The Retirement of Slick

August of 1996…a skinny, naive and long haired kid from two hours East walked into a somewhat ram shackled but charming house on the campus of the University of Southern Indiana. This was the home of the campus radio station, AM 820. “Hello…my name is Nick and I am enrolled in the Radio Practicum for the Fall semester”. This simple utterance was the beginning of a journey…one that is coming to an end with that “kid” now a married father of two with a mortgage and with considerably less hair than when he started.

I always told myself that I would not cheat the profession that I loved growing up and would get out if I felt I was overstaying my welcome. Well folks…that day has arrived. I am officially retiring from the biz one week from today (March 15th) with a lot great memories and experiences.

Over the next week I hope to recount some of those amazing experiences both here and on the air (some of which I touched on here and here). It is cliché as hell but I wouldn’t change a thing. I have made lasting friendships with my co-workers, current and former, which is the most important thing of all. I was able to do things and meet people that I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to without the profession I chose. I was able to stand on stage at a sold out Roberts Stadium and have a hand in thousands of people going crazy. However, I’m no longer that kid. The one who would party until the lights came on at Breakers nor am I the same person that couldn’t wait to see Caroline's Spine at the Duck Inn. Unforgettable and great times but that was then and this is now.

Simply put, it is time to move on to a new chapter. I’m excited about the opportunities that lie ahead and the challenges that come with them. In closing, I sincerely hope that I was able to bring a little levity to your day throughout the years. If I could provide as a momentary distraction to whatever was going on in your life, then I did my job. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride and wish the station and my friends there the best of luck. At my core, I will always be a part of 103GBF…the only commercial station I’ve ever worked for (or ever wanted to). You gotta put up with me for another week but I would like to take this time to thank you for a wonderful (almost) 15 years filled with once in a lifetime experiences that no one can take away.

‘Slick’ Nick