Everyone who knows me is well aware of the fact that I am probably the biggest WXBQ radio fan there is. I listen to the station every waking hour. I attend their events, concerts, and remotes at area businesses. I help them celebrate holidays, with little gifts I drop off at their Bristol, Va., studio. And sometimes I just talk to them.
Even if one of the guys leaves the station, like Rich Randall, Gunner Jackson and Richard Quillen have all done – I still try my best to keep in touch. And when I lose one of them, it’s a sad day for me. Today is one of those sad days.
I am very sorry to tell you all that Richard Quillen died Monday afternoon, Feb. 13, 2012, at his Virginia home. Those of you who don’t live within listening range of this great radio station, and those of you who have never followed my lead to listen to WXBQ via their web site, will just have to take my word for it. Richard was a joy to listen to. He could laugh, and joke and when you listened, you had fun.
When I first met Richard, he was doing the morning air show at WXBQ with Bill Blake (top left). We lost Bill in January, 2009. That was the very best radio show ever. It gave us Jim Nasium, Juanita, and the other characters that traveled the radio airwaves every day, and ended up in our homes. One thing for sure – I have a lot of wonderful memories, thanks to WXBQ.
About a year ago, Richard left WXBQ, and went to WAXM Radio in Norton, Va. He continued to do his Saturday night request show, which he had done for a long time at WXBQ. He was also half of the morning show at WAXM, a position he held at WXBQ for as long as I knew him.
A lot of his fans continued to tune in to the Saturday night show at the new station. His regular callers knew him, and he knew them. He knew what questions to ask, and he knew how to get the best out of them. He made his show interesting, and fun. He was so likeable. And he will be missed.
To all of Richard’s family, fans, friends, and wonderful co-workers. I’m thinking about all of you, and offering whatever expression of sympathy I can. Thanks – for all the work you all put into everything you do.
Country
Country, you did a wonderful job on this. I am so proud of the eliquent way you said this. We, and I think I can speak for all of us, are blessed to know you and love you and admire your work. God speed my friend.
COUNTRY…I AM AT A LOSS FOR WORDS…I AM SO SADDENED TO HEAR THIS…WE HAD A LOT OF GOOD TIMES..ME, YOU, RICHARD, REGGIE AND ALL THE OTHERS…BREAKS MY HEART..
i cant belive it you r goen.u well be missed but not forgoten praying for the family
Country, This is a beautifully put. I am saddened to hear the news though. Even though my time in TN was short-lived, I always loved listening to ALL the on-air personalities. Richard and Bill always made my mornings. And I will never forget the laughs. My thoughts and prayers out to all the families.
So sorry to hear about Richard passing away, he will be missed by so many! I had the opportunity to see him on several occasions and even was a guest host on his Saturday night show @ WXBQ! He named me and a Coworker Geri the denture chicks and it stuck! We love you Richard and will miss you so much! Rest in Peace my Friend! One of the origanl Denture chicks Tammy
Great words written here – I loved Richard Quillen – one of the VERY BEST radio personalities ever! RIP Richard … so sad to hear this – prayers for his little girl and wife and family.
I hate to hear this i always had enjoyed sat night house party when id tune in to listen and casys corner he will definitly be missed.
I am so sorry and will dearly miss him. My prayers and my heart goes out to his family.
Great writeup on a wonderful man, Country. I am devastated and saddened at this news.
I am truly saddened to hear about the death of Richard Quillen. I worked with Richard for about 3-years in the late 1990s doing news at WXBQ & WFHG. He was always an encourager….always a listener…but even better, he was a true friend! Richard will be missed. It’s a sad day in the radio industry.
I always loved to listen to Richard on the way to work in the mornings and also on Sat. night. He will be greatly missed.
MY GOSH, THIS NEWS IS TERRIBLE. RICHARD WAS ONE OF THE BEST ANNOUNCER WE EVER HAD. I’VE MEET HIN NUMBER OF TIMES. ALL MY PRAYERS AND LOVE GOES TOO HIS FAMILY. HE WAS ONE IN A MILLION. HE IS NOW IN HEAVEN DOING HIS ANNOUNCER. GOD BLESS.
Dear Country, Thank you so much for such great words of comfort and love about Richard and all our other great WXBQ friends of the airway!!! Richard had a personality that could make anyone smile and laugh. Richard and WXBQ have provided me with some memories of country music and stars that I shall never forget!!! Richard Quillen, me and country music radio will miss you!!!
I am deeply saddened to hear of Richard’s passing. Prayers go out for his loved ones and friends. Richard was a true friend to everyone he ever met. He had such a wonderful personality. Country you did a great job of describing him. Thank you so much for letting us know of his passing.
i am so sorry for your loss! he will be missed. the perry family
He will be missed-I listened to him for many years, and my kids have grown up hearing him on Saturdays alone.
I was so sad this morning when I heard this on the radio. I used to work in Surgoinsville and listened to the morning show religiously. I used to call in so often, they even nicknamed me “The Surgoinsville Sweetheart” and sometimes would put me on air with Gymnasium to flirt and joke. Where I’ve worked the last several yrs, I cannont pick up the station while at work and WXBQ is a blocked website on our computers (go figure!), so on the mornings I have picked up the station on my way to work, I’ve been wondering who the “new guys” were and what happened to the greatest morning show of all time. Thank you for your story. I loved him too.
I have only just heard the news of Richards passing. It is such a tragidy. I can only hope & pray that his wife & little girl will be able to hold on to their wonderful memories they’ve made w/him. It is just heart-breaking when we lose someone like Richard. He was such an all around wonderful person. Radio host, comedian, friend, “wonderful father”, one of those kinds of people that just made you smile on a day when you were at your lowest point. I know the world of country music radio is at a loss for words today. God bless you Richard, for all you did & will continue to do.
It is truly a sad day. My thoughts and prayers are with the Quillen Family. WE all have laughed at his crazy questions and really enjoyed hearing him on the radio. He will be truly missed.
I am very sadden with the news that Richard Quillen has passed away and left us.. My heart goes out to his family and his daughter Casey.. My thoughts and prayers are with them.. His Radio family is sadden very deeply. Even thought he left WXBQ radio station last yr, he is still apart of the the WXBQ family by the listeners he had for so many years… He will be greatly missed by all..
Country, you did a wonderful job with your words to descrbe Richard Quillen…
Richard was a joy to listen to every Saturday night.
He will be truly missed. My thoughts and prayers out to the Quillen Family.
Richard Quillen was one of the “best”, and he will be sorely missed!! He was definintely an entertainer!
So sad. Will miss him and Cassie forever. RIIIIICHARD this is MIIIIICHELLE
Dear Readers,
I knew Richard Quillen had a lot of listeners, fans and friends. As you all know, I had been one of them for a very long time. But, even I didn’t realize how many people loved this man until I started reading all the comments, e-mails, and facebook notes everyone has been sending my direction.
Thank you all, so much. For caring about Richard, and for letting me know how much you cared. Please know I join all of you at this very sad time.
Country
I will forever miss Richard. MY husband and i use to race to get a glass of wine and get in the hot tub in time to listen to Richard on Saturday night.We use to joke about what an exciting night life we had. I lost my husband almost 3 years ago to a tragic death, now RIchard has been taken from us also.Rest in peace Richard you are loved.
Richard will be missed by all. I have been listening to Richard ever since I was a little girl. I loved to listen to him on Saturday night and I would dance and laugh when he would joke with people who called him We also can’t forget the love he had for Ruby. I am sorry for Abby and Casey. I know he loved them and he was a wonder father, husband, and friend.. Richard you will be missed by all… Say hello to Ruby for us and the radio will never be the same with out you here to run Saturday night request show…
Richard was a good friend and a legend in Tri-Cities radio. He will be sorely missed.
Have known Richard for a long time, he could be so funny and was the best friend anyone could have. Love you and will miss you Richard!
Richard, You were the GREATEST!!!!!! Now you and “Ruby” can sing your heavenly songs. Thanks for your many hours of music. Say hi to my Mom and Dad in heaven. Bye.
Rest In Peace, Old Friend!
Richard was great. We took a marketing class together in 1999, and it was just a hoot: he was larger than life, and a wonderful personality. He always made us laugh.
I really like that Richard so sorry to hear the bad news .I used to talk to Richard every night.i go way back to him he was a wonderful person
He was a wonderful person from what my dad Luis colon told me my dad talked to him more then i did he will be very missed R.I.P Richard My thoughts are out to his family.