Apology to WGMD
November 14th, 2007 by Dan GaffneyJudson Bennett sent a letter to his Coastal Conservative Network, after one of our talk show hosts resigned his position at WGMD. His letter fueled all sorts of crazy conspiracy theories and predictions of the financial demise of Resort Broadcasting Company. The wacky theories about “why Randy left†were wrong, and I’m happy to report so were the predictions of our doom.  Today, Jud sent this letter, reprinted here with his permission.Â
Dear Dan,
When Randy Nelson’s employment with WGMD ended, I wrote a rather vitriolic letter to my network based on the information that Randy gave me. Although, I did not say anything negative about you, I was extremely hard on the station’s owner, David Schumacher. I have personally regretted it ever since and my conscience has bothered me. One of my greatest strengths and one my greatest weaknesses is that I usually “wear my heart on my sleeve.” Frankly, I was upset at losing my Tuesday bully pulpit that Randy provided, and I unnecessarily over reacted. Although Randy gave WGMD a different perspective that was popular, nobody is indispensable and life goes on. Nobody really knows that better than I. Furthermore, the owner can do whatever he wants with his station, and that is reality. Man, I was indeed wrong, and as a Christian I feel the need to express my feelings about it now.
Regardless, I am sorry for causing the station any difficulty (if indeed I did) by my post at that time. Please accept my humble apologies to you and to all at WGMD including Mr. Schumacher. I like WGMD and you all do a great job in our community.
Sincerely,
Judson Bennett
November 14th, 2007 at 1:28 pm
Dan, nice letter from you, but especially nice from Judson. I personally still do miss Randy and his format, but it sounds like he is doing quite well in his new business ventures. You both are to be commended for your actions in this matter.
November 14th, 2007 at 3:32 pm
Likewise, I too miss Randy. He had a large number of interesting people on as guests. This, combined with his preparation and interviewing expertise, provided a most interesting program that kept us very well informed about local issues and the different sides surrounding them. Not only was his departure a loss to WGMD, it was a loss to all of us, and still is.
When a person of Randy’s talent and stature left, I could not help but wonder what happened, since it happened suddenly and without explanation. At the time, I offered no theories, but I did express my disappointment on this forum and to David Schoumacher privately, a disappointment which lasts to this day.
And by the way Jud, I did not find your letter to be “vitriolic”; rather it was to the point at that time. Perhaps you have learned something since to which I am not privy. Therefore, I continue to stand by your letter until I learn otherwise.
November 15th, 2007 at 4:20 am
There can only be one star at WGMD, no room for two.
November 15th, 2007 at 9:27 am
Perry,
Thank you for your post. The bottom line is that I regretted my attack on the owner, David Schumacker and my ridiculous prognostications about WGMD, the day after I sent out my letter. Although Randy and I are friends and he did indeed have a great show, my public comments were totally unprofessional and inappropriate. I have not learned anything new to which you are not privy that changes my good opinion of Randy Nelson.
Regardless, nobody, no matter how good they are is indespensible. I have always enjoyed WGMD, enjoyed my indirect affiliation with the folks there (well before Randy ever came into the picture), and I enjoy listening to the station currently. Dan Gaffney built that station to what it is now and deserves allot of credit. He is a real pro. Jared and Bill Colley who replaced Randy do good jobs, as well. People come and go in this industry for many reasons. It was not my business to get involved in any of WGMD’s internal problems. I always knew that and allowed myself to overreact anyway when Randy Nelson resigned. It was dumb and it was wrong.
That being said I appreciate your support for me, but I have learned to admit when I’ve made a mistake. It is the only way I can sleep at night. My apology to the radio station was the right thing to do and I stand by it, regardless of some of the flack I’ve already received.
November 15th, 2007 at 7:57 pm
That’s all fine and good, Jud…and I do applaud your belief in apologizing when one is wrong, inappropriate or even hasty. I do it myself and not ashamed to admit it. I also believe in giving credit where it is due but, regarding this apology to Dan, David and the station…you may also want to consider apologizing to those of us who responded to your rant and have since given you flak. It’s all well and good to offer a public apology to certain individuals, whomever they may be but how much do you think the rest of us would have known or been privy to had it not been for your “rant”? We certainly favoured Randy and, in particular, his style of conducting himself and his show (and there IS no-one else at the station who conducts themselves as he did other than, most of the time, Maria Evans) with dignity and civility….consistently I never heard that man be rude to anyone, ever. But while we may have wondered why he suddenly disappeared HE was not the one to publicize to all and sundry. You did…and apparently you stood by that blog for long enough. Kinda made the balls which 80+ responders fired.
I admire anyone who stands by their principles and beliefs but Perry is certainly not wrong in his, me in mine or any of the others in theirs. I’m far from suggesting you “made us angry”…we can all do that for ourselves but you were the one to provide the outlet for us to vent. If you believe you made a mistake, Jud…and with that “mistake” you fired up everyone on your blog…do I take it we also “made a mistake” in being as angry as you passed to the rest of us what you knew? What do you think would be the better part of valour or honesty…you apologising to your readers or expecting us to apologise because, having trusted what you told us we were also “inappropriate?? I hope not the latter because it will never happen. We’ve had almost eight years of politicians and wannabe’s vacillating and fence sitting, many of us long-tired of it. Sorry you seem to have joined them.
November 15th, 2007 at 8:41 pm
OK Nancy, I apoligize to everyone, but don’t make the mistake of thinking I have joined anybody. I am independent and will remain so.
November 16th, 2007 at 8:50 am
Very good post Nancy–my thoughts exactly. When I wrote the first post commending Jud for his apology I thought that was appropriate. However, I really do agree with all your comments regarding the rant . I am still upset about the whole incident with Randy and it has been a long time since that took place. You are absolutely correct in your statement regarding Randy’s polite manner towards everybody. You are also correct in stating that Maria is the only one who has that quality now that Randy is gone. We might never know what caused Randy to leave, but rest assured that he is sorely missed by more than just a few listeners. You can catch Randy on a commercial spot that is on TV sponsored by Kaylor-Kent Mortgage. Judson also appears in that ad. I have seen it several times and it is a good ad.
November 16th, 2007 at 11:01 am
Folks,
I ‘d really like to end this discussion if possible. Things happen in life for many reasons. My apology to WGMD was warrented, necessary, and indeed justified. I shared some of my reasons. Randy had a great show, but he made the choice to leave WGMD for his own reasons. I completely over-reacted based on what he told me and I should not have done so. I made a mistake and I have aplogized for it. Let’s move on. Thank you.
November 16th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
You got it, Jud…but remember that those who choose not to economize on the truth have good memories. If for no other reason than they don’t have to worry about what they told to whom or when. So when I hear you back on the station promoting your platform or cause all that will be heard will be a resounding “click”…off. Without integrity you have nothing to offer constituents or county.
November 16th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
Nancy, he did the “Christian” thing. Now back to that bridge I have to sell you.
November 16th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
Perhaps Judson wants his “bully pulpit” back.
November 17th, 2007 at 6:20 pm
As someone who was a constent caller to Randy’s show , let me say that I also was extremely upset to hear that it had ended. The manor in which it ended did not help.
Even when Randy and I disagreed over the wind issue , he still remained professional, though sometimes I felt like I may have gotten the hook a little quicker on that topic .
I have talked to Randy only once since he left the station. And while he did tell me his side of the story, I didn’t ask , and he didn’t give me permission to talk about it. So I won’t.
Let me just say that what he told me proves to me that he remained a professional to the very end , and stuck to his principles. And that above all else I respect in anyone, even those I disagree with.
I imagine that what drove Jud to his rant was his feelings for Randy as a friend. I can understand that.
And if with time he sees that he may of over re-acted than an apology is the correct thing to do.
Maybe if the station had chosen to handle things differently , then it would have been clear to all , and they could have formed their own oppinions.
Now let me say , I am still a constent caller to the station, too much so for the liking of some listeners, and I do enjoy Jared’s show but for different reasons than I did Randy’s.
Losing Randy has left a huge hole in the afternoon. Sorry Bill .
Randy had a depth to his show that is not to be found on the station now.
He brought up topics on national as well as local, and took the time to realy discuss it , and not just see how many calls he could take ,or topics he could cover in four hours.
But every on air personality is going to be different. Randy was completely different than Ron Letterman, and that is another story , isn’t it.
Jud I forgive you for re-acting the way you did when you felt a friend had been mistreated. But if you are concidering a political career, and I believe you are, you may want to relize that once you say something it’s not up to you when its time to move on.