7 years, 4 months ago Mike Moyers
Friday Dennis Oliver hangs up the headphones after 40 years
He’s always been D.O.
Dennis Oliver came into my life in 1985 when a group of us working at WTAD/WQCY convinced management that changing WQCY from a classical/easy listening format to Hot A/C would be a good thing. It only took 2 years, but the promise of new revenue and two head strong sales guys leaning on the two guys at the top finally got it done.
But we needed a morning man. And Dennis Oliver was the guy.
D.O. had been a staple on KQ102 in Canton for a time. He was a handsome guy with a winning smile and recognizable delivery. Word got out and somehow D.O. learned that we were looking to make a format change. So, as if by magic, his resume appeared one morning.
After the format change Jeff Dorsey and Dennis became fast friends. Dorsey, then the morning man on WTAD, used to put on a long song and go across the hall to the 99Q studios and look in on D.O. Over the days that followed the two of them managed to develop a loyal listener base by making people laugh with an endless supply of goofy gags and fun radio.
WQCY’s revolving door of managers,ownership changes and corporate nonsense compelled Oliver to leave 99Q a few years later. KRRY GM Bud Janes managed to encourage Oliver to make the move to fill Y101’s morning void. That was 24 years ago. During that time Dennis worked with various morning partners until the early 2000’s when he and Dorsey were reunited.
And the rest is local radio history.
The two of them have been a big part of the Hannibal/Quincy radio soundtrack and have done the stuff announcers are supposed to do; like being involved in the community, presenting well for the station and being outgoing and entertaining. Oliver and Dorsey have both done an outstanding job. Going as far back as the 99Q days followers of Dennis and The Big Dawg have been as loyal as listeners can be. And Oliver and Dorsey have more than lived up to their listener’s expectations.
But come Friday (12/16) morning one half of the duo will say goodbye. Dennis Oliver will be retiring after 40 years of waking people up with loud music, weather forecasts and a groaner or two.
Dorsey, Oliver’s closest friend and biggest fan, has decided that Friday morning will belong to D.O. so that listeners and friends can call Y101, say goodbye to Dennis and wish him well. The phone lines will be open starting Friday in the 6am hour. Dorsey has also organized an evening for Oliver at the Elks Club on Saturday night from 5p until 9p so that listeners and friends will be able to visit with Dennis in person and share an adult beverage or two.
The local radio scene will suffer for a while. People who didn’t get to hear Dennis Oliver really missed someone special. But those of us who were lucky enough to know, to work, and to enjoy him know that Dennis Oliver was one of a kind.
