Rick Rydell

Infobox Celebrity
name = Rick Rydell


imagesize = 200px
caption = Rick Rydell, Alaska Outdoorsman
birth_date = birth date and age|1963|9|29
birth_place = Seattle, Washington, U.S.
death_date =
death_place =
occupation = Radio Commentator, Author, Outdoor Guide, and Contractor
spouse = Susan
children = Jake, Cale, Shayne
website = http://www.650keni.com/rick
footnotes =

Rick Rydell (born Rick Green, September 29, 1963 in Seattle, Washington) is an American radio talk show host, Alaska outdoorsman, and author.

Early life

He was born into a working class family. His mother worked for Boeing as a general laborer, his father as a tool maker for Heath Technics, a supplier to Boeing. Rydell had three older sisters, one of whom had Down's Syndrome and died at age three. He spent his second birthday in a hospital with his father, who was recovering from cancer-induced amputation of one of his legs. [http://www.adn.com/life/story/2938314p-2973124c.html]

At the beginning of second grade the family moved to Payette, Idaho for a new job. It lasted only eight months. The family then moved to Billings, Montana where his father began a new career in radio. [http://www.adn.com/life/story/2938314p-2973124c.html]

When Rydell was 16, his parents told him to find a job or move out; He did both. [http://www.adn.com/life/story/2938314p-2973124c.html] His baseball coach was the program director at KGHLdn, and offered him a job, with one condition: changing his last name to avoid confusion with his father's radio program. "Rick Rydell" was born.

Career

Rydell first gained notoriety in radio in Spokane, Washington with following gigs in KXYQ and KMJK in Portland, Oregon, then a two-year stint in Cleveland at WNCX. Rydell was the anchor on morning show that launched Mike Trivisonno and Todd Brandt into radio fame. [http://www.anchoragepress.com/archives-2005/coverstoryvol14ed14.shtml]

He was fired in 1990 and moved to Anchorage, Alaska. There, he was hired at the classic rock station KBFX. He made the transition to talk radio in 2001. [http://www.anchoragepress.com/archives-2005/coverstoryvol14ed14.shtml]

Rydell's program focused on local and state politics and current events. It shot up from 17th to #1 in six months where it has stayed at, or near the top for over six years. Rydell now broadcasts weekday mornings throughout Alaska on 650 KENI in Anchorage. [http://www.650keni.com/pages/RickRydell.html]

In September 2007, his first book, "Alaska Happens", was published. It is a book of short stories about hunting and fishing in Alaska. [ [http://www.adn.com/news/politics/alaska_ear/story/9343936p-9258442c.html adn.com | Alaska Ear : Alaska Ear ] ] .

Rydell's program was named "Best Morning Show" by "The Oregonian" in 1988, "Best Comedy Series" in 1994, "Best Radio Show" in 2005, and "Most Uniquely Alaskan Radio Show" in 2006 by the Alaska Broadcasters Association. Rydell himself was named Alaska Republican Man of the Year for 2004 by the Alaska Republican Party. [http://208.109.242.142/archives/archives-2005/coverstoryvol14ed14.shtml]

Personal life

Rydell lives in South Anchorage with his wife Susan and three teenage sons, and is the vice president of his son's football teams booster club. [http://208.109.242.142/archives/archives-2005/coverstoryvol14ed14.shtml]

He has also worked as a mechanic, lead singer of multiple rock bands, a hunting and fishing guide, and as a contractor. [http://www.adn.com/life/story/2938314p-2973124c.html]

Chronological list of radio stations worked

* KGHLdn Billings, Montana
* KXLO/KLCM Lewistown, Montana
* KOJM/KPQX Havre, Montana
* KZLS Billings, Montana
* KZBQ Pocatello, Idaho
* WWLSdn Pratt, Kansas
* KBLI Blackfoot, Idaho
* KTKU, Juneau, Alaska
* KZZU Spokane, Washington
* KJRB/KEZE Spokane, Washington
* KKZX Spokane, Washington
* KMJK Portland, Oregon
* WNCX Cleveland, Ohio
* KBFX Anchorage, Alaska
* KNIK Anchorage, Alaska
* KENI Anchorage, Alaska

References

External links

* http://www.650keni.com/pages/RickRydell.html
* http://2005.am970.com/pages/programs.html
* http://www.440.com/namesr3.html
* http://www.anchoragepress.com/archives-2005/coverstoryvol14ed14.shtml