Dick McMeekin was
born in Melrose, Massachusetts November 23rd 1930.
He entered the United States Navy out of High School and spent the ensuing 21
years in uniform. Dick completed the full course at the Navy's Journalism
School in Great Lakes, Illinois, arriving in Jacksonville, as a petty officer
first class, to head the Publicity Division of the Georgia/Florida Navy
Recruiting District. He got his first taste of radio broadcasting when he
filled in for two years as a weekend disk jockey on WMBR AM radio in the late
1950's.
He was twice the recipient of the Boy's Club Friend of the Year Award, two annual Jacksonville JAYCEE Community Service Awards for as well as several others including an honorary Silver Sand Dollar at Ponte Vedra.
Since Italy had been liberated during World War II no Status of Forces Agreement existed to provide US Forces in Italy English language Armed Forces Radio broadcasts as was the case in Germany and Japan. Negotiations were finally concluded for daily one-hour English-language radio broadcasts in the spring of 1962. After he was selected Dick did over 700 consecutive daily broadcasts on Bon Giorno Napoli ("Good Morning Naples") as the show was named.
While living in Europe Dick composed and later sang his original musical entry in Rome's Theatro Annuncio which earned a top award in the annual Roman music festival, the Festa Dei Noantri. This was the first time an American had ever accomplished this. Dick was awarded a silver medal by RAI on the occasion of his departure.
After his tour with RAI, Naples, Dick was commissioned an Ensign in the Navy and
returned to the United States to complete OCS and Naval Justice School in
Newport, R. I. in the dead of winter. As Dick put it "I never thawed out until I
returned to Jacksonville."
In 1968, upon
completion of twenty-one years' active duty, Dick retired to serve as Director
of PR for the Ponte Vedra Club. He spent the better part of the ensuing decade
as GM of the Coliseum, Auditorium and Exhibit complex downtown and in
Washington, D.C. as a staffer in the US House of Representatives and as a Chief
of Staff in the United States Senate, and during the final 10 years in the
private sector as GM of American Advertising, Inc.
Dick is an accomplished pianist-entertainer who has performed live at the
Kennedy Center and Radio City Music Hall. He appeared on two Ed Sullivan Shows
and with well-known personalities such as Johnny Cash, Phyllis Diller, Red
Skelton and several others. He joined the WKTZ/WJAX team in 1997 and has been
doing his weekday commentaries ever since.
These days, as Dick puts it "I didn't believe at my current age I'd remain in demand, but I entertain at Senior Centers, for 1940/50's HS and College Reunions, private parties, and provide keyboard
music and vocals for dances at country clubs throughout NE Florida."
Dick was married for 54 years to the late Ruth Virginia Kopp of Alexandria,
Virginia. He has 3 adult children and 5 grandchildren. He now resides at the
Beaches.