reflects on work, WB, retirement By Eric Czarnik WEST BLOOMFIELD — After Dick Purtan wraps up his 45-year radio career March 26, don’t expect him to come back from retirement like Michael Jordan did in the 1990s. “Not in the radio business,” he said. “I might in basketball, though. I’ve got a heck of a shot.” Purtan has hosted radio shows for decades in metro Detroit, and since 1996, he has been at 104.3 WOMC-FM, where he has been the morning host of “Purtan’s People.” He previously did radio gigs in New York, Ohio and Maryland, and he became a member of the Radio Hall of Fame in 2004. Purtan, who looks forward to “sleeping and sleeping” in the weeks ahead, just finished leading his charity extravaganza, the 23rd annual Dick Purtan Radiothon, at Troy’s Oakland Mall Feb. 26. After 16 hours, he had helped raise almost $2.34 million for the Salvation Army’s Bed and Bread Club program. After the event, Purtan said he might play some kind of role behind the scenes in future Salvation Army fundraisers. He originally started doing the annual radiothon at a former radio station, WCZY-FM, in 1988 to mark his fifth-year anniversary there. His co-workers agreed to raise money for the Salvation Army, and the first radiothon raised $15,000, he said. Subsequent events have gone on to raise millions more. “Detroiters are great,” he said. “They’re the most generous people in the world, as proven by my radiothon.” Purtan, who lives in West Bloomfield, said he likes the township for his home, the water, the Village Palace restaurant and having rocker Bob Seger as a neighbor. His time in the radio business has made him a celebrity to some, and he said he might miss that to a certain extent. “I won’t get a free meal at the Village Palace now and then,” he quipped. But retirement could also bring a chance to teach and mentor a new generation of radio hosts, he said. “I would look to occasionally do some college work, instructing in college, teaching whatever it is I allegedly know how to do,” he said. “Which, after all my years in radio, I might have a few ideas that the kids might take home.” While Purtan was conducting the radiothon, some of his listeners at Oakland Mall commented on his retirement. David Rule of West Bloomfield said he will miss “Purtan’s People.” “I’ve been listening to him since 1969,” he said. “I used to listen to him every morning going into work. But since I’ve retired, it’s not as often, but I try to get him at least a couple times a week.” Lt. Col. Norman Marshall, divisional commander for the Salvation Army’s Eastern Michigan Division, was grateful that Purtan has continued to help the charity provide 5,000 meals a day in metro Detroit. Marshall said he found Purtan to be down-to-earth when the two chatted on the phone or in the studio. “He is very easy to work with and very easy to talk to,” Marshall said. “He is genuinely concerned about those who are disadvantaged.” You can reach Staff Writer Eric Czarnik at eczarnik@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1058. |
