When Richard Todd told me he was leaving 1250 WTMA on Thurs. March 8, he asked me to keep it a secret. I agreed, telling him I’d only tell my wife.
I failed. The news was too huge. It was too devastating.
Now, you may think that’s an exaggeration. But for those of us who are loyal listeners of The Morning Buzz with Richard Todd, Richard’s exit from Lowcountry radio is a blow. For years, Todd has been a part of our workday routines, a part of our lives.
And so, when I arrived at work, I called two of my fellow City Paper colleagues and avid Morning Buzz listeners, Music Editor T. Ballard Lesemann and Art Director Scott Suchy, into my office. I shut the doors and broke the news. I wondered if I looked like they did when Richard first told me he was leaving. Probably. Truth be told, I probably looked worse.
As many of you know, Richard’s wife Mary died shortly after Christmas, and it was a loss that was felt by The Morning Buzz’s many listeners. Richard had always been open about Mary’s cancer treatment, her setbacks and her tiny but important victories. And so we had come to know Mary even though many of us had never met her. Heck, many of us had never even met Richard.
When Richard and I talked, he told me his heart just wasn’t in it anymore. More importantly, he wanted to give his son something of a normal life. As a morning radio host, Todd had to live his son well before the crack of dawn. The last I heard, a friend was taking Richard’s son to school.
Richard will continue to host Comcast C2’s Moment with the Mayor and serve as the announcer for the Charleston Battery. He even said that WTMA had extended an offer to welcome him back if he changed his mind. I offered him the opportunity to write a column. Richard thanked me for the offer, but did not commit to anything, nor did I expect him to. At some time in the future, I hope he decides to write for us. It would be a shame to lose his insight into politics, especially at the state and local level.
So here’s to you, Richard. You’re the best. We love you and hope that someday you will come back to the airwaves. You are a voice of reason and champion of common sense. God bless you.
Richard Todd’s last day as the host of The Morning Buzz is tomorrow Fri. March 30
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