Dick McDonough Of Enfield Dies; Radio Personality For Half A Century

ENFIELD, CT — Dick McDonough, who entertained radio listeners for half a century with long stints as an on-air personality at several stations throughout New England, died May 20 at UConn Medical Center after a brief battle with lung cancer. He was 78.

A resident of Enfield for nearly 30 years, McDonough grew up in Fitchburg, Mass. and attended the Leland Powers School of Radio and Television in Boston. He began his broadcasting career at WIKE in Newport, Vermont, then worked at WCFR in Springfield, Vt., WEMJ in Laconia, N.H. and WKBR in Manchester, N.H. before moving to Connecticut in the late 1960s.

On Nov. 18, 1968, he began a decade-long tenure at WDRC in Hartford, working mainly the afternoon drive shift from 3-7 p.m. He became well-known for hosting the "Big D Big Sound Survey" on Friday afternoons, and stayed at the station through October 1978.

An on-air experiment early in his WDRC days generated a lot of publicity at the time. On Jan. 26, 1970, McDonough demonstrated the dangers of drinking and driving by downing seven drinks - a scotch and water every 20 minutes - during his afternoon show, under supervision of a doctor, a state trooper and future TV news anchor Pat Sheehan. As stated on the website WDRCOBG.com, "He completed various tests to demonstrate how the booze was affecting his physical responses."

The website contains links to four segments of that notorious show:

• show begins, ring test, first drink
• more drinks, another ring test
• Dick butchers a commercial
• Joe Hager takes over

Ironically, McDonough gave up drinking shortly after that program, and remained sober for more than 50 years. His obituary from Leete-Stevens Family Funeral Homes states, "Throughout his life, he dedicated his time to helping others with their personal struggles to recovery."

Following his days at WDRC, he became an early voice of the fledgling ESPN sports network in Bristol, then bounced around radio stations in Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, Missouri and Rhode Island. In 1991, he landed at WMAS in Springfield, where he entertained for 18 years until retiring in February 2009.

In a phone interview with Patch, Connecticut School of Broadcasting founder Dick Robinson recalled hearing McDonough on the air in New Hampshire and recommending his hiring at WDRC.

"We were always looking for talent, and I told Charlie Parker, the program director, we should get him," Robinson said. "He was a true friend; no matter where we were, on April 17 he'd call me on my birthday. We called him "The Prince" and he was exactly that. He loved people, and he was the same off the air as on. As a human being, he was the real deal."

Jim Harrington, a WDRC personality from 1970 to 1974, told Patch in an email, "I met Dick, for the first time, in November 1967. Dick was doing afternoons on a station in Manchester, New Hampshire, WKBR and I was a student and radio wannabe at Saint Anselm's College. His work on the air was masterful, even at that early stage in his career. The surprising thing was that he was gracious, welcoming, generous with his time and very down to earth. I learned a lot about the business just by watching and listening to a guy like him. Four years later, we met again at WDRC in Hartford. He hadn’t changed a bit. He was still great on the air and a wonderful guy. As the years progressed, our careers took it down different paths. I haven’t seen him in years. But I did talk to him not too long ago and he still hadn’t changed. Everybody should be so lucky as to bump into a person like Dick McDonough in their lives. Rest in peace old friend."

Former World Series champion, Major League Baseball All-Star and ESPN Radio host Rob Dibble, whose dad Walt was a newsman who worked with McDonough for many years, told Patch in a text message, "My father loved Dick McDonough. Like my dad, Dick and that crew at WDRC were amazing news people and always wanted to be first and the best with delivering Connecticut's news. It's funny because I just found the show where Dick drinks on the air to show how quickly you become intoxicated. I did that about seven years ago on my ESPN show; it didn't go well but proved a very valuable point."

Allan Camp, a Vermont native who like McDonough worked at WCFR and WDRC before embarking on a 33-year stint at WRCH, wrote, "Delightful man and a true broadcast legend."

Veteran show host and former WDRC personality Gary James emailed, "Although I never worked with Dick, I certainly admired his talent."

On McDonough's obituary page on the Leete-Stevens website, former WDRC newsman Bill Hennessey wrote, "He was such an outstanding broadcaster - and human being - that he'll always be remembered as an important contributor to Connecticut broadcasting as well as to society-in-general. His "Big D" associates know what I mean, and those who didn't know him, don't know what they missed."

Veteran newsman Bryant Michaud, known professionally as Bryant Thomas, shared with Patch the remarks he will be making at McDonough's visitation service:

When my childhood dream of being on the radio came into focus, things germinated quickly. From that evolution, I found myself at WDRC under the tutelage of veteran news director Walt Dibble. It is there that I met a skinny guy with an unbelievable voice ... Dick McDonough. He complimented me on my air work and kept reassuring me when I got passed over for a full-time position at the Big D. Later, I would make a cameo appearance in the newsroom, and again Dick McDonough was still there, saying the nice things that always emanated from his lips.

This was no ordinary air personality. He was special ... and anyone who worked with him, either in the news booth or sharing an on-air studio with him knew that only too well.

As radio became a medium that grew increasingly impersonal, Dick McDonough found ways to keep talking TO people, making his audience feel like THEY were part of his broadcast effort.

You don’t hear that any more these days; but that’s what made The Prince so special - and he shared that outlook on the radio medium with his broadcast colleagues.

I feel privileged to have worked with him and to have maintained our friendship over the years. Godspeed, my friend. We will ALL miss you terribly.

McDonough is survived by his wife of 38 years, Nancy; a son, daughter and son-in-law; three grandchildren and a sister.

Calling hours are slated for Wednesday, May 31 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Leete-Stevens Enfield Chapels, 61 South Road. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, June 1 at 11 a.m. at Holy Family Church, 23 Simon Rd., Enfield, with a private burial to follow in Fitchburg.