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By Nancy Wilson, Contributing Writer 2:50 PM Saturday, October 15, 2011

I should have known I had the gift of gab at a young age when I got a “U,” as in “unsatisfactory,” in kindergarten for talking too much.

After graduating from UD with a broadcast journalism degree, I got my first job in radio at WIZE in Springfield, running church shows in the wee hours of the morning. I moved across town to WBLY/WAZU to deejay and do news. I was totally intimidated by the late Smilin’ Bob Yontz, who owned the morning airwaves in Clark County with his show.

Then, I got the call for an audition at WHIO/WHKO. To me, a kid who grew up amid cornfields, Dayton was the “big city.” When the late WHIO radio news director Winston Hoehner offered me a job, my dream began to come true. I couldn’t believe my great fortune to share the same cigar-filled air with Lou Emm. It took every ounce of self-control not to ask for autographs from TV legends Don Wayne, Ed Krahling and Jim Baldridge. How lucky have I been to work with and know Miami Valley broadcast legends like Jim Manley, Jim Barrett, Larry Hansgen and Mike Hartsock? Getting starstruck when you meet country music superstars like Reba, Taylor and Brad Paisley is one thing, but washing your hands next to Cheryl McHenry in the ladies’ room still amazes me.

So, in 2006, when I learned I would be working with the late, great Steve Kerrigan, I felt unworthy. A man who brought such joy and laughter to radio listeners for so many years was now going to be sitting across from me? His life’s journey ended way too soon in March, after a long, brave battle with multiple myeloma. And Friday night, he was enshrined into the Dayton Broadcaster’s Hall of Fame.

I was honored and extremely humbled to be given the same honor, although I’m still scratching my head as to why. Oh yeah, that’s right. I can’t keep my mouth shut.

Readers can contact Nancy Wilson, a morning-radio personality at WHKO-FM (K99.1), by email through k99online.com.

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