It was the late 1970s.  I had worked in radio broadcasting for more then 10 years doing just about everything…disc jockey, music director, program director, sports, talks shows and news when needed.  I had experienced just about every aspect of radio broadcasting.

The one thing I had never done was news on a full time basis.  I had been hired as the morning news anchor and reporter at WCSI radio in Columbus, Indiana.  My news director was Sam Simmermaker.

Sam was more than a news director.  He was already a local sports legend.  He also knew Columbus.  As a reporter new in town he was a big help in my understanding the community and what was important news locally.

Sam became a valued colleague and a good friend.  The years I spent sharing the WCSI newsroom with Sam were the best years of my radio life.

All those memories came back when I recently learned that Sam plans to retire.  Think about this.  Sam is 92 years of age and has continued calling play-be-play of local sports and will through the local high schools’ baseball tournament run this season.  He has presented a daily local sportscast all these years, with his final installment due May 24th.

He has been working at WCSI for 64 years.  In that business, this must be a record.

Radio station WKKG, sister station to WCSI, listed on its Web site just a partial rundown on Sam’s many awards & recognitions:

* Indiana Sportscaster of the Year in 1976 and in 1997 by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.
* Indiana Sportscaster of the Year in 1971 by the Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.
* Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Hall of Fame inductee in 1998.
* Indiana Associated Press Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame inductee in 1991.
* Best Sports Play-by-Play award by Network Indiana in 2002 and 2004.
* Best Sports Play-by-Play award by Indiana Broadcasters Association in 2005.
* Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.

I know of no one more deserving of retirement than Sam Simmermaker.  I wish him well.