Ludlow Porch (October 11, 1934 – February 11, 2011),
born Bobby Crawford Hanson, was an American radio humorist popular in the
Southern United States
The Southern United States (sometimes Dixie, also referred to as the Southern States, the American South, the Southland, or simply the South) is a geographic and cultural region of the United States of America. It is between the Atlantic Ocean ...
. He was the author of many humor books, including ''Fat White Guys Cookbook'' and ''Who Cares about Apathy''. His stepbrother was
Lewis Grizzard
Lewis McDonald Grizzard Jr. (October 20, 1946 – March 20, 1994) was an American writer and humorist, known for his Southern demeanor and commentary on the U.S. Southern states, American South. Although he spent his early career as a newspaper ...
.
Biography
In 1971, ''
Sports Illustrated
''Sports Illustrated'' (''SI'') is an American sports magazine first published in August 1954. Founded by Stuart Scheftel, it was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the National Magazine Award for General Excellence twic ...
'' was looking for five trivia experts to profile.
Lewis Grizzard
Lewis McDonald Grizzard Jr. (October 20, 1946 – March 20, 1994) was an American writer and humorist, known for his Southern demeanor and commentary on the U.S. Southern states, American South. Although he spent his early career as a newspaper ...
, Ludlow's stepbrother, had been a stringer for the magazine and told its editors about Ludlow. The magazine dispatched a writer to visit Ludlow. The writer came away convinced that Ludlow’s head was full of worthless information, and wrote about it.
The 1972 article got the attention of
WSB radio in Atlanta, which asked the local celebrity to come on the air. Station officials at WRNG “Ring Radio” were listening, and invited Ludlow to visit for a week. Ludlow stated, “I came for a week and never left.”
Ludlow worked at WRNG for a decade, before jumping to WSB when Ring Radio switched to an all-news format. Ludlow was a regular at WSB for more than a decade.
Ludlow was a radio talk-show host for over 30 years, first on WRNG, now
WCNN
WCNN (680 kHz) is an AM radio station licensed to North Atlanta and serving the Atlanta-area radio market. It is owned by Dickey Broadcasting and airs a sports radio format. The station is commonly known by the on-air branding as "The Fan". Loc ...
, later on WSB radio, and then on several stations in eight states in the Southeast. Ludlow often walked you down memory lane with a down-home sense of humor and a friendly style. He always ended his show with his famous saying, "Whatever else you do today, you find somebody to be nice to!" To show his appreciation to his regular "Wacko" listeners, Ludlow hosted an annual party for listeners to meet, greet, and eat.
Bill Sanders, president of the Georgia Association of Broadcasters for more than a quarter of a century, said of Ludlow Porch, "He's a true American humorist in the style of Will Rogers. Ludlow's view of the world is a little skewed from center and that difference from the ordinary guarantees peals of laughter. Ludlow lives to make people laugh...mostly at themselves."
Ludlow was inducted into the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame in 2007.
Ludlow died on February 11, 2011, after an extended illness.
Books
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References
External links
Ludlow Porchat Professional Speakers Bureau
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at WOW! Solutions speakers bureau
One hour of Ludlow's show broadcast on C-SPAN in 1988
{{DEFAULTSORT:Porch, Ludlow
1934 births
American humorists
People from Atlanta
2011 deaths