WTOP's Day Makes His Shakespearean Exit

WTOP anchor Richard Day didn't want a cake or even a farewell announcement. At 70, Day's last day at the station was Friday. The Julliard-trained Shakespearean actor will be missed. He gave WTOP the best compliment anyone could -- he said the place was run "without ego and selfishness and instead with creativity and inventiveness." Day joined WTOP in 1985. Before that, he was a reporter for syndicated television. At 15, he became a professional musician. Later he was a page for CBS where he worked on "The Ed Sullivan Show" and "What's My Line." See the sweet memo. From: Farley, Jim Sent: Monday, January 28, 2013 8:51 AM To: DC_Staff Subject: Richard Day has left the building Yep. Yesterday was his last day before heading into retirement. Richard is such a private guy that he did not want a farewell in the Newsroom, a cake or even an announcement before his last day. Not many of you know that he is a Julliard-trained Shakespearean actor and clearly, he knows how to make an exit. You really have to admire a guy who at 70 still plays tennis regularly and participates in Xtreme skiing and car racing. Richard has been a stalwart WTOP news anchor since 1985. Here is part of what he told me: Roger Mudd called his memoir “The Place To Be, CBS News, Washington And The Golden Age Of Broadcasting”. I never got to Roger’s level but I feel much the same…….I was at the place to be, WTOP and Washington and part of that golden age. I got my first job in radio in 1958!!!! That’s when you learned to do EVERYTHING….pretty much a staff announcer…….even run the transmitter. That was interrupted by school and the Navy but since 1965 I have worked in radio and TV continuously…..sometimes but not often enough with people I admired and respected. But in all that time I was out of work only 2 weeks so it was a pretty good run. I also had the good luck to work with you and observe how a station should be properly run….without ego or selfishness and instead with creativity and inventiveness….you have been able to re-invent this format. Hope you have an enjoyable last year of your career before you make the transition. Thank you Richard We’ll keep Richard’s e-mail connected for a week for those of you who want to reach out to him. Richard Day is a Class Act and I will sorely miss his quiet professionalism.

Fishbowl

WTOP's Day Makes His Shakespearean Exit

Betsy Rothstein

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Betsy Rothstein