It was with a bit of trepidation that I entered into the public affairs program arena. When management first approached me about it, I thought - what? there's no way I can come up with a subject, a guest and a program 52 weeks a year. But, alas, here we are, ten years later and, you know, it really hasn't been that difficult.
Speaking of O.J., that first program was about his trial. It featured Gainesville attorney Dan Summer and then-district attorney Lydia Sartain, discussing the good and the bad about the way the two sides presented their cases and the way the judge handled - including the decision to let it be televised.
Through the years we've focused on a variety of topics each Sunday morning - most of them serious, but some on light-hearted topics.
In the latter category, the first thing that comes to mind is the interview with Harris Blackwood of Gainesville, who, at the time, worked for the Cumming newspaper. The subject of the interview was an article Harris had written on the 20th anniversary of the death of "reformed moonshiner turned teller of tall fishing tales" Junior Samples and how a lie he told about a fish propelled him to the Hee Haw television show and national prominence.
There were a number of interviews in late 1995 and in 1996 about the Summer Olympics and plans for the rowing, canoe and kayak events on Lake Lanier - covering everything from security to medical services to housing to the economic impact they would have on the area, as well as the disruption they would cause in the lives of many who lived and traveled through the venue area.
Politics and politicians, as you might expect, have been a large part of the program over the years - especially during election years. We always try to have the local delegates to the national conventions on the program.
War and the talk of war - from the Balkans to Iraq and Afghanistan and the 9/11 terrorist attacks - have been the fodder for a number of programs.
We've gone behind the scenes of the Georgia Bulldog football radio broadcasts.
One of the most memorable programs for me was in 1996 - and featured representatives of three Gainesville businesses that were that year, alone, celebrating 50 years in business: Carroll Daniel Construction, Gem Jewelry and Lawson Air Conditioning and Heating.
These are but a few of the hundreds of topics we've covered - the ones that come to mind, in no particular order. Of course, it would impossible to mention them all, or even a fraction of them.
But thanks to all of you who have been a guest on the show, thanks to management for having the confidence in giving me a responsibility like this and thanks to you - the listeners. Even when the only time you could hear us was 5:30 a.m. on Sunday or 12:30 a.m. on Monday, I still got feedback.
So, O.J. --- where ever you are --- I'll keep looking for the perfect interview, and you... keep looking for the killer.
Ken Stanford is the News Director for WDUN NEWS TALK 550, MAJIC 1029 and SPORTS RADIO 1240 THE TICKET and AccessNorthGa.com.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2005/12/120596