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This just in… Dick Kay to retire
Friday, Mar 3, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller I’ve been watching WMAQ political reporter Dick Kay for as long as I can remember. He just announced his retirement, effective June 1. From Lynn Sweet’s blog:
I didn’t think he’d ever do it. Good luck, Dick! And, please, be nice in comments or I’ll be mean to you.
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I thought I would let my friends and family know I have formally applied for retirement. I asked H&R to draw up papers for a June 1 out date..and have fomally notified my News Vice President I will retire then. February marked my 46th year in broadcasting and May 8 will mark 38 years at NBC5. I will stop and smell the roses as they say. I have made no plans so don'’t ask what I plan to do. The quickest answer is “nothing.”
- Rob 4-Oh - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 9:29 am:
After 46 years at anything, let alone broadcasting, he deserves to do “nothing”. I say good luck to you Dick, where ever you are.
- SenorAnon. - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 9:33 am:
Man, they guy’s been the political reporter on Channel 5 all of my life. I’m still missing Steve Neal’s writing…will certainly miss Dick Kay. Hope he enjoys retirement, and comes around as resident expert from time to time.
Does anyone know who this leaves as Dean of Chicago political reporters? I suspect Andy Shaw’s been at it a little longer than Flannery.
- Anonymous - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 9:46 am:
Dick always has good political insight into things, and a great sunday morning spot. I’m sure he’ll be missed by anyone that watches politics.
- David @ ilcampaign - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 9:59 am:
I remember back in the 1990s, before electronic filing, when you had to go to the Thompson Center or the Board of Election’s offices in Springfield to see the disclosure reports, filing out D-3 forms in triplicate to get them. And the reporter I remember seeing most often was Dick Kay, plowing through stacks of microfiche. The guy knows how to dig, he knows the material and he takes it seriously. Yeah, he’s earned it but he’ll be sorely missed.
- Salcoratti - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 10:00 am:
He’s always an amazing watch. I wish him a great retirement that does not include him posing for Playgirl.
- Salcoratti - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 10:01 am:
Also, what’s up with Snodgrass?
- Rich Miller - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 10:02 am:
That’s his real name.
- Beowulf - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 10:04 am:
I didn’t know his last name was Snodgrass? I assumed it was Kay. I always appreciated his commentary and political insight. I will be sorry to see him go.
I will bet though, that after a year or two off, Dick will be chomping at the bit to be involved in some type of activity that deals with state or local politics.
It is in his blood.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 10:08 am:
Like I said, I’ve been watching him for years. What most viewers don’t know is that he alwys wears tennis shoes with his suits, so he can get around faster. You never see that on TV, though, because the camera only shows him waist-up.
- Ed Murnane - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 10:15 am:
I’ve known and worked with Dick since the 1968 Presidential campaign. Not always agreed with him (… change that to not usually agreed with him …) but always respected him. He deserves an enjoyable retirement
- Pete Giangreco - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 10:40 am:
Doogie we hardly knew ye. Who’s going to yell “Hell that ain’t no story.” in the back of news conferences now?
Someone ought to get Paul Meinke to post the limerick he wrote about Doogie when he retired as head of the broadcasters union. Hilarious!
On June 1, I intend to wear a black arm band and the Hey Dick #@$% You Too T-shirt we all purchased with Doogie in Boston at the Dem Convention. (It was a Cheney shirt, but works both ways)
- Pat Collins - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 10:45 am:
Snodgrass is a good southern IL/IN name, like Clodfelter.
Nice to see a local boy make good. No wonder he was so sensible!
I’d be curious to know where that restaurant was in E-ville……
- grand old partisan - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 11:00 am:
It’s a shame he didn’t make his retirement effective at the end of the year. It just won’t be election night in Chicago without his commentary.
- I & M - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 11:23 am:
Did Dick Kay briefly work for Harold Washington, or is my memory making things up?
- Bill Baar - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 11:28 am:
I’ll miss him. John Drummond, Len O’Conner… miss ‘em all… but you know, with all due respect, I hope to see a younger crowd take over.
I feel that’s ok to say as an aging boomber myself.
He should consider a blog though.
- Same as the old boss - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 12:06 pm:
BTW, how did he ever get that nickname, “Doogie”?
- Anon - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 12:20 pm:
Mr. Kay has announced his retirement more times than George Foreman. I can remember the tear-filled Nov. 04 broadcast when he said it was his last election. Sounds like it’s permanent this time though.
Wonder who Ch. 5 will get to replace him. Might they try to steal Andy Shaw’s heir-apparent, Ben Bradley?
Or maybe Carlos Hernandez-Gomez, new of CLTV?
- Ed Murnane - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 12:54 pm:
Not often I agree with Giangreco, either.
- Establishment Republican - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 1:17 pm:
If we are revealing the real surnames of these folks, with Kay being Snodgrass, would it be appropriate to inform others that Andy Shaw’s real last name is Shapiro?
I assume Flannery is really Flannery.
If I am giving away highly-classified information, go ahead and delete this post with my apologies.
On a seperate note, Mr. Murnane, it is a great honor to see you here. I am an admirer of your career.
- Snodgrass - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 1:42 pm:
He got the nickname “Doogie” because he claims to be the inspiration for the TV show Doogie Howser. He claims to have been a boy genius.
- Thom - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 2:18 pm:
I first met Dick when we were both covering the Walker administration. Later
on in another life while working for the Gaslight club on Huron I booked his band for a big party celebrating the media. A smoky kitchen fire forcing hundreds out onto the Huron temporally halted the bash…but Dick’s ‘country’ band didn’t stop playing …we moved the refreshments outside. All including the firemen enjoyed his music.
Longfellow had he known him might of intended his words for Dick…
The heights by great men reached and kept
Were not attained by sudden flight,
But they, while their companions slept,
Were toiling upward in flight.
Thanks for the memories Dick.
- Tom DeLay's Mom - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 2:39 pm:
I can’t think of a more appropriate photo to memorialize Dick Kay than the one you posted here. I didn’t always agree with Mr. Kay’s “analysis” - but he has my respect.
- Anon - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 5:34 pm:
Thank God Dick Kay is retiring, he was an arrogant buffoon.
- Pete Granata - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 8:55 pm:
First Steve Neal now Dick Kay. All the good ones are departing one way or another. The game is changing. The key is to know when to fold them. Good luck to a good union man, Dick Kay.
- Steve Brown - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 9:16 pm:
Should we start the over/under on whether Dick actually does it? I’ll take the over and predict we will see Dick on set on election nite in November.
Dick will alway be part of the era of editors and news directors who gave the time and/ot space to tell the story from beginning to end and reporters who knew how to use it.
Doogie try to let the bean counters let you come to Springfield a few times before the gavel drops nexxt month.
- Doogie - Monday, Mar 6, 06 @ 5:46 pm:
I am overwhelmed by all these positive comments and good wishes. For the person who asked it was Daniel Boone’s Cafe in Evansville. It was always my blue collar ethic that kept my head level. For the real name..a program director made me change from Snodgrass my first day on the air so I took my wife’s name. “Doogie” was the nickname of my cousin..a hard bitten old tank sergeant in Korea. When I told stories of him my colleagues stuck me with the name. Scott Goldstein was a writer here then a producer on Doogie Hauser. He told friends he took the name from me. Yes..I really will retire..and yes I will miss it terribly. I will take every opportunity to stay involved.