Thursday
Jan022020
In Memorium: Don Imus 1940-2019
Thursday, January 2, 2020 
Imus broadcast his first program from New York City back in 1971. His life journey has by some accounts been arduous, by other accounts a freak parade, and by still others as a matter for a RICO investigation. It began out in the great American West, California and Arizona, and eventually would make its way on across the country to Ohio and New York.
Imus was born in Riverside, California. Ranching was the family business and he was actually raised on a big cattle spread called the Willows near Kingman, Arizona. Don recalls that period of his childhood fondly and his familiar cowboy persona is completely legitimate. His irascibility appears to be equally legitimate, influenced by more than a few hard knocks along the way. If he revels in the agony of others, as he jokes, it may just be because he’s had a little of that himself. His parents divorced when Don was fifteen, he changed schools frequently, got arrested after a school yard fight, won election in secondary school as class president and was impeached, and, at seventeen, was pushed by his mother to join the marine corps as the best strategy to keep him out of jail. While it all added up to what Imus himself has described as a fairly horrible adolescence, it also disproves a theory that he actually had no parents and instead spawned spontaneously in dust clots behind the Laundromat dryers where one day he would seek shelter. When did all of these events unfold? It doesn’t really matter. And why annoy Don by asking?
Despite the occasional rough patch, Imus did spend a full twelve years in public school and emerged with no formal education…a product of automatic social promotion not even casually tied to merit. He graduated with no honors and no skills, a rare stroke of luck because a broadcasting career required neither. Difficulty continued to dog Imus after his school days: his undistinguished, infraction blotched stretch in the marines, onerous labor in a Superior, Arizona copper mine and a Grand Canyon uranium mine where an accident left him with both legs broken. There was work as a freight brakeman on the Southern Pacific railroad and a back injury suffered in an engine derailment and at one point the indignities of homelessness, hitching, being flat broke. Better, and worse days were to come. This quintessential American and often challenging personal passage materially defined Imus, instilling him with humility, a deep respect for our country and its workers, and a disturbing need to get even. He emerged from the experience with attributes that contributed enormously to the broadcasting distinction he would realize: an intrinsic, conspicuous authenticity, and a unique ability to connect with real people who work hard, serve their country, and care passionately about what really matters in the world.
Once Imus began broadcasting, fame and acclaim came quickly. He was showered with the laurels of radio celebrity including inductions into both the National Association of Broadcasters and radio halls of fame. He was the recipient of four Marconi awards, broadcasting’s equivalent of Hollywood’s Oscars. It got to the point that he would throw this or that slab of walnut with crystal crap glued to it against the wall of his office as a convenient means of intimidating horrified underlings. He was featured on television programs from NBC’s “Today” show to CBS’ “60 Minutes.” He was a guest of Charlie Rose, David Letterman, and of special note, Larry King, in shameless, mutual ass-kissing marathons that challenged the audience's gag reflex.
Don and Deirdre continue to run the Imus Ranch Foundation donating to other worthy causes helping children with cancer, autism and all the environmental health problems with our children. Don has raised hundred of millions of dollars for the Tomorrows Children’s Fund, CJ foundation for SIDS, Hackensack University Medical Center and America’s Veterans.
Reader Comments (562)
Its times like this that I miss Imus in the morning. I miss your takes on the events of the day and I miss your bumper music. You turned me on so many artists I would have never listened to on my own. Rest in peace ol cowboy cause its anything but peaceful here lately.
Respectfully
RB
Dear Imus family,
Such a sad time to hear
Of the lman's loss.
I grew up in Rigefield, CT and first heard him in 1975 because my dad listened to him on the radio.
I enjoyed listening to him until his last day on the radio. I was driving to work when he signed off and literally had to pull over because I was so overcome with emotion when he was talking about the many things that we had accomplished together as disk jockey and listeners. He had given me 40 years of entertainment, deep thought and insight into the issues of the day.
Best wishes to the family.
Sincerely,
John Freer
Although I've already posted my overwhelming grief about I-Man's passing, I continue to miss him each day. Deirde and Wyatt, I cannot pretend to know your pain, but I miss your husband and your dad so much. He was my bellwether. He guided me through a large portion of my life with his wisdom and wit. I listened to him in my dad's car when I was just a kid back in the early 70s on W-EN-BC in New York and never missed a day when he returned to the Big Apple. He was an irascible personality, but his gift for sifting through to the heart of any matter was unparalleled. His intelligence on radio was without peer. Thank you, Deirde and Wyatt for sharing him with us for so long. I will miss him until the day I die. He was my friend.
Ever since I had first heard Imus in the Morning on NYC radio in 1971, he has been my favorite drive-time voice. From "1200 Hamburgers to Go" to his irreverent bits on the Catholic cardinals--Imus had a direct line to my funny bone. When I heard his comments about the Rutgers Women's Basketball Team live, I feared the backlash that inevitably ensued. To me, his insensitive remarks seemed like a spoof on his radio character instead of a harsh indictment of the team. His actions afterwards shows his true generosity of spirit as he met with the Rutgers women in person. His show also hired some bright up and coming minority comics who were quite talented. Imus' stinging barbs at the Clintons through the years were spot on. I know I shall be replaying his shows regularly. Thank you for the memories, Don Imus!
I'm sure I've posted my condolences on here before, but I just heard about John Prine's passing, and thought about the man that introduced me to his music and made me fall in love with him. Imus's Twitter Handle was properly named. "Where's my Imus" I will be playing John's music tomorrow, instead of Imus. I saw where the Corona Virus got John Prime, and it makes me wonder about the IMan. I don't know what he passed from, but I do wonder how long this virus has been around. I still hope that Wyatt and Rob do something. I love Wyatt's tribute, and I know the IMan taught a lot of people about life. Deirdre I will continue to use your products, and direct people to your information. I love you all!
Sorely miss his honesty.
DickKarg.HearNow.com
I’d bet the IMan would appreciate this Songwriter CD
RIP Don
-Dick Karg ❤️
Some of the best moments of the show was when you would get McCord all riled up and he would start yelling, my favorites are when Don Imus was talking about Alger Hiss, and McCord started yelling, and when Don Imus was talking about his prostate cancer, and McCord had an epic meltdown, thanks for the memories Don, you surely will be missed, and you should have made a movie, it would have been better than Howard Stern's for sure
MRS. IMUS , I STARTED LISTENING TO DON IMUS WHEN I WAS TRANSFERRED TO CLEVELAND, OHIO IN 1977. WHEN I WAS TRANSFERRED TO NEW YORK CITY IN THE EARLY EIGHTIES,, I FOUND HIM AGAIN. LISTENED TO HIS RADIO BROADCASTS, THEN STARTED WATCHING HIS TV PROGRAM. ! HE HAD SUCH A GREAT PROGRAM, MISS IT EVERY DAY !! HIGHLIGHT WAS GETTING A SIGNED COPY OF DON AND FRED'S BOOK IN NEW CANNAN ,CONNECTICUT. MY WIFE AND I ESPECIALLY ADMIRED THE GREAT JOB YOU AND DON DID WITH RAISING MONEY FOR SIDS ,AND THE RANCH ! A GREAT LEGACY !! DEIRDRE, GAYLE AND I SEND OUR SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO YOU AND WYATT.
I bet the Imus Brothers are a big hit up there... Thanks for the memories, I-Man! You were a big part of my growing up in NY - from NBC to WFAN... Missing you every morning!!
To Deirdre and Wyatt, thank you for keeping the memories alive with all the great radio clips... wishing you good health and continued prosperity. May GOD Bless the Imus family.
With Condolences,
Ray and Family - Ronkonkoma, NY
Miss you.
How sad it is to wake up from a dream and realize that is all it was....a dream. I had a dream about Mr. Imus last night and it seemed so real. My heart aches for the entire Imus Family. No one will ever fill his boots.
There was a period in my life when it was important to watch Imus in the Morning. It made an impact on my life. I loved Don’s broad audience - from Tim Russert to George HW Bush. miss Fred too... This hit me harder than I thought. Miss you Don. RIP
The day the music died...…….. "Bye, Bye Mr. American Pie".
RIP Don.
Thank you for all the laughs,
John
Still miss Don Imus everyday - great guy - full of life - didn't hesitate to admit he was wrong when he was. And, the fun.....oh the fun he had on the radio - and the fun we had listening!!!!
Hope the family is doing well - I/we miss you too!!!
Have commented previously, just adding that sadly we now won't get to see son Wyatt calf-roping on TV from the New York Rodeo at Madison Sq. Garden on Friday. Due to covid-19, the event has been postponed to next year. :-(
Mr. Imus was with me on the radio for most of my field service career.
During some of my most stressful times he put a smile on my face.
He was a fair and honest man who legitimately cared about people and
was eaten up by the Radical Leftists Cancle Culture, a cancer which is still running rampant.
Anyone who knows him knows he's not even close to being a racist.
I love him and I miss him and will never forget him.
RIP Mr. Imus, see you in the next life.
Happy 80th birthday Mr. Imus.
Miss you man.. Happy birthday in heaven Don my friend!.. I hope to see you and Fred again someday
Iman, I so miss you so much. I relied on you to ground me, to explain your view on the world, I wanted it, and I didn't always agree but I felt it an understood your views I truly miss you, in the AM dial i can' t replace you. Your affect on my values after 25 years of listening to you is immeasurable. Rest well, your place in our world was taken for granted, now that I miss you so I can say it. I wish I had appreciated you when I was listening all these years.
To a great friend and in some instances, a mentor. I will miss your sharp wit and epic intellect and our conversations on the Ranch during all those years in the beginning. It really was a family with all of us, Donny, Samantha, Wes, Tracey, Jack, Yunk, Martin, and all the countless others that made an impression on everything we did. Rest in peace my friend.
Hope Deirdre and Wyatt and Zach are holding up ok. During all this election madness and general madness in the world I would have loved to hear the Iman’s take on it all. I learned so much from him over the years from politics to life in general. I know his hair would be hurting!! Loss of a great man who is missed daily. I wish he were here to make sense of it all. Be well Imus family!🙏🏻
I watched Imus in the morning. Until he quit ! I got up at 5 am t see his show
And he made my days! The greatest guy on earth ! If he told me to eat dirt I would ! He was the best and made my day! I pray wyatt will become the best roper ever ! Love them all
Fred was a close friend for several years, and Don was a talented radio personality his entire, decades-long career. They both left their mark andI miss both Imus brothers.
Thinking of the entire Imus family at this time. Mr. Imus you are the best!!! Merry Christmas.