Garland Robinette Retires From WWL/New Orleans

Robinette

GARLAND ROBINETTE is retiring from ENTERCOM News-Talk WWL-A-F/NEW ORLEANS.

ROBINETTE has hosted "THE THINK TANK" 10a-1p (CT) on WWL for the last 12 years and was a news anchor/reporter for CBS affiliate WWL-TV in 1970-90 and headed a public relations firm before joining WWL in 2005 to replace the late DAVID TYREE.  He has been off the air since mid-APRIL battling pneumonia and said that he will pursue his interest in painting.

In a letter to listeners, ROBINETTE said, "Finally, it’s time to put down my second passion and pick up my first.  In other words, time to put down the microphone and pick up the paint brushes.  40 years in the public eye is a long time, and it’s been a long run of 'wonderfuls.'  Never did I think a boy from the swamps with little education could travel the world, meet presidents, kings, movie stars and see places I had only read and dreamed about.  If we do come back to this world for multiple lifetimes, I think I’m in trouble because I’ve used up all my luck in this one."

“GARLAND recently concluded a battle with pneumonia and decided it’s time to paint and put down the microphone,” said VP/GM CHRIS CLAUS.  “It’s a tough decision for GARLAND; a sad one for us -- he means so much to WWL, to our community, to the region.  His voice, his leadership and undying passion will be greatly missed.”

Operations and Program Director DIANE NEWMAN said, “Magic happens on WWL when the talent is as big as the stage.  GARLAND was that magic.  G brought wisdom, passion and guts to WWL at a time when our city, state, region needed leadership.   He was the voice of the people during Hurricane Katrina, the aftermath and recovery.  From that microphone he drove the recovery and rebirth -- speaking truth to power and accepting nothing less than the change necessary to protect and preserve the jewel that is NEW ORLEANS.  I can still see the float in the first Mardi Gras after Katrina featuring GARLAND as Superman.  He was/is our hero.”

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