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afternoon, and ultimately, in the morning drive slot. The move to mornings occurred after the death of then host Bob
Collins. In 2008, O'Dell made the decision to retire "on a high note," during a successful time of his career, to move to Nashville and be closer to his children, Michael and Caroline. His last was on December 12, 2008, and was broadcast at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in
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Fund” and has sold personal artwork and
Christmas ornaments yearly that also benefited “The Neediest Kids Fund”. Since retirement he has produced numerous watercolor paintings that have been sold to benefit the Living Water Project, A Nashville Based charity that drills clean water wells around the world.
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He created Bite Your Butt
Mustard (BYB) and a full line of condiment products which went on to make over $ 1 million for the Tribune's main charity “The Neediest Kids Fund” He then published a cookbook that included recipes using the “Bite Your Butt” products with proceeds going to “The Neediest Kids
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in
Chicago. In 1987, O'Dell was hired as the afternoon drive host for the station. Spike would go on to work 21 years at WGN. He remained at the top of the ratings in all the dayparts he hosted while at the station. O'Dell moved around a few times during his tenure at WGN, with notable stints in the
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in the morning slot from 5 to 9 a.m, following the death of
Collins. During the time O'Dell held that slot, his show was consistently the top rated morning show in the Chicago market. O'Dell's tenure with WGN concluded on December 12, 2008, with his final broadcast from the
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107:, where he affectionately was referred to as “Spike at the Mic”. This proved to be a significant position, as it allowed O'Dell to move, in 1981, to a Major Market Morning Radio spot at
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in East Moline at the age of 25. While working at the factory, he disc jockeyed on weekends there as well as doing some fill-in slots. In 1977 Spike took another part-time job with
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Made Famous, his signature giveaway prize, “The Goose Island Spike O’Dell Hat”, which showed up
Presidents, Astronauts, Late night comedians, both the north and south poles, etc.
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2014 Inducted into the WGN Radio Walk of Fame on Friday, June 27 in
Pioneer Court along with 9 other legendary broadcasters to commemorate WGN Radio's 90-year history.
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1987 WGN-AM Chicago, IL Spike was hired as afternoon host 3-7pm and moved to mornings on
February 9, 2000 after Bob Collins was killed in a tragic plane crash.
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According to a 2013 interview, O'Dell now enjoys spending time with his five grandchildren, golfing, photography, watercolor and acrylic painting, and sleeping late.
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Three guys fresh out of college touring
America in their Chevy Van would call in from various spots across country as a spin-off of “See the USA in Your Chevrolet”.
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in
Arlington Heights, Illinois. The broadcast was part of WGN’s Hometown Voices Tour,’ which featured all of the station’s shows and was created at
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Started the “Spike O’Dell Coffee Cup Museum” (a collection of paper coffee cups signed by people interviewed on his show) first located in
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Spike O'Dell was born the son of East Moline Police Chief Merle and Dot O’Dell, along with siblings John and Jeni. He graduated from
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Renamed River Drive that was next to the KSTT studios and across the street from the “Hostess Foods Bakery” to “Twinkie Blvd.”
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Also known for frequently including in his broadcasts the phrase, “You aint gettin this kind of radio up and down the dial”.
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Claimed he could do an hour on any topic someone could throw at him. He went on to do 1 hour on pencils and mustard.
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2003 Planetary Studies Foundation Received the Astronaut James A. Lovell “Failure is not an Option” annual award
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119:(“KiiK 104”). In 1987, Billboard Magazine awarded Spike “Top 40 Air Personality of the Year” in a Medium Market.
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A segment called “Now You Know” that required listeners to remember a crazy bit of trivia for prizes
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2008 Final Broadcast of “The Spike O’Dell Show” at the Metropolis Theatre on December 12.
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The Billboard magazine award led to a call from then program director Dan Fabian to interview at
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in Nebraska in 1971–1973. O'Dell worked summers on a garbage truck and was a security guard at
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490:"O'Dell Officially Handed Reins to Morning Show – Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL)"
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Coined the phrase that would become a staple term at WGN-AM “The 50,000 Watt Love Pump”
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radio in Moline Illinois. Following this, he obtained a full-time morning position at
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590:"Very RARE Spike O'Dell WGN Radio Chicago 720 Am "The Hat" GOOSE Island Vintage"
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Created a segment with his Sports Reporter, David Kaplan, called “Theme Sports”.
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1998 Billboard Magazine “Top 40 Air Personality of the Year in Medium Market”
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516:"Plays, Musicals and Concerts in the Northwest Chicago Suburbs – Metropolis"
178:“Ruthie”, the elderly gossip columnist from the small town of Buda Illinois.
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Featured interview with Spike and Chicagoland Radio and Media site in 2013
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1999 A.I.R (Achievement in Radio) Awards recipient “Best Afternoon Show”
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565:"The Spike O'Dell Podcast from 720 WGN | Fluctu8 Podcast Directory"
414:"New book explores pioneering Quad-City radio station | Lifestyles"
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Donald Koch from “Koch's Shell” in Cairo, IL for a gas price report.
465:"Spike's last mic: EM native son does Q-C proud | Editorials"
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541:"O'Dell signs off with final show from Metropolis – Daily Herald"
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The first article written about Spike's entry into Chicago radio
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20. Interview Conducted by grandson Cade Martin October 9, 2022
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689:"Tolls no more? It's cause for celebration | Bill Wundram"
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2001 Chicagoland A.I.R. Awards winner for “Best Morning Show”
328:"Spike O'Dell to spike the mic | Fun and Entertainment"
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2000 Inducted into his high schools “Hall of Fame” (UTHS)
714:"Walk of Fame Induction Ceremony | WGN Radio – 720 AM"
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Robert Feder. "Spike O'Dell tapped to succeed Collins".
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Door County Bakery – Spike O'Dell Coffee Cup display
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87:when he took a part-time job at WEMO-FM radio.
614:"Backdoor Bakery Studios – Door County Bakery"
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95:Odell's first radio hosting position was at
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16:Former radio host in Chicago (born 1953)
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750:Talkers Magazine's “Heavy 100 Talkers”
389:"Bob Collins Dies In Plane Collision"
169:Otis Fanortner from Anchorage, Alaska
75:in 1971, and then spent two years at
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153:1982–1987 KIIK-FM Davenport, IA
147:1978–1980 KSTT-AM Davenport, IA
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775:People from East Moline, Illinois
150:1980–1982 WBT-AM Charlotte, NC
141:1976–1977 WEMO-FM East Moline
53:Metropolis Performing Arts Centre
30:(born May 21, 1953), a native of
780:Radio personalities from Chicago
302:"WGN Archives | WGN Plus"
262:"WGN Archives | WGN Plus"
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664:Spike O'Dell (January 1997).
364:"CRM Interview: Spike O'Dell"
144:1977–1978 WQUA Moline, IL
645:Articles.chicagotribune.com
393:Articles.chicagotribune.com
129:Arlington Heights, Illinois
73:United Township High School
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639:Jim Mueller (1993-01-28).
368:Chicagoradioandmedia.com
215:Charitable contributions
34:, is an American former
677:– via Amazon.com.
667:Spike's B.Y.B. Cookbook
224:Recognitions and awards
81:International Harvester
208:Door County, Wisconsin
641:"Cutting The Mustard"
85:Rock Island, Illinois
32:East Moline, Illinois
545:Prev.dailyherald.com
439:"News-Talk 1110 WBT"
288:. March 2, 2000. 41.
520:Metropolisarts.com
445:on August 25, 2014
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286:Chicago Sun-Times
204:Beloit, Wisconsin
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91:Radio career
77:York College
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61:Tom Langmyer
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790:1953 births
693:Qctimes.com
469:Qctimes.com
418:Qctimes.com
332:Qctimes.com
266:Wgngold.com
48:Bob Collins
769:Categories
699:2016-03-03
674:2016-03-03
650:2016-03-03
596:2016-03-03
575:2014-06-24
550:2016-03-03
539:Cox, Ted.
525:2016-03-03
500:17 January
475:2016-03-03
424:2016-03-03
399:2016-03-03
374:2016-03-03
338:2016-03-03
308:2016-03-03
271:2016-03-03
249:References
164:Radio show
67:Early life
36:radio host
40:WGN Radio
724:June 24,
624:June 24,
449:June 24,
117:KIIK-FM
105:KSTT-AM
97:WEMO-FM
44:Chicago
20:William
592:. eBay
124:WGN-AM
109:WBT-AM
28:O'Dell
24:Spike
726:2014
626:2014
502:2022
451:2014
101:WQUA
57:KMOX
38:for
111:in
83:in
42:in
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