Virgil Nixon…smooth and mellow…gone too soon!

Towards the middle of the '70's, listeners to WCIN heard Joe Suede, Bob Lewis, an early Lincoln Ware, Jimmy Wonder the Ball of Thunder and one of the smoothest voices to sit behind the microphone. That voice belonged to Virgil Nixon. Virgil brought a certain vocal swag to the airwaves that distinguished him from all the other jocks. He personified "cool" and all who knew him outside of the radio station can attest to the fact that "cool" was just a way of life for Virgil Nixon.
  I wasn't working for WCIN in the early days of Virgils career, but in talking with him later, I found that we were just a click away from each other.  He was a graduate of Woodward High School, like myself, but I never knew that…maybe it was that upper classmen not having too much to do with the other classmen thing.  I found that a majority of the friends I had/have in growing up in the Kennedy Heights are friends that we shared.  One of the jaw dropping facts for me was his telling me that he had worked for the same country and western station in Fairfield where I got my first radio job…WCNW which is located outside the back door of Jungle Jims.
  I can say that when I finally met Virgil, it was as if we were long time friends and our families grew to become very close.  Outside of the radio persona, I found Virgil to be a straight forward, right to the point type of guy who would gladly tell you the truth if you could handle it.

Virgil Nixon

   There was a period of time in WCINs history when I had the opportunity to call upon some voices from the past to come back and breath some life into the community. Virgil Nixon was one of those voices.  It was then I had the opportunity to experience what a true professional could do with the influence afforded him by the power of the microphone. His command of the spoken word as well as the placement of words of wisdom, made his show one that commanded your attention and respect because you knew your ears and spirit were in good hands.
   Another personal influence that Virgil Nixon had on me was the way he treated his family.  He had unconditional love for his lovely wife, Linda and his daughter, Bethanny(with two "n's"). I watched as he always spent lots of time with his daughter and I would always tease him about the fact they were always going somewhere to eat. Well, seeing how their relationship was such a beautiful one..I developed the habit of taking my daughter on a father/daughter date every month and it has solidified our relationship..because she now knows what to expect from a suitor.
  I can still hear his smooth delivery on those saturday mornings as he played the music that will last forever..leaving wonderful memories to all who are fortunate enough to have grown up when that music was new.
  I join a multitude of friends who knew Virgil Nixon either personally or from his presence on the radio who will forever miss that voice..that "cool"…that one of a kind person who's smile brought a smile to your face….who's laugh, which ended up in shoulder shrugging belly laughs…caused the tears to run down your face. He was truly one of a kind.
  Another, and perhaps the most important, thing that I envied about Virgil Nixon was the way he related to God.  Just a couple of weeks prior to his transition I had the opportunity to sit with him in his comfortable getaway space while the wives did their thing.  We had a deep man to man conversation about radio mostly, but life in general. Virgil was a very humorous guy whose delivery of some of the most mundane things were so funny and matter of factly stated that it would take you a minute to grasp the depth of what he was saying.  When he spoke of things that he was faced with and decisions that he had to make…he would just "talk to God".  It wasn't laced with the King James Version of a prayer or like a deacon on Sunday Morning…..it was as if he was talking to a close friend.  I mentioned that to him during our time together and his response was so very Virgil..he said "well, God is my friend and I just ask him what He wants me to do with this situation you put me in." That, to me, was an epiphany and opened my eyes to seek a deeper, yet simpler way to deal with my spirituality.
  The world has lost a true iconic figure in Virgil Nixon, but the legacy he has left us shall continue through those who knew him.

God is resting his soul….

Gone..but never forgotten!

The Little Preacher with the big....Smile...Little Abraham

"If you can hear my voice, you're in Bibleway Country." When I first started working at WCIN, I did a five hour midday shift on saturdays from 10am til 3pm. On Sundays I worked as a board operator and I introduced many of the pre-recorded programs. It was then that I honed a lot of the skills I would need for my almost thirty year tenure at WCIN. My Sunday shift was from 12 noon until sign-off which in those days...mid 70's...was at Midnite on Sunday nights.
    There was only one live broadcast that I was to make sure was put on at the designated time and that was the BibleWay Church of God in Christ broadcast which aired at one o'clock in the afternoon. I would check the feed from the church around 12:45 to make sure we would be ready to go to air at one. Faithfully, at one o'clock, straight up, I would hear the words that would give me an hour to go to the production room and work on doing commercials, splicing tapes and doing what I needed to do to be able to be ready for the call to "full time announcer" from Bob Long..

Reverend Abraham Isaac Jacob Swanson XII

     I had known of the gospel announcer known as "Little Abraham" but the shift I had at the time of my early employment didn't afford me the opportunity to meet the man himself.
When you think about WCIN, Reverend Abraham Isaac Jacob Swanson XII definitely must come to mind. I remember years ago...before I even considered a career in radio...hearing Little Abraham on the air in the middle of the morning and thinking it was odd to hear gospel programming at that time of morning.  I came to realize that placement of certain programming had a lot to do with management and it's perception of where particular show should be aired.  Rev. Swanson was to eventually make early morning a time where listeners would rise up and start their day with questions that would have them thumbing through the pages of their bibles trying to find answers to the questions he would pose to the listeners.
     Reverend Swanson was off the air for a period when WCIN was going through it's Classical Music period...but when the opportunity to return became available, Little Abraham was back doing what he had been doing for so many previous years.
     Reverend Abraham Isaac Jacob Swanson XII was the long standing founding Pastor of BibleWay Church of God in Christ..3231 Woodburn Ave. in Evanston and maintained a strong following even into the days of his failing health.
     Reverend Swanson showed that the gospel announcer could be just as visible as the mainstream announcers.  His impact will never be forgotten by anyone who had the privilege of being in his presence and had a chance to be a recipient of his wisdom.
     I have a very special place in my heart for Little Abraham because of the times we shared early in the mornings at WCIN.  I was program director for a period of time and got a chance to really get to know the "Little Preacher with the big smile."  He was compassionate and had an unwavering love of God that he would share to anyone who had an ear.  When I acknowledged the role that God has in my life..Reverend Swanson was one of the first people that I shared that information with.  He was genuinely happy for me and offered his vast knowledge for me to tap into and even critiqued a presentation I had to do as one of the "Seven Sayings of Christ from the Cross."
      One of the great attributes of this legend was his dedication.  Reverend Swanson lived quite a few miles from the radio station, but there was never a day, that I can recall, when he was either late or didn't make it in at all.  His journey from home would include days when roads were treacherous and almost impassable.  That didn't matter to Little Abraham who had to get to his media pulpit where there were hundreds of listeners who got up to hear his inspirational message as well as his teachings, in his own unique way, of the Word of God.  One of the highlights of his morning trivia was his call to the then Elder Carl Whittaker, who now pastors Bibleway Church of God in Christ.  The sometimes sleepy and groggy Elder Whittaker would be asked to answer biblical questions that we now see, in retrospect, was Reverend Swanson's way of preparing him for the mantle that was to passed on to him.  This was Reverend Swanson's wisdom at work.
     Since I had to be on the air at 6am to relieve him, I would get up around 4am to start preparing for my shift.  I would turn on the radio to hear Reverend Swanson pray with the many listeners and also give the opportunity to others to give the daily prayer...I'll tell you..sometimes you felt as though you were in the very presence of God when Bishop Swanson prayed. You knew that he had Gods' undivided attention as he prayed on our behalf.

     His preaching style was unique and respected in the COGIC community as well as the ecumenical world at large.  He was barely visible behind the pulpit because of his stature but his presence was felt in whatever venue that was blessed to hear him preach.
     Gospel artists had the utmost respect for Bishop Swanson, especially Charles Fold, who he considered a very good musician and artist.
     Looking back on those mornings..watching how he had complete control of his atmosphere, I fondly remember how he used to back-time the Ink Spots tune..."You left me everything but you",
so that it would end exactly at six o'clock...straight up. We would laugh about it because he would hit it every time...He would come back in the studio and look up at the clock just as the song ended and look at me and smile...acknowledging that he had done it again...I really miss those times.
     I was able to find a recording of his classic sign-off...I hope you enjoy it as much as I do...

May he rest in peace as his memory continues to inspire....

Maxine Hardwick...a news icon..gone too soon!

Cincinnati, and especially WCIN lost a treasure with the recent passing of Maxine Hardwick. We who worked there were blessed with her professionalism and ability to brighten every room when she entered. Her vibrant spirit will be greatly missed by everyone who was fortunate enough to be in her presence. The above picture was taken from her obituary and for those who weren't able to make the journey for her home going service...the following information was taken from the memorial booklet and will be bracketed in quotation marks..

"Lois Maxine Lyons Hardwick was born on March 26th, 1944 in Birmingham, Alabama, the second child of Gussie and Cleophus Lyons, Sr.  "Maxine", as she was affectionately know, was admired for her welcoming and loving spirit-she never met a stranger.

Maxine attended Cleveland Metropolitan Schools and graduated from Glenville High School in 1961.  In 1962, she married her childhood friend and sweetheart William "Mickey" Hardwick.  To this union, their daughter Mikki Denise Hardwick was born.

Maxine was an African American pioneer in broadcast journalism for both radio and television.  Maxine began her distinguished career in Cleveland, Ohio at WJW-TV (now known as Fox 80 in 1968 as a secretary for "Adventure Road" talk show host  Jim Done.  Always one to "shine" Maxine's melodic voice and persona was immediately recognized by WJW's top executives.  She and beat reporter "Pete Carey" were given an opportunity to produce Cleveland's first minority focused television show, and they called it "Rap".  Rap was just the beginning of what would prove to be Maxine's stellar career.

Maxine relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio in 1971 and that is when her career really took off.  The
 ultimate trail blazer, Maxine was WCPO's first African American woman to broadcast weather, anchor news and host "Black Memo", a public affairs talk show from the 1970's through the 1980's.  In 1988, Maxine joined WCIN-AM as a disc jockey and program director.  In 1993, Maxine also joined WBND-AM (1160) as a program director and morning talk show host.  After over 35 years in broadcast journalism, Maxine retired in 2006, mentoring many up and coming journalists."

Maxine Hardwick was called home to Glory on February 22, 2013 and has left a legacy of professionalism that is unmatched.  The WCIN family continues to pray for the family and vows to keep her contributions forever in the minds and hearts of the faithful listeners.

WCIN CHERISHES YOUR MEMORY, MAX!!!

Gina Ruffin Moore...she got the news and got it right!

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   Gina Ruffin Moore brought a special doggedness to the reporting that helped us be both reliable and credible. Those of you who both subscribe to and browse this blog know that I'm trying to let you reflect on the great memories that we have and also bring you up to 
  date on where the personalities are today and what they are doing.                                             
  .....At the time of this entry she was just returning from L.A. where the Temptations were recognized for their achievements in the record industry. And for those of you who may not know...she is the niece of the legendary David Ruffin...yep, her dad and David Ruffin were brothers. (I never asked Gina if she can sing).
  Gina Ruffin Moore is an Organizational Development specialist middle manager for the City of Cincinnati. She has more than 20 years of experience as a trainer, public relations strategist, news reporter, radio news director, former television news writer, news producer and author (Cincinnati Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2007).
  Gina is a former Associate Public Information Officer for the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Public Schools. She earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Journalism from Ohio University and a Master of Science in Human Resources Development and Training from Xavier University.
  A freelance writer and author of two teacher's guides on Black history, she has a long-standing passion for local history. She acquired the vintage images in her book from archives, libraries, and private collections. Moore is a longtime resident of Cincinnati who is active in her community, where she has served as a Woodlawn Village Council councilmember and a member of Mount Zion Baptist Church of Woodlawn. She is the recipient of the Nefertiti Award from The Cincinnati Herald. Gina is also a member of the Order of Easter Stars, Wesley-Smith Chapter and the Miami Valley African American Historical Society.
  Gina has been married to Russell Moore for more than 30 years. They are the parents of Jennifer Moore (WCPO-TV News Producer) and Victor Moore (Aviation Engineering Senior at Ohio University).
  ...That's Gina's daughter, Jennifer, pictured with her..
  GIna has written a book and I'll have to get an update on the title.
  The book is "Cincinnati: The Black American Series" available at Barnes and Noble and Joseph Beth Bookstores...get your copy soon.

Angelique Proctor...doing news in Atlanta

Aungelique Proctor and Randi

We really enjoyed the time that we were graced with Aungelique Proctor as our news director. Plenty of good times and we knew it was just a matter of time before the Big Boys would come calling and take her to a bigger place. 
     I visit Atlanta often and always look to FOX5 NEWS for a chance to see her at work...and she is very much the consummate professional that she was here on both WKRC and WCIN.

Aungelique is a reporter for FOX5 NEWS. Before joining FOX5 in 1994, this Atlanta native was an investigative reporter for WTLV in Jacksonville, Florida. She also reported and anchored at WKRC in Cincinnati, WMAZ in Macon, Georgia and WALB in Albany, Georgia.

But for Aungelique, her broadcasting career first started on a program called ‘The Lawmakers" on Georgia Public Television. Before working ...in front of the camera, Aungelique worked behind the mic at several radio stations in Cincinnati and even served as News Director at WCIN.

An award wining reporter, Aungelique has followed the big story around the world. She has covered stories from the Million Man March to the touching stories of Hurricane Katrina survivors to the devastating earthquakes outside Istanbul, Turkey.

Aungelique has won several awards including three Emmys, the Associated Press Best Newscast and a National Association of Black Journalists award for her report, "The Rosewood Massacre."

Aungelique is a graduate of the Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia. She is a past officer of the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists as well as a member of The Links Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and the Chums Inc.

When she’s not on the air, Aungelique loves to volunteer with The Children's Restoration Network and the Sadie G. Mays Nursing Home. She’s also a lifelong member of Central United Methodist Church. She also loves to travel and speak to schools throughout the community.

Aungelique lives in Atlanta with her husband and their three daughters.

If you ever travel to Atlanta..make sure you check her out and she is also on Facebook and welcomes all likes and comments. It's always good to see a WCIN alumni doing well. Continued success to you Aungelique!!!