Not your normal program notes here today folks.  I just cranked up the word processor and imma sit here and just let the words flow for a while.  Some of this will be repetitive … some not.  That’s just the way it goes when you go for it.

First of all … I am truly blessed.  I don’t really know how all of this happened, but what a charmed working life I’ve lead.  No, it hasn’t all been wonderful.  It’s only the last 20 years when I’ve looked forward to going to work (if you want to call this work) every single day.  Yes, it’s been 42 years as a talk show host, but only half of those years --- the last half thankfully --- have been such a complete joy. 

I stepped off a Greyhound Bus in Atlanta on July 2, 1967.  Severe domestic intranquility (first marriage) caused me to leave Texas A&M just six hours away from my diploma.  I ran to Atlanta to seek some advice from my parents and ended up taking a job here, dragging the domestic disaster along.  No go.  It didn’t take.  That’s good though, but without this chain of events I would never met The Queen. Everything happens for a reason. 

Let’s see … just what did I do to earn money over the years?  Worked at a department store as an assistant buyer in fine jewelry and then carpeting.  Worked at an agency recruiting sales executives.  Wrote speeches and then conducted investigations for the Governor of Georgia.  Sold industrial chemicals on the road.  Worked as a night auditor at several Atlanta motels.  Sold life insurance.  Loaded trucks at a freight depot.  Worked at the bulk mail facility for the Post Office.  Wow!  I’m exhausted just listing this stuff!

You know the story of my beginning in talk radio  It was at WRNG, Ring Radio, 42 years ago.  The morning host, who had befriended me, committed suicide.  I showed up at the station and asked for his job.  Read “Maybe I Should Just Shut Up and Go Away” if you want to know more.  Long story short – I got the gig and have pretty much been doing talk radio ever since.

Now over the years I worked for three stations in Atlanta.  WRNG, then WGST and finally WSB.  These three stations couldn’t have been more different experiences if they had tried.

WRNG was the first.  Atlanta’s first talk station; a 1000 watt daytime low-power station with few listeners being run by people who really had no clue what talk radio was and what it was to become.  One particular program director at WRNG decided it would be a good idea for every host to present a plan stating what they were going to talk about each and every hour for the following two weeks.  Can you imagine that?  We were not allowed to react to the current news --- everything had to be mapped out in advance.  That program director didn’t last too long.  Then there was the program director who was convinced that no talk show host could last more than three years in a radio market.  I had been there for three years … so he fired me.  That’s when I decided to go to law school.  Again … there’s a lot more to this story, and it’s (shameless plug) in the book. They quickly hired me back, however, and I ended up practicing law and doing talk radio there for a few agonizing years.  They couldn’t handle the dual careers, so I quit.

Next came WGST.  They were willing to agree to a contract whereby I would do talk radio shows when I could --- but that my law career was number one.  They always had to have someone on standby in case of a last minute court appearance, a trial or some other interference.  Since I could not promise them my full devotion to the show, the pay was rather low --- about 1/30^th of what I’m making on this, the day of my retirement.

Law practice AND a talk show?  That meant days that started at 5:00 in the morning and often ended up around 10:00 at night.  Finally Donna put her foot down.  One or the other .. .but not both (jobs, not her feet).  I told her I would quit one job, but which one?  “Where can you earn the most money?” she asked.  “Practicing law.”  “OK.  Now what do you enjoy the most?”  “Doing the radio show.”  “Fine .. .quit the law practice.  Do what you love.  We’ll be OK.”

I was still concerned about the money, though, so I went to the WGST management and told them I was going to do one or the other, but not both.  I provided them with copies of my income tax returns to prove my current income, and said they had to match that or I was gone.  Inexplicably, they responded by offering me a cut in pay for a new contract.  We never talked again.  I simply walked out of the station after the show on the day my contract ended.

The very next day my agent called to say that some guy named Marc Morgan wanted to talk to me at WSB.  My agent and I had breakfast and headed to see Marc.  He made an offer that was so sensational --- twice what I had been making in radio and law --- and I said yes on the spot.  I then folded the law practice and went on an “inactive” status with the State Bar of Georgia.  That was 1992.  After a six-month non-compete (which we spent traveling) I started on the air on March 3, 1993.  That was 20 years ago.

The person WGST hired to replace me was a young talk show host from Huntsville, Alabama named Sean Hannity.  Though we were competing against each other, we became good friends. I can tell you that I’ve tried to retire two times before, and each time Sean talked me out of it.  This time he tried, but couldn’t convince me.  Perhaps I’ll be filling in for him from time to time in the years to come.

So … here we are.  My last show. 

Why retire?  Good question.  People don’t walk away from jobs like this too often, especially one that pays as well as this does.  In fact … in the broadcasting industry voluntary retirements are somewhat rare.  Usually the on-air personality finds themself being gradually shoved aside until the day comes that they’re told they’ve hosted their last newscast or show.  Broadcasters don’t particularly like to give their on-air personnel any time to say goodbyes for fear of what they’re going to say when there’s no job security at stake.  Maybe my last few months on the air have proven this to be a wise course of action after all.

OK .. back to the question.  Why retire?  First, because I can.  Thanks to The Queen’s amazing money-management skills I can now quit working without any change in our financial status.  That’s a nice position to be in, and I can’t say how much I admire her for what she’s done for us. 

Then there’s travel.  Donna and I share a love for travel.  She has been to six continents.  I’ve been to two.  I need to catch up.  Here’s a story that might illustrate the point.  Back in the 1980s we visited the Soviet Union.  It was a two-week trip with The Friendship Force.  We started our visit in Leningrad, then took the Red Arrow to Moscow.  When the first week was over we were to head south to Soviet Georgia and stay for a while in Tbilisi.  But wait!  I had a radio show to do, and I couldn’t take two weeks off.  So I got a cab in Moscow and headed for the airport to fly back to Atlanta while Donna and our friends continued our journey.  I was not a happy talk show host.  There have been many instances like this … Donna on the road, me on the air.  Australia.  New Zealand.  Tahiti.  Hong Kong.  Spain.  Portugal.  Morrocco.  Frankly … I’ve lost track of the places The Queen has visited while I was back here in Atlanta unable to take more than five days off from the show. 

You’ve heard me talk about the BoortzBus … our motor coach.  Now we’ve been running around in motorhomes for nearly 40 years … but the trips were always one-week trips.  If we wanted to visit some of the national parks out west we would have to hire someone to drive the coach out there .. then we would fly out and drive for a week from point A to point B where our drivers would meet us to drive the coach back while we flew.  No more.  Now we’ve realized our life’s dream of a Prevost from Millennium Luxury Coaches in Sanford, Florida and we’re going to enjoy points A and B .. and everything else on the way. If you want a hint of how life will be in the BoortzBus … just click here and watch the video. 

To be honest .. the final retirement decision wasn’t made until last November 7^th.  When I saw that the voters in this country had reelected this unqualified disaster to rule (his words) over our Republic for four more years, I knew that was it for me.  Obama is a destroyer.  A sneering, menacing, arrogant destroyer – and I’m not going to let him destroy the rest of my life.  I simply an NOT going to be one of his “tax the rich” victims.  The solution is simple.  Stop earning.  Minimal income, minimal income taxes.  Live off your investments.  I’m ready.  From my standpoint, Dear Ruler, your tax increase reduced revenues.  It certainly didn’t increase them.  I have many personal friends who are in exactly the same boat and have made the same decision.  I don’t belong to Obama, and I’m not going to work 50% of every working day for him.  I’ve escaped --- as of noon today.

For the last 20 years I’ve worked with some incredible professionals and people at WSB.  If you’re in broadcasting and you’re not working for Cox Media Group … well … let’s just say it sucks to be you.  Here’s the problem though… as soon as I start listing the incredible people I’ve been working and playing with for the last 20 years I’m going to miss someone and that wouldn’t be good.  So … I’m just going to say a word about four of them.

First .. there’s Royal Marshall.  Royal was hired to be my board operator (engineer) long before my first show.  It was his job to handle the technical aspect of the show .. microphones, commercials, transmitters .. everything it took to get us on the air and keep us there.  Now Royal was black, so the people at my previous employer wasted no time trying to poison the waters.  The word was slipped to Royal:  Neal is a bigot and a racist.  He’s an arrogant SOB and completely impossible to work with.  I had no idea this was happening, but it didn’t matter.  Royal was friendly and welcoming from the first day.  That’s his nature.  Several weeks after the show began Royal offered me an opinion on our topic of discussion off the air.  I was impressed with what he had to say, so I asked him to repeat it when the commercial break was over and we were back live.  Over the course of the next few weeks this happened several times, and the listners reacted extremely well to Royal’s input.  Finally I told him that whenever he had anything to say -- whenever he wanted to offer a thought or opinion – he didn’t need to ask.  Just open the mic and jump in with both feet. Trust me, Royal wasn’t a bit shy, and he jumped my case more than once.  He was a hit.  The listeners loved him – especially when he disagreed with me. 

Royal’s last show was exactly two years ago today.  Another Friday.  That evening Royal suffered a fatal heart attack.  He was 42.  We learned only then that Royal’s father had died waiting for a heart replacement at the age of 45.   To this day I wish I had looked Royal in the eye and told him how much I loved him.  I hope he knows.  I think he does. 

Then there’s Belinda Skelton.  When I first arrived at WSB Belinda was working for Clark Howard.  That’s kinda strange because Clark Howard’s wife-to-be was working for me!  Anyway … as the personnel shifted at the station I made it clear to anyone who would listen that I wanted Belinda on my team.  She has been the executive producer for my show for the past 18 years, and believe me when I say that’s been a 12-hour-a-day job for her.  Just ask her what happens when I try to call at 5:30 in the morning and she’s not answering the phone.

I’ve written pretty extensively about Belinda in the book.  Let’s just say that her vibrant – never met a stranger – personality has made her the number one female radio personality in Georgia and quite possibly the Belinda is notorious for her (lack of) spelling ability.  That’s why she’s in radio.  There, they’re and their are pronounced the same way.  Belinda has really become an invaluable asset during the last four years while my show has largly been coming from my studio in Naples, Florida.  I have her on camera constantly.  (Wouldn’t you love to have the web address?)  I would gauge by her expressions and reactions how my comments on the air were registering with listeners.  If Belinda looked interested, the listeners were interested.  If she started doing her nails or twisting her hair I knew to change directions.  Belinda likes to say that we fight like a married couple, but without the makeup sex.  By the way …. You can read much more about Belinda in my book.  The links are below --- and it is a GREAT book, even if I do say so myself.

Belinda will be starting her own show on WSB in the first weekend in February.  It’s called “Atlanta’s Lifestyles with Belinda Skelton.”  If I know she will pour her heart and soul into this show and it will become hugely popular.  Belinda will also continue to work for me, producing my daily commentaries on WSB, and handling my business affairs in Atlanta while The Queen and I are on the road.  I will do everything I can to make sure Belinda is always a part of my life; she’s my little sister; and the same goes for the next member of the Boortz Team ….

That would be Cristina Gonzalez.  Actually, that would be Cristina Michelle “Precious” Gonzalez Schaefer.  Sometimes known as “Shorty.”  Cristina is 100% Cuban.  She sometimes wears a key on a gold chain around her neck.  That is the key to her grandfather’s house in Havana that was seized by Castro.  She is determined to go back there and use that key to reclaim family property.  The house is now a consulate or some such thing.  Cristina first came to us as a Summer intern about six or seven years ago.  She was studying Political Science at NYU.  After six weeks as an intern we knew that we wanted her after her graduation, but there was one more year of NYU to go, so it was back to New York with Cristina.  There she came to the attention of some character named Sean Hannity.  He wanted her to come to work for HIM after graduation, so the bidding war was on.  We won … we won with Georgia taxes, Southern charm and warm weather.  In no time at all Cristina was irreplaceable.

Cristina has two real talents.  One, she’s a superb researcher.  I can be talking about a subject and within seconds she’s handing me documents (if I’m in Atlanta) or sending me links (if I’m in Naples) that make me sound a lot smarter than I really am.  Her second unique talent is that somehow she hears in that head of hers exactly how a talk show should sound, and she’s not afraid to tell me when I stray off base.

Cristina will be going to work as the executive producer of the Erick Erickson show on WSB.  Hannity would still like to hire her, but the NYC climate is not agreeable to hot Latinas.

Finally, There’s Jamie Dupree

I don’t have the depth of a personal relationship that I had with Royal and still have with Belinda and Cristina, and that’s not a good thing.  I think that if Jamie lived in Naples we would have a good time paling around --- that is if he doesn’t mind hanging around with an old fart!

Jamie and I were first put together on the air after the Islamic terror attacks of 9/11. Who better to tell us what was going on in Washington than a guy who was watching the smoke from the Pentagon through his office window n the Capitol Building, and waiting for that jetliner to come down the National Mall with U.S. Capitol painted on the nose cone? 

Jamie is the most objective reporter I know.  Over the years I’ve developed somewhat of a talent for detecting bias in reporting – and I can honestly say that I’ve never seen that in Jamie’s.  Conservatives will swear he has a liberal bias, and liberals will swear he’s a right wing nut job.  That’s just about perfect.

I suspect Jamie has every reporter’s notebook he’s owned since he started his reporting career.  Every single news story is filed away.  Every blog entry is archived.  Not only is Jamie a source of information for our listeners, he’s a research treasure trove for other reporters in Washington.  When a reporter has an “I wonder if” moment, Jamie is the go to guy. 

My one frustration with Jamie has been his steadfast refusal to admit that the Washington and DC press corps is biased to toward the Obama and Democrat version of the truth.  That’s understandable though.  When you make a practice of being scrupulously honest in your reporting, it is perhaps a bit more difficult to recognize that others aren’t playing by the same rules.

Word of warning to the Cox Media Group suits.  Some TV or Cable Network is going to come along and offer Jamie some big bucks to start reporting and analyzing for them.  He’s just that good, and there aren’t many like him.  You need to give him a pretty hefty raise and extend his contract until he’s a grandpa … now. 

So .. what will I be completely disappearing?  No.  No way.

First of all, I’ll be doing daily two-minute commentaries for WSB.  They will run at 8:45 am and 6:45 pm, and I promise the same dose of insensitivity in those commentaries as I’ve been delivering in my show for these many years.  Those commentaries, by the way, will be available to affiliate radio stations if they should want them.

• Secondly .. There’s Twitter.  Twitter will now become the main platform for my interaction with my former listeners.  That’s the best place for us to keeping touch.  You can follow me at @talkmaster.  I promise you’ll enjoy it.

• Nealz Nuze? Yes … we’ll be keeping that up.  I will constantly be posting material.  Whenever I get ticked off at something, you can bet that I’ll sit down at the computer and put my feelings on “paper.” 

• Columns?  Yes … I’ll be writing for Townhall.com.  Be sure to check in there.  I’ll Tweet the link every time something appears.

• Fill-in?  You got it!  I will be Herman Cain’s regular fill-in host.  Sean Hannity has said that I’ll have the opportunity to fill in for him as well.  There are others, but best not to name them now.

• I’m joining the folks at FairTax.org to start promoting the FairTax again.  Keep your eye on Twitter and Nealz Nuze to see what’s going on. 

• So .. there you go.  I’m hardly disappearing.  I’m just clearing out much more extra time for me and The Queen.