Dale Sommers

Bruce Dale Sommers (born November 26, 1943), known by his nickname "The Truckin' Bozo", is an American radio personality, best known for his long-running country music show geared toward truck drivers. Sommers hosted the show overnights from Cincinnati, Ohio based clear channel station WLW from 1984 to 2004, with a small network of similarly high-powered stations across the United States. Sommers discontinued playing music on his nightly show and commenced focusing all his energies on truck news, news and talk from his listeners. Sommers made an attempt to retire from radio in 2004, but XM Radio was successful in getting him to do an afternoon truck show, which now airs on Sirius Radio and XM from 4–7 PM Eastern time.

Biography

Catching a robber

"The Bozo" made national headlines when he helped to catch a robber at a convenience store in Camilla, Georgia. Sommers was talking live on the air with regular caller Linda Driskill, known as "Mississippi Lady" to listeners, when he heard Driskill admonish someone not to come behind her counter. She then hung up the phone. Sommers was concerned for her safety, so he called the Camilla police (who knew Driskill from Sommers' show). The police responded to Driskill's store and quickly apprehended the robber.^[1]

Health problems

Sommers suffers from severe Addisons Disease, for which there is no cure and it is treated by ever-increasing doses of steroids that help to keep the disease under control. Sommers is considered by those who are close to him^[who?] to be a virtual recluse and is rarely seen out of his Florida or Cincinnati, Ohio homes, other than an annual cruise.

Comments on Mexicans

Mr. Sommers has raised some controversy among Mexican truckers for his apparent negative comments on the radio regarding cross-border trucking.^[2] He is often heard supporting bans on Mexican trucks in the United States.

Family

Sommers is married to Sharon "Lumpy" Cox Sommers and they have been married 35 years. Sharon ran a travel agency until May 2004 and retired from the travel business. Dale and Sharon spend approximately 9 months a year in Florida and the summer months in Cincinnati, Ohio. Sommers has a studio in his Florida home and also in his Cincinnati home(4) so he can continue working from both locations. He has at least three sons, Steve Sommers (who hosts America's Trucking Network), media executive Sean Compton, and David Sommers, who runs the travel business his mother founded.

References

1. ^ Kiesewetter, John (2002-03-17). "WLW turns 80". The Cincinnati Enquirer. http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2002/03/17/tem_wlw_700_turns_80.html. Retrieved 2007-02-20. 
2. ^ [1]

• Johnston, John (April 22, 2004). "Truckin' Bozo's buggin' out for good". The Cincinnati Enquirer (Gannett Co. Inc). http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/04/22/loc_bozo22.html. Retrieved 2009-01-25. 
• Bird, Rick (October 11, 2004). "Sommers now trucking on XM". The Cincinnati Enquirer (Gannett Co. Inc). http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-123124906.html. Retrieved 2009-01-25. 

(4)-Source-Dale Sommers,August 9,2010

External links

• The Truckin' Bozo official site
• Dale Sommers on XM Open Road

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Name	Sommers, Dale
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Date of birth	1943
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