Holding a B.A. degree in Theatre and English with a strong backround in Communications from Iowa Wesleyan College, in Mount Pleasant, IA, Rick Fischer has been with KMEM since the day the station signed on the air, March 29th, 1982.
Over the years Fischer has served primarily as an on-air personality who also serves as the News Director, does commercial production, and color commentary for high school football. KMEM now offers local news, weather and sports on www.kmemfm.com, so even folks far from home can keep up to date on local events.
Fischer has been affiliated with Clark County Indian Football since the late 1980′s, being the primary color commentator for the late Jim Sears, Ron Block, and now Andy Middleton. While every year has been exciting, the 2008 football season was a very special one, with the Clark County Indians going 15-0, as the Indians set a record for consecutive wins that year and won the Missouri Class 2A football state championship at the Edward D. Jones Dome in St. Louis.
Fischer has also had the opportunity to help train a couple of major professionals working in the broadcast industry, including Clark County High School and Mizzou Alum David Hunziker, who is now the voice of the Oklahoma State Cowboys, and Kim Ray, who went on to broadcast network jobs in New York and in the Kansas City market.
Fischer says, “Bringing listeners exciting games with the Indians and the rest of the Tri-Rivers and now the Clarence Cannon conference has been a real thrill ride over the years. I’ve been fortunate enough to have seen and been a part of broadcasting everything from conference to district championship games, and even a state championship season when the Clark County Football Indians went 15-0 and won the class 2 state championship title in 2008 by defeating the Maryville Spoofhounds (yes, that’s really their mascot!) at the Edward D. Jones Dome in St. Louis! It just doesn’t get any more exciting than that!”
Fischer enjoys working with the public, meeting the athletes and their parents, and even getting to know them on a personal level. Fischer is also frequently asked to speak to students at career days on the high school and college level for those interested in a career in communications and journalism. Fischer’s on-air duties have changed slightly due to programming changes. Fischer now focuses more on news coverage, attending a number of meetings and public events.
Fischer is proud to have been a part of KMEM’s award-winning success over the years. Fischer has been recognized by the local Rotary Club as thier Outstanding Citizen and Community Volunteer in 1999, and Fischer and KMEM co-owner Mark Denney were also recognized recently by Rotary for KMEM’s continuing support of Rotary efforts over the years. Fischer serves as News Director at KMEM FM in Memphis, hosts a daily award-winning community affairs program called “Coffee Break” on the road weekdays Monday through Friday in various communities at 8:30AM on 100.5 FM, and handles other program issues on KMEM affiliates, KOJY in Bloomfield, IA and now KRNF in Montezuma, IA. Fischer has also received three honorary FFA memberships from different schools due to his support of their FFA programs, and more recently, Fischer received a very prestigious honor, by being named by University of Missouri Vice Provost Dr. Michael D. Ouart to the Extension Leaders Honor Roll for his long-term commitment and support of the MU Extension programs.
e-mail Rick at rfischer@kmemfm.com
This article comes from Real Country 100.5 www.kmemfm.com
