career in Our Town. Hers is a lively interview! By the end, you will understand, if you don't already, why she has been, and continues to be, a successful business woman in Our Town.
Susan has lived and worked in and around the Washington DC metro for almost 40 years. Originally from North Jersey, “totally a Jersey girl”, she moved to Arlington in 1978 to attend Marymount University which, at the time, was an all girls school. She has nothing but wonderful things to say about her college experience, and now serves on Marymount’s board of trustees.
Susan attributes much of her success to her parents’ strong work ethic. Through high school, Susan worked Saturday and Sundays and during the week after school at Wyckoff Deli in Wyckoff, New Jersey. When she came to Our Town to attend college she worked at Tino’s restaurant in Arlington, just for the fun of it. She tells Andy she was hooked on the food industry from day one at Wyckoff Deli, and her passion for entertaining came from her Polish roots, more specifically her Grandmother, and upbringing.
After college, Susan pursued a career in sales with Wang computers. She really enjoyed selling and was good at it. What lacked was the same passion for it that she had for food and entertaining. So she went about finding a career that captured it all - food, entertaining, sales, and passion.
Susan knew she wanted to work for Ridgewells but lacked the experience they were looking for at the time, so she went to work at Clyde's at Tyson’s Corner, as a catering manager, where she was ultimately fired. Undeterred by that, she went back to Ridgewells and convinced them (after a year and a half!) that she belong there as a member of Ridgewells’ team. After ten years with the company, Susan bought the business with her partners Jose Valado and Thomas P. Keon, currently Ridgewells' COO and President, respectively.
Andy fondly refers to Ridgewells as “always a family affair”. Susan has been with Ridgewells for 30 years and has owned and operated it together with her partners for 20. Ridgewells has grown into a 40 million dollar company and is considered, by the Washington Business Journal, the largest caterer in Our Town. Andy and Susan talk about competition from other caterers. Susan says that only serves to inspire them to work harder and continue to strive to be the very best.
Giving back to the community is important to Susan. She makes every effort to lead her team out into Our Town community and has set Ridgewells apart from the rest. Susan serves on numerous boards including Marymount, Junior Achievement, the Committee for the Hall of Fame, Don Bosco Cristo Rey, and the Greater Washington Board of Trade. Through Ridgewells' work in the community, Susan has set an example for other caterers to do the same.
Susan doesn't miss a beat as she and Andy discuss the role of women in business in Our Town. She has served on boards in the past when she was only one of two or three women sitting around the board table surrounded by "suits". She is thrilled that times have changed and more and more women are visible business leaders in Our Town. She strongly believes that women should support other women. Susan loves seeing more women take top positions in this type of business these days. She surrounds herself with positive females within her own company and gains strength in that support network. Susan is proud to be an honoree of the 2004 Washington Business Journal Women Who Mean Business program.
Andy comments on the quality and service that Ridgewells is known for throughout the DC area. The servers are familiar with their customers which instills continuity and quality that people can rely on time and time again.
Andy inquires about Ridgewells unique and compelling advertising. Susan explains that a few years ago,
Paul Berry is an award-winning producer, reporter, and news anchor who has covered news in Washington, D.C. and Detroit for more than 25 years and currently hosts his own nationally syndicated weekly radio talk shows. Andy O and Paul Berry reunite in this all new episode of Our Town podcast to reminisce about the broadcast industry and where it is now in Our Town.
Paul and Andy met each other in 1972 when he came to WMAL. Paul already knew that he loved Washington, DC from a previous trip here and was thrilled with the opportunity to work in this city. Eventually, WMAL split into two different stations. Paul stayed with TV and Andy went with radio but these two have remained buddies over the years. It is a pleasure to hear them chat about both the past and the present during Our Town.
Paul began broadcasting in Vietnam. It was there that he established the first radio station in that part of the world for the military. The show was a hit and folks from the US started sending in records for him to play on the air for the GIs.
Once out of Vietnam, Paul went to the Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas and continued broadcasting for the troops. At that time, there were no blacks on radio in Texas. He made quite a name for himself there. Little by little his hours on the air started to increase as he grew in popularity. It seemed that Paul was a natural on the air.
Paul and Andy discuss how Paul first got into TV. While at home in Detroit in 1968, Paul was taking a short break from the military. He decided to visit a radio station where he randomly met the producer of the station. The producer encouraged Paul to write a resume and submit it to WXYZ in Detroit who happened to be looking to hire minorities at that time. Paul almost headed back to Texas to sign on for active duty again but, as luck would have it, WXYZ wanted to hire him on the spot. They negotiated a deal in minutes and, in April of 1969, he went on the TV with his first story.
In Paul Berry’s time with WMAL-TV TV7, he established himself on the 5, 6 and 11:00 news. Paul wasn’t just interested in reporting the news though, he wanted to be sure that he made a positive difference in the lives of his viewers so he brought two shows to the station: Crime Solvers and Seven On Your Side. Through these shows, the police and the citizens of the community worked together to make it a better, safer place to live.
Paul is married to his lovely wife, Amy. They have three children who were all born right here in Georgetown. Paul has strong connections to the Eastern Shore where his wife’s family owns many of the local businesses in the area. Amy is now a realtor, helping families find homes that meet all of their needs.
Andy connects further with Paul as they discuss everything from The Paul Berry Golf Tournament for charity, to his 25 years as an auctioneer, to the Paul Berry Days celebrated in DC.
The interview comes to an end as Andy inquires about Paul’s current radio show venture. Paul has two weekly Sunday shows: Streetwise, a show about real estate, and Home and Family Finance, a show which addresses financial planning needs.
We hope you have enjoyed this week’s episode of Our Town with Andy Ockershausen. We invite you to listen to each new episode of Our Town as they roll out over the next several months. You can subscribe to the Our Town podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or if you complete the subscription form in the sidebar to the right, you will be notified by email when the next episode appears here on the website.
Bob Pincus, Vice Chairman of Eagle Bank, is Our Town's host, Andy Ockershausen's, guest this week in an all new episode of on the Our Town podcast.
Bob attended the University of Maryland and focused on Finance. He went on to receive a MBA from American University, where he was hired as an executive Vice President at DC National Bank by one of his professors. Bob contributed to the bank's extraordinary growth and in ten years became DC National's CEO.
Bob's father owned a restaurant in Cottage City, Maryland. The restaurant was known for its crabs, and became a local hang out for many local baseball players. Although Bob, and his three brothers, grew up in Cottage City around the restaurant, Bob was the only one who worked there.
During the course of Bob’s banking career, he sold several banks. His goal was always to stay within his community and remain a local banker. Andy and Bob recount many dramatic changes to the banking industry that they have seen over the years.
Community service is important to Bob, and as such has served on many boards on which he has helped to enhance the quality of life in Our Town.
Andy and Bob discuss their time together on a committee raising funds for children. They also served on a board together which resulted in a positive impact on the education for inner city kids in the Washington, DC area. Tennis and basketball fundraisers were (and still are!) a big hit in helping get donors to support inner city kids through this foundation.
Bob explains more to Andy about the I Have A Dream Foundation in which he and his wife sponsored an inner city child beginning early in their lives. They helped them all along their school career in DC and then, upon graduation, they paid for their college education. 33 out of 35 of the children in this program graduated from high school. Now they are back in the community and serving as role models for other children in similar life situations.
Bob Pincus has been awarded many honors. Among these honors and awards, Andy speaks to Bob about becoming a member of the Business Hall of Fame and Washingtonian of the Year. Andy also noted how other award recipients will oftentimes mentioned Bob in their acceptance speech. Bob sees this as a huge honor and believes wholeheartedly in enhancing the business community. His actions have brought such energy and vitality to this community and it makes the DC area a better place to live and work.
Bob and Andy also talk about the movement to bring baseball to Washington. Bob and some of his friends began a campaign to bring baseball to DC but, due to a suffering economy in 1991, the proposal fell through. However, this effort brought energy to the cause and now, ten years later, there is a baseball team here. He’s a fan and goes to the games as often as possible. He loves how baseball has brought entertainment to the area, making it a better place to live. Due to baseball in DC, this area of town is prospering with new places to live, businesses and restaurants all around. Few things make Bob happier than to see a dream like this come to light!
Currently, Bob is Vice Chairman of Eagle Bank. He claims that Eagle Bank is “growing like a weed” and attributes a lot of it’s success to the branding of the bank. Eagle is expanding into all parts of Northern Virginia.
Bob Pincus is such a successful businessman as well as a man of public service dedicated to enriching his community. Due to Bob’s efforts, the quality of life in the DC area has evolved to what it is today. Andy wraps up the interview by making sure to let Bob know how much we all appreciate what he has done for DC.
We hope you have enjoyed this week’s episode of Our Town with Andy Ockershausen. We invite you to listen to each new episode of Our Town as they roll out over the next several months. You can subscribe to the Our Town podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or if you complete the subscription form in the sidebar to the ...
Our Town host, Andy Ockershausen, welcomes Chip Akridge as his special guest this week in this all new episode of Our Town. Our Town is a podcast that dives deep and reveals new insights into the lives of prominent Washingtonians who have had made Our Town what it is today. Please listen in to learn more about the fascinating life of Chip Akridge of the well-known Akridge real-estate firm!
Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, Akridge began working in the real estate industry when he was only 12 years old. He continued working in real estate while he attended Georgia Tech in Atlanta, GA. There he was enrolled in the ROTC. After graduating Georgia Tech, Akridge joined the Army. Later, he graduated from Harvard Business School and then went on to serve our country in Vietnam.
Andy and Chip discuss his road to Harvard Business School. He did not have great undergraduate grades because he spent most of his college career being active in the student government. He served as President of his class. Despite his GPA, he called Harvard to ask for an interview. He was told they did not give interviews but he did not take “no” for an answer. He went to the Dean’s office and waited in a chair until he could be seen. His tenacity paid off in spades!
Andy and Chip also talk about how, many years ago, Chip and his wife ended up in the Washington, DC area. Chip was interested in commercial real estate and began working with Bob Gladstone in 1972. In 1974, Akridge split ways with Gladstone and decided to go on his own. He did so, however, during bad economic times. Despite his bad timing, Akridge’s building company prospered due to DC’s steady market and investors who stuck in there even through the hard times.
Akridge says that real estate has dramatically changed from commercial to residential and retail in the past few years. He explains that up until the late 80s, DC’s residential building industry was stagnant because there was no demand. Now folks want to live in the city with all of the conveniences and none of the hassles of traffic and upkeep of a larger house and yard.
Andy and Chip speak of the trends in building with less land in urban communities. They also touch on the topic of affordable housing. Akridge shares that elections are always good for the real estate market in DC.
Chip Akridge is Chairman of he Trust for the National Mall. “The front yard of our country” is in bad shape and needs a lot of help! Congress has been very helpful in getting things going and now the private sector is also chipping in to make our country's National Mall look as fabulous as it should. All of these efforts are largely due to Chip Akridge and his dedication to this noble cause.
Chip is also heavily invested in preserving the Chesapeake Bay and the Eastern Shore. He believes in taking care of what God has given us. Environmental consciousness is extremely important to him.
Akridge has traveled to Africa a total of 6 times. He has been able to take his children and grandchildren there to experience this magical country. He believes there’s a lot to learn by seeing how these villagers in Africa treat their environment in the most respectful ways.
Finally, as you listen in you will learn what Akridge Building Company has coming down the pipes in the future. There are big plans involving Amtrak and Union Station that have been a long-range ten year project still in the works.
We hope you have enjoyed this week’s episode of Our Town with Andy Ockershausen. We invite you to listen to each new episode of Our Town as they roll out over the next several months. You can subscribe to the Our Town podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or if you complete the subscription form in the sidebar to the right, you will be notified by email when the next episode appears here on the website.
Sonny Jurgensen, pro-football hall of famer, continues his intimate conversation with Our Town host Andy Ockershausen in part two of the two part series.
Andy chats with Sonny about his college career at Duke University. Then lead him to a conversation about his career in Philly prior to the Redskins.
When Sonny was traded by the Philadelphia Eagles to the Washington Redskins, he admits that it was a bit of a shock. He actually thought his buddies were playing an April Fool’s joke on him when he first heard the news! “But in the end, it was the best thing that could have happened to me because it gave me a chance to start over again,” Sonny tells Andy.
During Sonny’s Redskins days, he was unstoppable. Sonny is remembered as more than just a great football player. He was a great student of the game. “Sonny is the best quarterback the NFL has ever seen. A more intelligent courageous leader, a more dedicated competitor, a more talented performer would be impossible to find.” In this Our Town interview, Andy Ockershausen discovers Sonny’s deep respect for coach Vince Lombardi. Sonny recalls Lombardi's great sense of humor and claims that “Lombardi did what no other coach did: Simplify the game of football. Because of that, it made it easy to play.” Andy also speaks with Sonny about his professional and personal relationship with Billy Kilmer.
Sonny is still an icon in the city of Washington even for those who never saw him throw a football. Our town knows his voice, knowledge of the game and sense of humor through his TV and current radio career. During the Our Town podcast, Andy discusses the years that Sonny worked on shows about Redskins football on Channel 9. He pays high regards to George Michael and remembers times broadcasting alongside Glenn Brenner. Sonny also shares some laughs as he speaks of his radio show with Sam Huff and Frank Herzog.
Andy Ockershausen concludes his interview with Sonny Jurgensen as they speak openly about their years of travel together. With their wives, the four of them have explored all parts of the globe together. It is a pure pleasure to listen to these two friends relive some of their most memorable travel experiences.
Sonny has four grown sons of his own now as well as many grandchildren. He still lives in the Washington area during the Redskins' football season and resides in Naples, Florida for the rest of the year. It’s there that you might find him on the golf course with his old buddy, Billy Kilmer, who still comes to visit from time to time.
We hope you have enjoyed this new episode of Our Town with Andy Ockershausen. We invite you to listen to each new episode of Our Town as they roll out over the next several months. You can subscribe to the Our Town podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or if you complete the subscription form in the sidebar to the right you will be notified by email when the next episode appears here on the website.
Listen in as Andy Ockershausen hosts the legendary Sonny Jurgensen on Our Town this week. You’ll feel like you’re part of an intimate, casual conversation as these two long-time friends talk about everything from Sonny’s early days to his present travel plans.
Sonny Jurgensen has been in Washington for over 50 years. He began his career as the Redskins’ quarterback and then continued his Redskins career off the field in both TV and radio announcing for the team. Coach Lombardi once said, “Sonny is a great quarterback. He may be the greatest this league has ever seen. He is certainly the best that I have ever seen. He hangs in there in the worst of adversity.”
Andy reminisces with Sonny about his humble yet remarkable childhood growing up in Wilmington, North Carolina. Sonny’s father hauled freight and Sonny got great pleasure from riding alongside him on trips. Sonny has hilarious stories to share about messing up Coca Cola deliveries while trying to help out his dad. His father was a strong man with a strong personality to match it. He encouraged Sonny to keep playing football in high school. Sonny played all available sports in high school and, believe it or not, at one point Sonny told his dad he wanted to quit football so he could play more basketball. “You quit football, you quit eating here too!” is all his father had to say. And with that, Sonny continued down the path of his football journey. Thank goodness for that or Washington might never have known this amazing man at all!
There were many influential women guiding Sonny in his early childhood as well. You won’t be able to stop yourself from smiling as he shares that it was actually his mother, Lola, who taught him how to throw a football! His sister was a wonderful student and set a great example for him in academics. Sonny also shares memories of his athletic aunt who lived with his family in Wilmington.
Andy chats with Sonny about his college career at Duke University. Then, in part two of this two part series Andy leads him to a conversation about his career in Philly prior to the Redskins.
We hope you have enjoyed this new episode of Our Town with Andy Ockershausen. We invite you to listen to each new episode of Our Town as they roll out over the next several months. You can subscribe to the Our Town podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or if you complete the subscription form in the sidebar to the right you will be notified by email when the next episode appears here on the website.
Andy Ockershausen welcomes Frank Herzog as his special guest this week on Our Town. Our Town is a podcast that dives deep and reveals new insights into the lives of important Washingtonians who have made this city what it is today. Please listen in this week to learn more about the fascinating life of Frank Herzog as they discuss his broadcasting career in Our Town!
Frank currently resides in North Carolina where he says “the weather is warm and the traffic is thin.” He was back in town recently when he was inducted into Washington DC Sports Hall of Fame. His extended family all came to cheer him on and to celebrate this huge honor. A standing ovation was in order for the man who has left such a mark in the world of sports broadcasting.
Frank Herzog talks about his early days as he transitioned from the United States Air Force into his broadcasting career. He got his foot in the door through persistence and climbed his way to the top through hard work and dedication. He describes his own life as “almost out of a storybook”. When Frank was asked to broadcast play by play professional basketball, he admitted that he knew very little about the rules of the league. That’s when boss Peter Lund arranged an invitation for him to go to the NBA training camp where he quickly learned the NBA rules. After broadcasting for a while, Frank credits veteran broadcaster Jim Lyman with giving him stellar advice that helped him to be a better play by play man : “Give ‘em half a step, don’t try to stay on top of the play.” That good advice stuck with Frank Herzog throughout his career.
Frank became the voice of the Bullets, DC’s basketball team. He admits that play-by-play announcing is his favorite type of broadcasting because he “gets to paint the picture” for his audience. In fact, during this interview with Andy Ockershausen, he tells a powerful story of when he announced a game with a blind man in the booth with him. It was in this moment that it dawned on him that he is the eyes for this man and also for all of his radio listeners.
Frank also recounts a touching exchange between he and Abe Pollin many years after the Bullets won the NBA Championship. At the time of the Championship he declined the opportunity to receive a ring that was offered to him but later regretted his decision. Years later, he asked Abe Pollin’s permission to order the ring. Abe was beyond accommodating and immediately went about ordering Frank’s ring. The exchange between these two men, even after years had gone by, was remarkable. To this day, the championship ring is still one of Frank Herzog’s most prized possessions.
Frank moved on to the broadcast booth for the Redskins and is often referred to as “the Voice of the Redskins”. He formed the famous radio trio with Sam Huff and Sonny Jurgensen. Andy asks Frank about his relationship with Sonny and Sam on and off the air. Frank shares that he learned great stories and the psychology of football from these two former Hall of Famers. During this era, Redskins fans began the tradition of turning down the sound on the TV and tuning in to the radio to listen the show as they watch the game.
During this podcast interview with Andy, Frank Herzog shares his insights and opinions on past and current Redskins including RG3 and coach Joe Gibbs.
We hope you have enjoyed this week’s episode of Our Town with Andy Ockershausen. We invite you to listen to each new episode of Our Town as they roll out over the next several months. You can subscribe to the Our Town podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or if you complete the subscription form in the sidebar to the right you will be notified by email when the next episode appears here on the website.
Everyone in Our Town knows Father John and that’s not an overstatement. A funny line affectionately said by his life long friends and parishioners who greet him is “Hide your wallet, here comes Father John!”
There is not a truer statement ever spoken. Giving back to God has been at the heart of his priesthood, and now is at the heart of his work. Father John is a premiere fundraiser and he has to be in his role as CEO of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington. Catholic Charities serves more than 160,000 people through63 programs in 48 locations throughout the District of Columbia and Montgomery, Prince George’s, Charles, Calvert and St.Mary’s Counties in Maryland. You can plainly see that Catholic Charities does God’s work for Catholics and Non-Catholics in Our Town.
In addition to his mission with Catholic Charities, Washingtonians know him as a champion of good causes, beloved Parish Priest, Board member of Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School, Monsignor, and 2012 Washingtonian of the Year. He sits on close to 20 boards, has served as Priest at 3 parishes in his career, and received over 15 prestigious community and educational awards. As Andy introduced him, Father John is truly a Premier Priest in Our Town.
If you’ve ever wondered why someone would chose the vocation to be a priest, we’ll tell you in this episode of Our Town. Father John talks about his family, his inspiration and his calling to the priesthood. Growing up in a family of 13 children prepared him for his work, Father John said, “I was blessed because of my family, I was used to working with all ages and learning to give and take and work things out,” as stated in the 2012 Washingtonian article, he has a “keen desire to pass on the faith.” It’s a beautiful story of the living example provided by his parents, Deacon Clarence and Kathleen Enzler. Here is another example of his inspiration, Father John, as a boy, would accompany his dad to church each day, one of his clearest memories is of his father handing the coat off his back to a homeless man they met on the way, “You witness that and you say, ‘that’s how you’re supposed to live, how you take care of the poor, not give them leftovers, but give out of your own blessings,” he said.
He also shared some perspective on character, “You’re either a giver or a taker,” Father John said, and in case you haven’t noticed, the givers are also the happiest people!”
Locally born and raised, Monsignor Enzler, who prefers to be called Father John, is a graduate of Our Lady of Lourdes School in Bethesda, St. John's College High School in Washington, and Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg.
We hope you have enjoyed this week’s episode our “Our Town” with Andy Ockershausen and Monsignor John Enzler, President and CEO of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington. We invite you to listen to each new episode of Our Town as they roll out over the next several months. You can subscribe to the Our Town podcast on iTunes, Google Play or if you complete the subscription form in the sidebar to the right, you will be notified by email when the next episode appears here on the website. If you like what you heard, please take a moment to rate and review the Our Town podcast on Itunes. Thank you for listening.
Halloween in Georgetown is what it is today because of Linda Roth and Mike O'Harro. In Part Two of a Two Part Series, Our Town host, Andy Ockershausen, learns the tricks of the trade and gets the inside scoop from the queen and king of DC nightlife themselves! Listen in to learn how Linda Roth and Mike O'Harro began opening restaurants and bars to make the DC night scene full of life and energy. You can listen in to Part One of this series here.
Our Town host Andy Ockershausen dives deep into conversation with Linda Roth to uncover her humble beginnings here in Our Town and follows her journey to the successful “go to” woman in publicity that she is today.
In the late ‘70s, Roth came to Mike O’Harro’s night club to interview for a management position but was instead hired to be the editor of the International Discotheque Association and together Mike and Linda proceeded to mold the nightlife of DC. Linda recalls being a huge part of making Halloween in Georgetown what it is today. Additionally, due to the large number of important celebrities coming into Tramps, Linda was also hired as a gossip column hostess.
Linda Roth has been responsible for opening over 200 restaurants in the Washington DC area. Today, she is the President and Publicist for her own agency, Linda Roth Associates, Inc. Major hospitality groups such as Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Hilton Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Morton’s The Steakhouse, Brinker International, Carlson Restaurants Worldwide, Restaurant Associates, Guest Services, Inc., Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group,The Sports Club/LA and Krispy Kreme have sought her out for public relations assistance through her current company.
Linda firmly believes in supporting charitable causes and has served on the board of DC Central Kitchen, an organization that helps Washington, DC’s homeless population. It’s an honor to have Linda Roth on Our Town as we follow her DC career to learn how she has become a major contributor to the development of DC’s nightlife and a present-day marketing and publicity strategy wizard.
We hope you enjoy listening to Linda Roth discuss her perspectives of Our Town with host Andy Ockershausen. We invite you to listen to Part One with Our Town guest Michael O'Harro this week, Tuesday, October 25. We also invite you to listen to each new episode of Our Town as they roll out over the next several months. You can subscribe to the Our Town podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or if you complete the subscription form in the sidebar to the right you will be notified by email when the next episode appears here on the website.
Halloween in Georgetown is what it is today because of Mike O'Harro. In this Part One of a Two Part Series Our Town host, Andy Ockershausen, learns the tricks of the trade and gets the inside scoop from the king and queen of DC nightlife themselves! Listen in to learn how Mike O’Harro and Linda Roth began opening restaurants and bars to make the DC night scene full of life and energy.
In Part One of Our Town's Two Part Series dedicated to Halloween and DC Nightlife, we are fortunate to have as our guest “the Disco King” and “Washington’s Hugh Hefner” Mike O'Harro. Mike grew up in Hollywood and served in the U.S. Navy when he came to the Washington, DC area in 1963. Andy Ockershausen reveals how Mike wasdiscontent with the social scene here in the DC area. So he got busy, and according to Les Shaver, he became “an officer-by-day and a party-planner-by-night” as he carried both top-secret letters and party invitations around town.
O'Harro left the Navy and went into business with Jim Desmond to open his first singles bar, Gentlemen II. In 1975, he linked arms with Billy Martin to open Tramps in Washington D.C., one of America's first and most successful discos. Big name celebs such as Elizabeth Taylor, Sylvester Stalone and famous soccer player, Pele, could be found hanging out at Tramps. It was at Tramps that the big Halloween event in Georgetown began.
Mike O’Harro’s vision of a proper Halloween bash inspired customers at Tramps to spill out into the streets. This Halloween in Georgetown street celebration has become a tradition that still lives on today. In 1983, along with partner Jim Desmond, he opened the first Champions Sports Bar. According to Bonnie Jean Hammet, Mike was not at all the womanizer that some folks perceived he was, rather, he was a “great friend to women and a nice person to be around”. Mike is now in his mid-70s and prefers his privacy over today’s nightclub style.
Our Town host Andy Ockershausen continues the interview with Mike O'Harro and Linda Roth in Part Two of this Two Part Series which will be released Thursday, October 27. Please stay tuned.
We hope you enjoy listening Mike O’Harro discuss his perspectives of Our Town with host Andy Ockershausen. We hope you listen in on Thursday to Part Two with Our Town guest Linda Roth and invite you to listen to each new episode of Our Town as they roll out over the next several months. You can subscribe to the Our Town podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or if you complete the subscription form in the sidebar to the right you will be notified by email when the next episode appears here on the website.
Where do all those wacky ideas come from...two squirrels high-fiving each other after a car barely misses running them over, the Hump Day Camel walking around the office, the Geico Gecko spouting queries with an English accent, an offended Caveman sulking or a pig in a blanket watching a football game?
Listen to Our Town host Andy Ockershausen ask these very same questions of GEICO’s VIce President of Marketing Ted Ward. Ted says "you should see the ideas that never make it off the desk, we never discourage our agency from presenting the wildest things!”
Consistency, continuity, the boss’s wife and a crazy sense of humor has helped keep GEICO in the top two rankings of insurance companies in the country for the past 20 years. Geico has had the same message for decades, “15 minutes will save you 15% on auto insurance,” they have also had the same advertising agency for decades, the same marketing staff and management for decades. Ted says that there might be a message in there, that longevity and a good branding message is the secret to their success.
The early years of his career primed him for these experiences, Ted graduated from University of Virginia with a BA and got his Master’s Degree from William and Mary, then came to Washington to work for some of the top agencies in town before landing his dream job at GEICO.
We hope you enjoy listening to Ted discuss his perspective about Our Town with host Andy Ockershausen. We invite you to listen to each new episode of Our Town as they roll out over the next several months. You can subscribe to the Our Town podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or if you complete the subscription form in the sidebar to the right you will be notified by email when the next episode appears here on the website.
Listen in this week to Our Town as Andy O has a heart to heart chat with Silver Spring native Tara Lewis, the current Senior Regional Marketing Director for Yelp! Yelp is crowd-sourced app which carries reviews about local businesses, as well as the online reservation service.
Tara’s enthusiasm and positive energy can be felt through the mic as she and Andy reminisce about her humble beginnings as a receptionist at Comcast SportsNet.
Creativity, passion and hard work have lead Tara to a career that seems to have been “written just for her” from her internship with sports legend George Michael to creating new job opportunities for herself in the University of Maryland’s sports department, Tara has blazed her own trail.
She tells her story about her reaching out to Monumental Sports owner Ted Leonsis on Facebook and he answered her back. Tara's is an incredible tale of seizing an opportunity when it presents itself.
Learn more about Tara and the solutions that Yelp offers for both consumers and business owners in this new episode of Our Town podcast.
We hope you enjoy listening to Tara Lewis discuss her perspective about Our Town with host Andy Ockershausen. We invite you to listen to each new episode of Our Town as they roll out over the next several months. You can subscribe to the Our Town podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or if you complete the subscription form in the sidebar to the right you will be notified by email when the next episode appears here on the website.
Our Town guest Jim Dinegar is President of the Greater Washington Board of Trade. By the end of their conversation, host Andy Ockershausen tells Jim “You are the image, Jim. You’re stuck with it!” Jim is humble in his response, saying that he does get to work for the Board of Trade, but “it is not him, and he’s not it.”
Throughout the interview, time and again, Jim Dinegar demonstrates humility, a rarity in a man of his standing in a city like Washington DC. Accordingly to Andy, Jim's impact on the region’s business over the last 10 years as President of the Board of Trade is big. After listening in, you might agree that it’s due to Jim’s passion for the community in which he lives and works, and for the work he does representing the Board of Trade and its members within the Washington DC metro region.
Although originally from Bayside, Queens, New York, Jim calls the Washington metro his home. His first impression of Washington DC as a visiting high school student was a lasting one. He came to see how government works, liked the fact that Our Town was singly focused around government at the time, and came back to attend Catholic University where he studied politics and history. Listen in to hear Jim list a few classmates that have gone on to become notable government officials.
Before coming to the Board of Trade, Jim Dinegar worked with national associations and his business was national in scope, with lots of travel mostly around the country. When the call came from the Board of Trade for him to become President it was posited as an opportunity to “stay and live and work here to represent the place where you chose to live and work and raise your family, and for me that was catnip, that was too good to pass up.”
Jim describes his position as President of the Board of Trade as a “facilitator that can help convene people, facilitate the discussion and help get things done.” That said, he is quick to tell us that the “Power of the Board of Trade is really in the membership. . .bank presidents, managing partners of law firms, the dedicated people out of public relations firms, advertising and marketing…” He also says with pride that the Board of Trade staff is incredibly dedicated and hard-working, and committed to good customer service and quality.
Andy and Jim talk about the growth Washington DC metro has experienced. They agree…it’s going to get bigger and bigger but it will be connected with Baltimore and Richmond… into a megalopolis. They also discuss the visionaries who’ve made it, and are making it, what it is today - Milt Peterson, Ted Lerner, Bud Doggett, and Doug Jemal to name a few.
When discussing the changes to Our Town over the last ten years, Jim tells Andy “When you look at this place, people choose to live here. I was asked about people who would leave here after the Inauguration, I don’t see that – It doesn’t happen any more. It’s not like Chicago should be expecting a big influx of people back… even the President and his wife are going to stay here.”
“What I have seen over the years is that the smaller town feel of Washington, Rosslyn and Bethesda are becoming more of a big powerful region . . . we have a re-emerging.”
Andy and Jim discuss transportation issues and what needs to be improved upon. They agree that “We are a world leader and world capital, but too often, we don’t play that way and we don’t think of ourselves that way, we can’t live with a Metro system that’s hobbling along- we have to have the best transportation. We need a quality transportation system to support the people who choose to live here. “ You will find their discussion on transportation enlightening to say the least. Think redefined traffic patterns, water taxi system, and reciprocal taxi policies.
Jim and Andy also discuss what is working, and agree that the city government looks bright. They also mention the tremendous positive impact The Wharf will have on Our Town,
Sports marketing and broadcasting can be difficult careers to get started. Our Town host Andy Ockershausen and guest Eric Shuster discuss what to do to start a career in sports marketing and how to be successful. Andy says that Eric may be “possibly the most powerful man in sports in ‘Our Town’”. Listen in and find out how Eric achieved such a standing in Our Town.
Let's start at the beginning. Eric didn’t really know it at the time, but one of the most important meetings he would ever have was with basketball great Lefty Driesell. Eric met retired college basketball coach Lefty Driesell at a youth basketball camp when Eric was just in elementary school. Coach Driesell sat with Eric and told him something that has proven true to this day, and encouraged him to pursue a career in sports other than on the field. Eric took Coach Driesell’s advice to heart in high school when, at 15, he became an Assistant Coach to the girls’ basketball team at his high school John F. Kennedy in Silver Spring, Maryland.
As you continue to listen in, Eric discusses what it takes to get into sports marketing. No need for a Master degree, according to Eric. Rather get your foot in the door as an intern, work hard, and let people know who you are. Get involved, be a go-getter, ask what you can do to help. Learn the business by being on the inside. Shuster stresses to get involved as an intern as well as - and Andy agrees - meet as many people as you can.
Eric shares stories about how working with some of the biggest names in sports such as Rick Dempsey, former Baltimore Orioles catcher and World Series MVP, Shawn Springs, former Washington Redskins cornerback, and Jason Campbell, former Washington Redskins starting quarterback have led to lasting friendships with them, as well as introductions to other pro athletes who he also calls his friends. He attributes this to building trust in those looking to learn the business and looking for advice. Today some of his best friends are some of the biggest names in the NFL, NBA and MLB.
Eric goes on to discuss his former bosses with Andy. You’ll hear what he learned from them, and how they helped shaped the successful professional sports marketer he has become.
“If you give you will receive.” Eric has heard Andy say this again and again, and it is something he will always remember and follow. Andy prompts Eric to talk about a foundation Eric started in honor of his Mom, who was a special education teacher at Brook Grove Elementary School. Eric founded The Elaine Shuster Foundation to give back to his alma mater, Kennedy High School, when he found that the sports facilities were in decline and there was no place for the kids to go. This year marks the third year of fundraising that will benefit Kennedy and a few other schools. Many of the professional athletes Eric has befriended over his career come out to support his effort. This year’s Elaine Shuster Foundation benefit event will be on December 12, 2016 from 6 – 9pm at the American Tap Room in Bethesda with hosts Santana Moss and Ryan Kerrigan.
We hope you enjoy listening to Eric Shuster discuss his perspective about Our Town with host Andy Ockershausen. We invite you to listen to each new episode of Our Town as they roll out over the next several months. You can subscribe to the Our Town podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or if you complete the subscription form in the sidebar to the right you will be notified by email when the next episode appears here on the website.
What do Tony Kornheiser, Michael Wilbon, Christine Brennan, Lenny Shapiro and Shirley Povich all have in common?
They all worked for our next guest, George Solomon, former sports editor and columnist for the Washington Post.
Not a good person to try to beat in a Trivial Pursuit game in the sports category . . . George can tell you who the first woman sports reporter was in 1934, what exact minute the Senators left Washington for Minneapolis and can even name the interim coach between the great Vince Lombardi and George Allen . . . what doesn’t he know after over 30 years at the Post.
In this hilarious repartee between the host and the guest, Solomon sets the record straight on everything from baseball to hockey to football . . . George knows his stuff and it’s obvious that Andy remembers a little of this and a little of that - and don’t ask about the Red Wings.
George became Professor of the Practice at the Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism in 2008, and Director in November 2011.
We hope you enjoy listening to George Solomon discuss his perspective about Our Town with host Andy Ockershausen. We invite you to listen to each new episode of Our Town as they roll out over the next several months. You can subscribe to the Our Town podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or if you complete the subscription form in the sidebar to the right you will be notified by email when the next episode appears here on the website.
The spirit of adored sports writer Mo Siegel lives in this man. When Andy Pollin opens the Our Town show it’s shocking to hear his impersonation of Siegel. It sounds more like Siegel, than Siegel. The Siegel bit for those who remember him, sets the tone of the interview. Ockershausen has a great deal of respect for this young man Andy Pollin and feels a camaraderie with him, in that he enjoys the same love of football that he has felt throughout the years as a big fan of the Washington Redskins. Andy O refers to Andy Pollin as the "book," defined as one who knows the sports world like no other, or in other words a Walkingpedia of Sports.
Andy O’s biggest regret at WMAL back in “the day” was not hiring Andy Pollin when uncle Abe Pollin called him for employment advice. But no one is happier than Andy O when Andy Pollin gets his job back at ESPN 980 radio. His dial is rusted on 980. It’s a mutual admiration society when these two broadcasters come together to share their love of sports and history in Our Town, Washington, DC
We hope you enjoy listening to Andy Pollin as he discusses his perspective of Our Town with host Andy Ockershausen. We invite you to listen to each new episode of Our Town as they roll out over the next several months. You can subscribe to the Our Town podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or if you complete the subscription form in the sidebar to the right you will be notified by email when the next episode appears here on the website.
In this all new Season One episode of Our Town, host Andy Ockershausen takes a walk back in time with bon vivant, raconteur and man about town, Bill Regardie. Bill looks back on his humble beginnings in "Our Town", how he came to start and own one of the most successful Washington DC magazines during the 80s - Regardie’s Magazine. He also discusses his involvement as co-owner of New Homes Guide and Housing Data Reports. As Regardie's story unfolds you'll find that he was academically challenged until he received a tip from his wife, Renay. If you continue to listen Regardie reveals the helpful tip in his interview. Regardie also gives us insight into his journey as a disgruntled waiter slinging hash in a New Jersey kosher restaurant through being fired from 11 of the 13 jobs that followed.
The statement “I have my own way of doing things.” rings so blatantly true, and you'll know what I mean when you hear some of the stories that Regardie reveals in this episode. You'll find him funny, scary at times and so clearly honest, that you’ll come to understand why he’s been so successful.
Regardie also shares with Andy some inside stories of some of the most powerful people in Washington. Take a listen, you may hear some things in this Our Town episode that you won't hear anywhere else.
We hope you enjoy listening to Bill Regardie discuss his perspective about Our Town with host Andy Ockershausen. We invite you to listen to each new episode of Our Town as they roll out over the next several months. You can subscribe to the Our Town podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or if you complete the subscription form in the sidebar to the right you will be notified by email when the next episode appears here on the website.
Showing up is the secret to success and Our Town guest Cary Hatch does just that - shows up - and has consistently for over 30 years. If there is a meaningful networking event in our town you can expect to see her there. After all communications, both domestic and international, is her business. She moves deftly within the advertising and marketing space, and as such achievements are, and have been, many.
We thought it only made sense that Cary be in the top three in our podcast roll out. Cary shares her secrets with host Andy Ockershausen on how she got to the top and how she stays there.
Interestingly, Cary joined MDB Communications in 1981 as an account executive, promoted to management in 1983, and purchased the company in 1987. Under her guidance, MDB was recognized as an Inc. 500 company in 1998.
Included within the spectrum of her client experience are National Geographic, Fannie Mae, Destination DC, International Spy Museum, Sprint, and Heros, Inc. Most recently Cary was called upon to work with the District of Columbia Government to brand Washington DC. Creative recognition for client work includes numerous awards such as London International Awards, Tellys, Silver Microphones, and National ADDYs and MAXI's for excellence in direct marketing.
For 4 consecutive years, Cary Hatch has been recognized on the Washington Business Journal's list of the most influential business leaders - the Power 100 - most recently in 2016.
Beyond client work Cary is a noted lecturer at top universities such as Johns Hopkins, Georgetown University, and the University of MD. She is also a regular on TV and radio outlets commenting on branding, advertising and marketing communications.
We hope you enjoy listening to Cary Hatch discuss her career and unique perspective about Our Town with host Andy Ockershausen. We invite you to listen to each new episode of Our Town as they roll out over the next several months. You can subscribe to the Our Town podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or if you complete the subscription form in the sidebar to the right you will be notified by email when the next episode appears here on the website.
Please feel free to share Our Town with your family and friends, and leave a comment. Thank you.
Tony Cibel is one of Washington’s Leading Restaurateurs. Tony shares the story of his career from it’s beginnings as a dance studio manager to owner of a liquor store on 14th Street in the battleground of DC after the riots in the early 1970s to proprietor of one of the biggest Redskins hangouts around, the Malt Shop at the Dancing Crab. Now his family owns two of the hottest waterfront properties on the Washington waterfront, Tony and Joe’s and Nick’s Riverside Grill.
Find out what happened in April 2011 that almost ruined his business and how he got it back. Listen in at the media player above to Andy O with Tony Cibel on "Our Town."
You can listen in to each episode of Our Town as they roll out over the next several months by subscribing on iTunes, Google Play, or by completing the subscription form in the sidebar to the right with your email address. Andy and his guests get personal as they share their deep understanding and knowledge of Washington, DC during the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90’s. We think you will be delighted with each story - their retelling of their personal connections and contributions to our town. Please feel free to share Our Town with your family and friends, and leave a comment. Thank you.
No doubt, we all remember where we were on 9/11, and hearing the sounds replayed after 15 years bring back the vivid memories of the horror we all felt brought on by the events of that day. Our lives were forever changed. "Our Town" host Andy Ockershausen sat down with 34-year news veteran WMAL News Director John Matthews to relive one of the most horrific days in our town’s history. Listen now at the media player above.
Andy had a tennis game that morning at Army-Navy Country Club and had just finished it. He saw smoke billowing from The Pentagon and immediately called the station to report it, and gave his eyewitness report on air. John tells us that Andy “very well may have been THE first reporter on hand” to call into any broadcast station. Andy’s one and one-half minute report – which you will hear at the beginning of the podcast - reveals his initial impressions of the terror. The information he reported to WMAL in the first minute of his report became vital to those who were first responders and helped to determine what should happen next. In fact, it was information that would not be known to the rest of the world for “hours and hours and days” according to John.
John starts out that crisp, clear September day - “one of the 10 perfect days” that Washington has each year - handing out assignments to his news staff. The big stories that day were to focus on Michael Jordan joining the Wizards, and Gary Condit’s alleged link in the death of Chandra Levy.
By the time, he receives Andy’s call, John is fully engaged in news about planes hitting the World Trade Center and has had an informational call with a Pentagon spokesperson. After Andy’s call, he tells us that instantly they “threw all format out the window” and were “throwing stuff on the air as quickly as they could”. WMAL went four days without commercials because as Andy puts it he knew that “money was no object” and that WMAL would want “to cover this story and do it in the right way.”
Finally, John and Andy discuss how even though changes have been made to improve on how we do things in our town since 9/11, some things remain the same despite efforts for change. For instance, we have better cell phone coverage and most local radio stations have access to national news wire, but efforts for city-wide evacuation plans seem to come and go without resolution. Listen in to John and Andy’s lively discussion on what changes our town has and has not seen since that fateful day.
We chose this story as the springboard for "Our Town" - a new podcast series that formally debuts on September 21st. It made sense to us to kick off our inaugural season with what Andy calls the “most memorable broadcast day” of his life, and one of the biggest stories in the history of our town. In addition to John Matthews, Andy has interviewed over 30 Washingtonians in the last few months for our first season.
We invite you to listen in to each episode as they roll out over the next several months. Andy encourages his guests to tell their stories by asking questions only he can. His deep understanding and knowledge of the recent history of Washington, DC during the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90’s and his close relationships with his guests give him that edge. You will be intrigued and delighted with each individual’s story and their retelling of their personal connections and contributions to our town. Please share Our Town with your family and friends, and feel free to leave a comment. Thank you.
“We have come full circle” ~Andy and Janice Ockershausen - Our Town DC
Our Town DC Andy and Janice Ockershausen
Here we are - Andy and I - sitting in WMAL studios on Jenifer Street recording our new podcast series called "Our Town". We have come full circle.
Both Andy and I worked together at WMAL radio station many years ago in the very building we are recording “Our Town”. Andy managed the station for 11 of his 36 years and I worked in programming and sales for 32 years. Needless to say, WMAL is near and dear to our hearts. We are here because we have an affinity for this station. It was our home – between the two of us for over 7 decades. Bill Hess, the current program director for Cumulus Stations nationwide has graciously allowed us to use this studio as our home base to record “Our Town.” We so appreciate his generosity, and feel fortunate to call Bill our friend.
Back in the day, between the early 1960s and mid-1990s, everyone who worked at the radio station or in broadcasting believed there was something extraordinary about WMAL. The relationship that the station personalities and the listening audience shared was like no other. That relationship built on love and admiration was known in the Washington Metro area and across the entire country, we were a mecca for radio broadcasting. Emerging talent knew that WMAL radio was “THE” place to be if they wanted a successful career in radio, and listeners knew that’s where their radio dial need to be if they wanted up to date news, good music, and a relationship with talent. In fact, I just know that the radio dials of one in four listeners had rusted on the AM63 position. Andy and I, talk all the time about how special that time in history was to us. We refer to it as our Camelot, as Andy’s era as General Manager defined the glory days of WMAL.
To this day, some 30 years after Andy left the station, not a month goes by when we don’t run into someone who remembers his editorials, Harden and Weaver bits, Mayhugh’s Radiothon, John Lyon’s silky smooth voice, Felix Grant’s Jazz, Trumbull and Core’s Gross National Parade, Tom Gauger’s key lime pie recipe, or the Redskins’ Championship years with Sonny, Sam and Frank….and who can forget “You’re next on Sportscall!” with Ken Beatrice.
We recognized this nostalgic feeling for the golden years and we wanted to re-capture and preserve the stories of the people and events from that time and share them with people who would remember. It was a time when our lives, and the lives of our friends and colleagues, were at their peak, and when our community was at its best. In so many ways, Our Town DC is an extension of the love that Andy and I feel for the radio station, the friends that we met there, worked with and the community it served.
So with that desire, combined with the constant challenge and need to learn new and emerging technologies, we came up with the concept of the Our Town DC podcast. As I researched the process of podcasting, I became interested in the prospect of re-telling stories of “our own town” and what made living and working here so special for us.
I saw the opportunity to accomplish a variety of things. We would have a voice in the community again. We would record and preserve stories told by, and about, the very people who made things happen. We would impact and recognize the outstanding neighborhood we have lived and played in over the past 30 years. We would accomplish these things by creating a unique personal history of “our town” - our own Homegrown History.
The intimate nature of the podcast was appealing...a friend talking to his long-time friend about their impact on local history without fear of censorship or worry about saying the wrong things or targeting the wrong demo. We wanted to interview a group of friends we’ve known for years who we knew were key players in our town’s history.
We also wanted to produce the Our Town podcast without the scrutiny of a radi...