I was on my way to a weekend in the mountains when I got the news. Jim Bohannon, dead at the age of 78 from esophageal cancer. It was like a punch to the gut. He had retired only a month earlier. I knew he was fighting a battle that, by his own admission, he would likely loose sooner than later. But I certainly thought…hoped…that it would be much later.
I remember the first time I met him in person. I say “in person” because I had heard him on the radio so many times I, like most listeners, felt like we’d already met. I knew what he looked like from his headshot on the web.
I wasn’t sure it was him at first but as he lumbered closer there was no mistaking it. It was indeed Jim Bohannon. Knowing that there was only one of him and thousands of listeners like me, I knew he need not introduce himself to me, but I needed to let him know who I was. Or at least I thought. Turns out he already had some idea.
“Jim Bohannon. So good to see you. I’m Bill Maine,” I said.
“From WDUN,” was his reply. He knew his affiliates and valued them all equally.
We spoke only for a few minutes as we both had other places to be. I’ve met some radio people who are one way on the air, but very different in person. In that conversation and the conversations over ensuing years, Jim was the same in person as he was on the air. The good ones always are and Jim was certainly a good one.
Jim visited his affiliates whenever he could, often while on vacation. We were fortunate that he had a vacation home on Lake Hartwell. When he was there he would often email or call and ask if he could sit in on our morning political talk show. We never refused and his contributions were always welcome.
Even though he was on vacation, he would still do his nightly talk show when he was at his home on Hartwell. One afternoon while I was walking home from work, Jim called. Seems his internet service and ISDN line were down and he was told it might take several days to get it repaired. He asked if it would be possible to use our studios since we had an ISDN line that could link to his studio in Washington D.C.
Of course, I said yes. And all week JIm would come down to WDUN and use one of studios to talk to the world. Nationwide from Gainesville. Pretty cool.
Once when my wife needed a commencement speaker at the University of North Georgia, I suggested Jim who was gracious in accepting the invitation. After commencement, we took Jim out for a late lunch. The food was good, but the conversation was exceptional.
Speaking of commencement speeches. In 2020 I asked several personalities what they would say to the year’s graduating class. JIm was among them and his was excellent. His style, as always, was engaging. He packed more into that five minute segment that most do in half an hour. Would that all commencement speeches were such as his.
JIm was always willing to contribute to my show. During the pandemic, I requested an interview on how he was coping and what his views were on the situation. I also asked if he would grant me an interview about his career. He was humble as always saying he wasn’t sure that I would find it all that interesting. I did and so did the listeners.
During that interview I asked why he got into radio. His answer? To meet girls. And as he explained it worked but not as quickly as he thought it might. Jim told me that he met his wife Annabelle when he was invited to his hometown for an event some thirty years after leaving. While there he reconnected with a girl with whom he was friends in school. They were never romantic, just friends. But thirty years later that changed. On another occasion, I invited him to be part of the Maine Street Christmas Eve show and share some Christmas memories.
It was a two-way street. When I would do an interview with someone that I felt would be perfect for the Offbeat segment he did on “America in the Morning,” I would let him know. I figured that if he was interested, he’d contact the person and do the interview. Instead, he requested my audio which he cut up for the feature. His respect for my work was uplifting.
There is a good reason that the Jim Bohannon show was on for thirty years. Jim was a straightforward common sense guy with a great sense of humor. He had his opinions and didn’t mind if someone called to disagree. He was willing to let them have their say. I believe they call that civil discourse. A refreshing and much needed element in today’s world.
In short, Jim was the type of person you want to have as a friend. And thanks to radio he was that to thousands all over the country. I count myself blessed to have known him both on the air and in person.
