Dick Purtan

Paul Richard "Dick" Purtan (born July 11, 1936) is a retired American radio personality. His last radio job was as the morning radio show host on Oldies 104.3 serving the Detroit, Michigan U.S. radio market. Purtan was also a disc jockey at WKNR-AM, WXYZ-AM, CKLW-AM, WCZY-FM which became WKQI-FM in 1989 and WOMC from 1996 until retirement.

1968

Previous to coming to Detroit at WKNR "Keener 13" in 1965, Purtan worked at WOLF-AM in Syracuse, NY and WSAI in Cincinnati; he began his radio career in his hometown of Buffalo, NY at WWOL under the station-mandated name "Guy King" and also worked for a very short time at WBAL in Baltimore (only to be forced to leave the station after his witty, sardonic humor clashed with the station's conservative ownership).Purtan is well known for his philanthropic work.

Purtan at WXYZ, December 15 1968.

Dick is working at WKNR on November 25, 1967. [ LISTEN ] (18:56)

Dick is celebrating (“Lou Schuck Night”) at WXYZ on Thursday, April 28, 1977. [ LISTEN ] (15:29)

Dick is playing records at CKLW on Thursday, May 17, 1979. [ LISTEN ] (26:11)

Dick takes a break from the turntable to call a listener on her birthday, and has her share her imitation of a cow!

Each year, Purtan and his "Purtan's People" crew host a radiothon to benefit the Salvation Army's "Bed and Bread" program. Through Purtan's efforts, over $30 million have been donated to the Bed and Bread program. The money has also been used to purchase additional Bed and Bread trucks which make daily deliveries of food to needy people in the Detroit area.While in Cincinnati, Purtan gathered together $12,500 and promoted and emceed the Beatles in concert.

Purtan had a voice over role in Beverly Hills Cop III.On the morning of February 13, 2010,

1965

Purtan announced his retirement effective March 26, 2010. As of 2014, he and one of his six daughters, Jackie, continue to keep up with his audience through his blog every weekday and Facebook. He also started producing a weekly podcast, which can run anywhere between 20 minutes and an hour and have had on various "Purtan People." His daughter Joanne is a newscaster on local WXYZ-TV Channel 7.

Morning show ad April 12, 1971.

WHERE DID DICK WORK? Here is the list: WBAL, WOLF-AM, WSAI, WKNR-AM (1965–67), WXYZ-AM (1968–78), CKLW-AM (1978–83), WCZY/WKQI (1983–96), and WOMC (1996–2010).

Some materials found on this page were originally published by the following: Motor City Radio Flashbacks, Keener 13.