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"I remember the very first shift I did on KEZW," says Rick Crandall in recalling his introduction to AM 1430. "It was June 17, 1991 and I hadn't been on the air 10 minutes when a man called and said, that was Tommy Dorsey, not Glenn Miller, you idiot, you're not going to last long! It was love at first sight!"
Fifteen years later, Rick is still starting the day with his KEZW listeners at the Breakfast Club, a little smarter and dedicated to the people who listen to the station. "Mornings at the Breakfast Club are like friends sitting together for a cup of coffee," says Rick. "We play music and share the news, weather and traffic just like everyone else, but we also share personal stories, bring along interesting guests and care for one another just like friends should."
That caring has led to Rick raising over $1 Million Dollars in cash and in-kind donations for Volunteers of America's Meals On Wheel program, the American Red Cross, The Colorado Freedom Memorial Foundation and many other Denver area charities. In fact, Rick has been honored for his dedication to Denver's adult community with the Volunteers of America Special Friend Award, The Colorado Broadcasters Association Citizen Of The Year Award twice and The Colorado Broadcasters Association Harry Hoth Award for Public Service. During Rick’s 15-years at KEZW the station has been a finalist for the National Association of Broadcasters Marconi Award for Adult Standards station of the year seven times, and has won the award once. Rick was also one of five finalists for the Marconi Award as Personality Of The Year.
Over the last fifteen years at KEZW, Rick has taken a leadership role with Colorado's large military veterans community. Rick is the MC for Denver's annual Memorial Day and Veterans Day parades. He has sponsored Valentines For Veterans drives for the Denver VA Hospital and makes regular visits to the patients there. And perhaps the highlight of Ricks radio career have been his live broadcasts from the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach in Normandy, France and from the surrender deck aboard the USS Missouri in Pearl Harbor to mark the 60th anniversary of the attack at Pearl Harbor. Rick champions many veterans issues and is currently working to build the Colorado Freedom Memorial, a monument dedicated to all Coloradoans killed or missing in military action. For his efforts Rick has received the American Legion media award five consecutive years, the Veterans Of Foreign Wars Citizen of the year award and has been given honorary membership in the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, 1st Marine Division Association and the Military Officers of America Association. Rick has also been honored by Regis University with its highest award, the Civis Princeps Award for his work with Colorado's seniors and military and received the 2006 Spirit of Colorado Voice of Volunteerism Award presented by Lt. Governor Jane Norton. |
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