BOB COLLINS

Bob Collins joined WGN/Chicago in 1974 and quickly established himself as the top-rated radio personality in the city, dominating the ratings in multiple time slots. Known as “Uncle Bobby,” his show was the preferred source for news, talk and humor for thousands of Chicagoans.

Still in his prime, Collins was killed when the plane he was piloting collided with another aircraft and crashed in 2000.

Born in Tennessee in 1942, Collins began his career in Lakeland, Florida at the age of thirteen doing odd jobs at a local station. A year later he was hosting his own afternoon show and went on to work at several stations in the Southeast including WKGN/Knoxville.

In 1967, Collins began working at WOKY/Milwaukee where he stayed for two years. He moved to KFI/Los Angeles for a year, then to KCBQ/San Diego for a year before returning to Milwaukee at WRIT. He found himself back in Florida for a nine month stretch at WMYQ/Miami at the urging of his former employers at WOKY, before they summoned him back to Milwaukee.

Collins made one more move in 1974 when WGN called looking to fill their afternoon and Saturday evening time slots. He would go on to be the number one rated host in both afternoon and morning drive time.

Bob Collins died on February 8, 2000.

Bob Collins was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2008.

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