Radio legend Rich Bradley left us in 2023. Countless NPR listeners across central Illinois will remember him as the comforting voice over the airwaves going back to the mid-1970s. Rich was a constant, from the early days when Sangamon State University's WSSR went on the air in 1975, and long after its transformation to WUIS by the time of his retirement in 2009.
He brought a great voice, a sense of curiosity and sophistication to the heartland airwaves and over time made quite an impact. He was raised on a farm near Ogden in Champaign County. He started off with desires to be an engineer but changed course when he landed at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and discovered radio. He had the bug.
Rich arrived in Springfield in 1965 as news director of WCVS and later reported for the Illinois News Network. He liked quality sound, good storytelling, and he was fascinated by Illinois politics – all of which made him the perfect person to help launch public radio in Springfield.
He zeroed in on every sound – nagging at times – to make sure what went over the airwaves not only reflected the quality of news and information but also of the sound. It was the start of a 35-year run as the station's news director.
After NPR launched Morning Edition in 1979, Rich spent the rest of his career waking up before sunrise to be the local host. He navigated central Illinoisans through the morning, providing them with regional and state capital news.
Rich had two sets of twins, personally and professionally. He helped deliver the first two of his five sons while waiting for the ambulance to arrive back in the mid-1960s when they didn't know twins were on the way. The others were State Week in Review and the Illinois Public Radio network.
In the early years, Rich developed State Week, bringing a panel of journalists and academics together to discuss the happenings in government and politics. Listeners often mention the show when sending in their financial gifts at fundraising time. (Even younger lawmakers at the Capitol would mention to me they listened to the show to find out what they missed or weren't told about at the Capitol.)
As public broadcasting matured, Rich saw the need for a statewide public radio network. He wanted people to hear what was going on in the seat of state government, and he made it happen. He cobbled together Illinois Public Radio, a group of nearly a dozen stations working together to bring high-quality public affairs news across the state.
Ensuring in-depth coverage of state government and politics for a statewide audience is Rich's legacy. He also contributed significantly to the station's popularity, with the station near the top of listener ratings locally for many years.
On the personal side, Rich kept things fun in the newsroom. He had a wide-ranging curiosity and knowledge, so he could relate to anyone and talk on subjects ranging from farm machinery to international politics.
Those who worked with him often saw his mischievous farm boy roots. Former news anchors relay stories of Rich letting his false teeth slide out of his mouth to crack someone up (on the air!) or his love for jokes and storytelling. His humor couldn't be classified, because it ranged from cornpone to ribald. You couldn't get his attention when NPR commentator Baxter Black was reading an essay on air. A self-described "cowboy and large animal veterinarian," Black was far and away Rich's favorite segment. If you didn't hear it that day, he'd recap it for you.
Rich's version of fine dining might not have met everyone's definition. He was a regular at the Hen House and other restaurants with a home-cooking approach. He loved it when they served meat loaf and a big glass of milk. Current news director Sean Crawford relays a story of Rich's dismay at the small portion size at a fancier establishment. After the soup and half sandwich at a staff gathering, Rich stopped and got a burger on his way back to work.
Rich was a softie when it came to being a boss and co-worker. His co-workers and his subordinates knew if they were sick or had a conflict, Rich would see they got the time off they needed. He also mentored many reporters through the years, including me.
I first encountered Rich when I was news director of the public radio station in Macomb. I admired Rich for his confident command of the various aspects of the profession. His down-to-earth manner was such a contrast to his professional demeanor.
He'd call me on the phone and rather than say hello, he would just say, "You'll get better sound if you adjust that switch on the side of the recorder." He was helpful but straightforward, offering good career advice. He warned me I'd hate a new job I was taking at a commercial outlet. He was right. A few weeks later, I was asking him if I could get a temp job at his station, which led to a much more rewarding Statehouse reporting career and many more years of working with Rich.
While Rich never cleaned his coffee mug at work and could make old coffee grounds and a paper towel filter work in the clutch, he touched the lives of so many he worked with. And for central Illinois – indeed all of Illinois – he was both a daily on-air companion and a guide to what people should know. He certainly guided me.
Bill Wheelhouse worked at WUIS as Statehouse bureau chief and general manager from 1995-2016. He and his spouse, Margie, now live in Chicago.
