On Wednesday, Feb. 17 we learned of the passing of Rush Limbaugh, a conservative radio icon. Rush was controversial to be sure, but for those of us who have been around for a while, that familiar voice on the radio was the background to many decades of our lives. When we traveled, he was on the radio in the car, when you went into an office building or business during the day, he was almost always on the radio and, like him or not, most people found his constant presence on the radio reassuring.

Terrestrial radio has changed forever and will never be the same. Giants of the radio like Rush, Ernie Harwell, Frank Beckman and all those we grew to know through the sound of their voices, are leaving us in large numbers now and slipping away into history.

A radio host, for many in the older generation, was always there in the background, calling that championship home run, giving us the news of the day and being there through those quickly passing years as our children grew old and had their own children. The radio host was almost a part of our family, they were a steady friend who we know now will never come around again.

Thank you sir from a grateful nation. May you rest in peace and may God bless you.

CHRIS MOSES

Alpena