One of my first jobs, after graduating from high school, was working at WBLK radio station. In 1964, I went for the interview and George Lorenz hired me. I was thrilled and honored to be his secretary. I felt as though I was working for a celebrity! When I was younger, I always listened to WKBW when George was the DJ and just loved it when he would say: “The Hound’s Around”. In fact, I used to imitate him! I thought he was the greatest and coolest guy on radio!!
While I was working for him, I remember he had a contest going and he announced on the radio that the winners would win a box of Whitman’s Chocolates if they could answer some questions correctly. Well, there were several winners and George gave me a list of people to call and inform them that they had won the candy. Most people were excited about winning but one lady gave me a difficult time. She kept telling me that she didn’t believe me. She even made a remark that I sounded too young to even be working. I just couldn’t convince her that I was calling from WBLK. I had asked her to hold the line a minute (and am shocked that she didn’t hang up on me) and I asked George what I should tell this woman. All he said was: “Tell her that, if she would like the Whitman’s Chocolates, she can pick it up at the radio station at her earliest convenience”. Evidently, she still didn’t believe me because she never came to pick it up! I was really quite upset. I had just started working for George and wanted to do a good job and make a good impression. He was just so understanding and told me not to worry about it. He said, “If she doesn’t want the candy, you can have it”!!
I worked at WBLK for a couple of years and then went to work for the Erie County Health Department. Many years later, one of my co-workers and I were talking about George and he mentioned that he was a friend of his. I had told him that I worked at WBLK and was George’s secretary. We both thought…what a small world! About a week later, he presented me with a cassette of WBLK’s 20th anniversary show. I was so surprised and was so happy to have a remembrance of such a great and talented man….George Lorenz!