Atlanta's own Neal Boortz was feted by the National Radio Hall of Fame on Saturday in Chicago.
The syndicated host, who mostly works out of WSB-AM studios here, spoke a bit about the award on his show this morning. He said many years ago, when he had lost a Marconi Award (another prestigious radio award), Rush Limbaugh emailed him and told him when Boortz won the National Hall of Fame honor, Limbaugh would induct him.
Boortz earlier this summer was given said award so he contacted Limbaugh and reminded him of his promise. Although Limbaugh had an annual golf outing with buddies this past weekend, he flew up to Chicago for the evening just to induct Bootz before going back to golf.
Here’s part of what Limbaugh said:
Neal Boortz almost cost me my syndication. In 1989, we had succeeded onto getting on WLS, the big 89 in Chicago as an affiliate with Tom Tradup, now at Salem. Neal sent me a note. He was always egging me on. He gave me an idea of something that might be fun. At the time, there was a rash of inexplicable traffic accidents around the country. So I said, 'Ladies and gentleman, the problem is too many woman are farding in their cars.' [Yes, the joke is it sounded like he was saying farting.].'
Limbaugh talked about how people were upset he'd even bring that up. But then he would explain that "farding" is to "apply makeup." Tradup suspended Limbaugh for 45 minutes. "We have not had a problem with WLS since," he said.
Boortz then thanked his wife Donna, who has never listened to his show. But in 1990, he told his wife he jsut couldn’t do both law and radio. It was sapping his energy and he had to drop one of them. He figured radio would have to go because he made so much less money via that outlet than law. But his wife said he had to do what he had a passion for, which is radio.
“I love her for that,” he said. “I was never going to get into any legal hall of fame, I promise you!”
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