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The final Walt Bodine Show aired on April 27th, 2012, celebrating 72 years of originality and honesty across print, television and radio platforms, as pioneering journalist Walt Bodine retired from KCUR. Walt died at the age of 92 on Sunday, March 24, 2013.MORE ON WALT:Walt's Beat: A Multimedia Journey Through Walt's CareerThe Walt Bodine Audio DocumentaryMarr Sound Archive Walt CollectionKansas City Star: With Bodine’s final show, KC will miss a good friendStoryCorps in KC: Walt Bodine and Tom BodineA TRIBUTE TO WALT FROM MARILYN MAYE:http://kcurstream.umkc.edu/CENTRAL/blog/maye.mp3

Requiem For A Heavyweight

Walt with J.D. Salinger
Photo courtesy of the Walt Bodine Family
Walt with J.D. Salinger

Walt Bodine's final show has inspired a lot of emotions and fond farewells, including this haiku from longtime listener Greg Hack.

Requiem for a Heavyweight

It's been a great ride
For our city's talk show king
Walt ruled for decades
 
From his dad's drugstore
To his KCUR mic
Memories galore
 
Linwood and Troost was
Crossroads of Kansas City
-- And America
 
As a soda jerk
Walt soaked it all up -- asking,
Telling, retelling
 
This city became
Part of Walt Bodine, and he
A big part of it
 
Walt found his calling
Behind a radio mic
Sedalia first
 
Next came Atchison
Then WDAF
Other KC jobs
 
1983
KCUR called, and Walt
Had found his last gig
 
The talk of the town
Whoever and whatever
Walt had on his show
 
Movies and restaurants
Politics, history, gossip
Walt served it all up
 
Walt's been fading, true,
For some years now. Still I'll miss
That voice of our town
 
World heavyweight champ
Rocky Marciano called
It quits on this date
 
Walt Bodine signs off
On this date, too. There are no
Coincidences

TELL US:
Has Walt inspired any poetry in you? Please share any memories you have from times you listened to Walt, stories you enjoyed or Walt stories that hit home for you.

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