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Dick Purtan is regarded as Michigan’s most respected and recognized air personality. As host of 104.3 WOMC’s Morning Show with Purtan’s People, he entertains his loyal following of listeners with comedic commentary and topical wit. His cast of characters gives the show witty daily twists and turns, covering current events right off the front pages.
Dick’s work has been recognized on a national level as well. He has twice been named Billboard Magazine’s “Major Market Air Personality of the Year" and is the winner of Radio’s Top Prize, “The National Association of Broadcasters MARCONI Award" as “Major Market Air Personality of the Year." Plus, he has received the Radio & Records “Industry Achievement Award" as “Personality of the Year" four times.
In 2003, Dick was inducted into the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame and in November 2004, he was inducted into the “National Radio Hall of Fame" in Chicago. In April 2006, Dick was inducted into the National Association of Broadcasting Hall of Fame in Las Vegas. Only one person in the radio industry is inducted each year.
Purtan’s dedication and commitment extend beyond his morning show. In 1993, the Detroit News recognized his charitable contributions by naming him "Michiganian of the Year." For 22 years, his annual Salvation Army Radiothon has raised almost $19 million for the Salvation Army's Bed & Bread program. This past February, the 16-hour Radiothon brought in over $2.3 million.
Dick has been profiled on ABC, CBS, NBC and CNN and has also been featured in People, Newsweek, Time and US magazines. Plus, Dick’s show is also included in the archives at the New York Museum of Radio and Television Broadcasting. In their first-ever “Best of Detroit," HOUR Detroit Magazine selected Dick Purtan & Purtan’s People as the city’s best radio morning show. The readers of the Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, HOUR Detroit and Ambassador Magazines also voted Dick the Best Radio Personality.
In April 2004, Dick was also honored with the Detroit Radio Advertising Group’s first ever “Be Fabulous Lifetime Achievement Award." He also was an official Torch Bearer for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Today, Dick sits on the Board of Children’s Hospital of Michigan and over the last 25 years has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Hospital.
Over 15 years ago, Dick and his wife Gail added cancer research to their fundraising efforts. It was then that Dick was diagnosed with prostate cancer. While Dick is cancer free, it was twelve years ago that the Purtans faced another battle, when Gail was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, the deadliest of all women’s gynecological cancers. In both cases, Dick and Gail sacrificed their privacy in exchange for informing the public about their respective cancers. By utilizing Dick’s media exposure, the Purtans have been able to help raise the level of public awareness about cancer, while also promoting early detection through cancer screenings.
In the last several years, the Purtans brought their dedication to finding the early detection, treatment and ultimately the cure for ovarian cancer to a new level when they formed the Gail Purtan Ovarian Cancer Research Fund at the Karmanos Cancer Institute and the Purtan Family Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation. The two funds combined have raised over one million dollars for ongoing research efforts in Detroit and throughout the country. In March 2003, the Purtans were recognized for their contribution to cancer research when they were the recipients of the McCarty Cancer Foundation “Humanitarian of the Year" award.
The Rotary Club of Detroit also presented Dick with the “Stanley S. Kresge Outstanding Philanthropist Award" in June 2003 and Michigan State University’s Department of Telecommunications dedicated the “Dick Purtan Studio" in his honor in October 2003.
Dick Purtan and Purtan’s People can be heard Monday through Friday on 104.3 WOMC from 5:00am to 10:00am, and Saturdays from 6:00am to 10:00am.
