Gary Sadlemyer

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
So what does it say about a guy who's been
at the same place, doing essentially the same thing for
forty nine years. Well, it says a lot. Maybe he's
managed to channel his inner George Costanza and how the
fictitious seinfeld Schlub strategically moved his car around the parking
lot each day, duping his dim witted bosses into thinking
he was working twenty four to seven, or what he

(00:22):
does here is so remarkably insignificant nobody ever noticed. Or
maybe and I think this is it. Each day for
forty nine years, he sets such a standard for excellence
it is impossible for anyone else to duplicate it, much
less exceeded, even if he didn't know it. So we
simply wouldn't let Gary Sadlemayer go. But now it's time

(00:45):
warning this daily attachment won't be easy to break. Forty
nine December thirteenths ago when Gary introduced himself. It was
in kfab's heyday. In those times, one third of every
radio in use at any time of day or night
had it tuned to this station. In some cases more
like half the radios. Kfb's nickname at that time was

(01:08):
your good Neighbor and anybody on the air better sound
like one or the bosses back then would get new
neighbors at the time they needed a night guy. Nights
were a good gig. Fifty thousand watts signal when so
many other stations turned off at sundown meant that our
signal beamed from Dundee all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Suddenly,

(01:30):
Gary was the next door neighbor to a lot of people,
which explains the geographical expanse of listeners not very happy
about today. From that very first moment, we were glad
he moved in at first day, just as now every
day we heard a smile in that warm and wonderful voice.
For forty nine years, that voice kept us up to

(01:50):
date on things and made us laugh with a joke
or a line or a celebrity imitation. Always funny, never stung.
This was the name with which you'd like to spend
time after work or over a beer or a cocktail
or glass of wine. You got the feeling if you
needed help shoveling the snow or raking the leaves, or
watching your house while you are on vacation. Gary is

(02:13):
the first neighbor that you'd ask for forty nine years.
He's been right next door with the light always on.
For forty nine years, Gary shared that voice in times
of great joy, the Miracle on Ice, the Hostages Home
from Tehran, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and national
titles from High Top Memorial Stadium. His neighborly voice is

(02:34):
also the one that we turned to when John Hinckley
fired at the President, the challenger didn't come home, and
when the planes struck the towers. But somehow, even in
times of great pain and fear, it was our neighbour's
warm and reassuring voice that said to us, yes, this hurts,
but we'll get through this together, just like a good neighbor.
He's been here each spring when our kids graduated from

(02:57):
high school, there each day before Christmas, reminding us it
wasn't too late to pick up one more gift. For
forty nine years, he's told us who won the election,
and what great movies are in theaters, that cops caught
the bad guy, and you've got to try this new restaurant,
or send us a check so we can give somebody
without a Thanksgiving dinner. For forty nine years, Gary has

(03:19):
nagged us to remember a light jacket before heading off
to work, and keep close because we might have a
tornado this afternoon. How lucky for us, the most talented
broadcaster also just happened to be our best friend. And
that's what makes this bond and attachment between this nice
man and this audience so unique and lasting every day

(03:41):
for forty nine years, proving how much more powerful it
is to be appreciated than glorified, to be respected than celebrated,
to be understood and loved than idolized. Gary Sallamayer made
us realize that friendship will always be more important than fame. Yes,
it is in forty nine December since our friend, our mentor,

(04:02):
our leader, our inspiration, our living example, Gary moved in
next door. Well, that doesn't sound like a good neighbor.
That sounds like the best one. Gary, your life and
career has been a blessing and a gift, and your
work is done. Not you too. I told Courtney you

(04:22):
are loved and cherished and will be forever in the
hearts of all of your neighbors. Thanks, thank you, brother,