Bob Collins (American radio broadcaster)
- Bob Collins (American radio broadcaster)
Bob Collins (February 28, 1942 – February 8, 2000) was the morning man for WGN-720AM radio in Chicago. His show was the top rated morning show for WGN and kept the station at the top of the ratings. His show featured various conversation as well as some music. He also made occasional appearances on WGN-TV, hosting specials such as the Auto Show.
His folksy style appealed to a great many people, as his ratings numbers indicated. He was affectionately known as "Uncle Bobby".
He enjoyed flying his airplane, riding his Harley and the Chicago Cubs. His interest in flying would prove fatal.
He died in the afternoon of February 8, 2000, after his and a student pilot's plane collided upon approach to the runway at the Waukegan Regional Airport in Waukegan, Illinois. The student pilot was directly below him, and they were unaware of each others' presence until the collision. Collins attempted to steer his plane to a safe landing, but it crashed and burned atop a nearby hospital, killing him and a passenger. The student pilot and her instructor also crashed three blocks away and died. There were no other injuries or fatalities in the air or on the ground. The official report indicated that the control tower personnel were unable to observe or communicate the perilous situation until it was too late.Many of Bob Collins friends and co-workers worked in Bob's memory to have radar and other safety tools installed at the Waukegan Regional Airport to prevent further tragedies.
WGN held a memorial radio show, much of which was captured for a CD that was sold to benefit his favorite charities, the WGN Radio Neediest Kids Fund and the Salvation Army. Sprinkled through the CD was a list of funny and thoughtful observations from people of all ages, which he had read on what proved to be his final program that morning: "Things I've learned as I've aged". One of the last entries was: "Age 64 - I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you. But if you focus on your family, the needs of others, your work, meeting new people, and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you."
External links
* [http://wgngold.com/people/bobcollins/index.html WGN Radio reference]
* [http://thetracon.com/news/times040701.htm A discussion of the official report on the crash]
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7640641 Find-A-Grave profile for Bob Collins]
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