Neal Boortz enters the Radio Hall of Fame
Atlanta’s own Neal Boortz has been named a member of the national Radio Hall of Fame.
After being nominated, Boortz actively campaigned for a spot. “I’m not going to sit back and sing ‘Que Sera Sera,’ ” he said. “Obama campaigned!”
It obviously worked. He asked folks at Cox corporate, his syndicators and the 300,000 people on the Fair Tax organization email list to vote, vote, vote.
Loading ...His producer Royal Marshall emailed him a note saying that, yes, he is now officially a legend. “At least in my own mind,” Boortz added.
The man with Libertarian leanings has been in talk radio for four decades and is now heard on more than 250 radio stations nationwide including WSB-AM.
“I got emails. Even people who don’t like me voted for me,” he said. “They wrote that I deserved it since I’ve been around so long.” ,
“So it’s all about being around a long time?” I asked.
“Longevity trumps talent apparently,” he cracked.
“He is on Cloud Nine,” said his producer Belinda Skelton. “When he found out, he was almost to the point of tears.” She heard he won by a landslide.
The ceremony is on November 7 in Chicago.
“I will modestly boast about it tomorrow,” he said. Modest? Is that word even in his vocabulary?
Past inductees include Abbott & Costello. Jack Benny, Don Imus, Casey Kasem, Rush Limbaugh, Red Skelton, Scott Shannon, Bob Hope, Paul Harvey. Harry Carey and Edward R. Murrow. Esteemed company indeed.
accessAtlanta Partner Sites
Sections
Advertise on accessAtlanta.com »
Reach the audience you want by advertising on accessAtlanta.com
Join the Access Atlanta Network »
Advertisers and Publishers, expand your reach by joining the Access Atlanta Network.
Tell us what you think about the site
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement | About our ads
© 2009 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
118 comments Add your comment
Rah
August 5th, 2009
6:20 pm
Good for Boortzie! I don’t agree with too much of him too often, but he has definitely earned his keep, going back to the day of the old WRNG/680. He still entertains, in this current day of crap-radio.
dana
August 5th, 2009
6:23 pm
blah, blah, blah!!!
Congrats Boortz!!!
Marconi
August 5th, 2009
6:31 pm
It’s about time Boortz! Congrats from the beyond.
Manny
August 5th, 2009
6:35 pm
I cannot stand Neal Boortz. But I am a fan of Neal Boortz and listen to him more than any other conservative talk show host.
Congratulations, Neal Boortz! I’m happy for you. (And tomorrow, I will be listening to you and shaking my head.)
NA
August 5th, 2009
6:36 pm
well deserved
Now with all of this recognition can you use it to turn up the heat on the fair tax, and slow down the senseless destruction of American way of life by our own government. Stay on the offensive.
Freddy Mertz
August 5th, 2009
6:37 pm
Boortz? Weren’t you a John Bircher way back when?
Marcy
August 5th, 2009
6:37 pm
Way to go!!! Definately deserves it.
Freddy Mertz
August 5th, 2009
6:38 pm
Boortz-Why does Brian Wilson hate your guts? (remember him? you screwed him on a tv station deal back in the 90’s)
Evander Holyfield
August 5th, 2009
6:40 pm
Boortz- you used to represent me as my agent. Told me to get into ownership of lousy car dealerships. I sued you for malpractice. Now in the Hall of Fame? WTF? Loser
Denver
August 5th, 2009
6:43 pm
right up there with Ludlow Porch!
Anne
August 5th, 2009
6:46 pm
Damm, you won…I was praying that you would lose by a landslide. I can stand you or your crew…
TUESDAY VANDY GIRL
August 5th, 2009
6:46 pm
Libertine Free Market principles will always win out in the end…
Love ya Uncle Neal!
Kim Petersen
August 5th, 2009
6:46 pm
Neal
The number of folks in the Atlanta radio business with tiretracks on their backs from you is beyond measure. You’re a truly s*%ty person. Karma will not be your friend. An evil persona has a funny way of bringing on terminal illnesses. You my friend are evil
Tom Houck
August 5th, 2009
6:50 pm
Neal Boortz = The turd in the Hall of Fame punchbowl.
Vanilla Shake
August 5th, 2009
6:51 pm
Who in the world would vote for this JERK! I think people just felt sorry for him and decided why not.
Tammy Lloyd
August 5th, 2009
6:53 pm
I worked with Boortz in the 1980’s. I would trust a rabid pitbull before Boortz. Backstabber…liar…arrogant pr-ck…hypocrite. Take your pick
Bob
August 5th, 2009
6:57 pm
” worked with Boortz in the 1980’s. I would trust a rabid pitbull before Boortz. Backstabber…liar…arrogant pr-ck…hypocrite. Take your pick”
Truer words never written.
Jeff
August 5th, 2009
7:02 pm
Congratulations, Mr. Boortz. You’re also in the distinguished company of Fibber McGee & Molly, Goodman Ace, Alan Freed, Amos ‘n’ Andy, Eve Arden, William B. Williams, and Jimmy Durante.
Unfortunately, you’re also in the extinguished company of Walter Winchell.
Well, nobody said the Hall of Fame was perfect!
Simpleton Wiseman
August 5th, 2009
7:04 pm
Just D@m# , Boortz CongratulationI still think you are Satan’s twin.
OedipusTax
August 5th, 2009
7:08 pm
Some delightful hate mail. Neal loves them, and I love them too. They hate, by the folks that supposedly are the nobel ones, that stand above the rest of us! You can be they don’t give a dime to charity. Look at those lefties reveal their true nature, which is more filled with hate than anybody they criticize, by a country mile! No wonder Pepto Bismol still sells, and they’re 27 million on anti-depressants!
atl1000
August 5th, 2009
7:11 pm
“Karma will not be your friend. An evil persona has a funny way of bringing on terminal illnesses”
gee, i didn’t know a ‘persona’ could contract a terminal illness, dumba$$! you haters need to go away and pout and leave the majority of us who enjoy neal alone! goodbye and good riddance!
Ralph from Ben Hill
August 5th, 2009
7:13 pm
Boortz makes a nice living from stoking the fires of racism and dissension. Everything is a black/white issue cos that’s what his low brow audience tune in to hear. “Welfare brood mares”, “boo got shott”; all radio schtick to get ratings at the expense of poor folks. He is an equal opportunity hater, I will grant him that. Folks in trailer parks, projects, blue collar workers, are all grist for his mill. What’s sad is that he wouldnt give his blue collar audience the time of day if he met you. Fact is he hates you. He’s a lousy classist snob
Billy
August 5th, 2009
7:13 pm
Jeez, I haven’t heard his show in years. Didn’t he say he was going to retire at 60?
Tom Houck
August 5th, 2009
7:18 pm
To Oedipus: Did you finish 3rd grade?
<>? Did you mean “noble?
<>?
<>??
English as a Second Language classes are not that expensive chump
Tom Hughes
August 5th, 2009
7:22 pm
Congrats big guy, well deserved.
Steve Holman
August 5th, 2009
7:24 pm
Hall of Fame? Far out, you owe it all to Bugsy
Radio Wisdom
August 5th, 2009
7:30 pm
Boortz deserves this for running countless wgst
hosts out of town.
Gentleman Jim
August 5th, 2009
7:34 pm
2008: Howard Stern orders his listeners NOT to vote for him because he considers the Radio Hall of Fame to be a meaningless farce. 2009: Boortz campaigns hard for inclusion. I can’t believe Boortz is more vain than Stern!
Brad
August 5th, 2009
7:38 pm
Congratulations! You deserve it. I started listening to you just after 9/11 and have been loyal ever since. Thanks for what you are doing with the FairTax.
chris
August 5th, 2009
7:40 pm
Love him or hate him this thread is evidence enough he deserves the award.
Grats Neal!
Liz F.
August 5th, 2009
8:01 pm
Well-deserved indeed. What a couple of weeks — a new grandbaby and now this? People might start calling him fortunate…
Nancy Zintak
August 5th, 2009
8:01 pm
You ended many careers at GST, congrats
Johnson
August 5th, 2009
8:04 pm
F**K him and his mama.
Mark Mays
August 5th, 2009
8:05 pm
Thanks to you Neal, Clear Channel Atlanta
is the worst big market we operate,
Danny Schaefer
August 5th, 2009
8:10 pm
Congrats Neal, privledge to have competed
against you, I mean gotten my butt beaten
by you on gst.
Throckmorton
August 5th, 2009
8:27 pm
Hmmm…
DHD
August 5th, 2009
8:31 pm
Does that mean we can talk about abortion now?
Good job, Neal.
Eric Seidell
August 5th, 2009
8:31 pm
Damn u and moceri for ruining gst.
Sarah
August 5th, 2009
8:32 pm
Well done Neal, luv ya lots
James in roswell
August 5th, 2009
8:33 pm
Now use your newly found fame to get the
damn fair tax adopted.
Ryno
August 5th, 2009
8:34 pm
Amazon.com best selling author and Radio Hall of Fame – the man has talent to burn and he’s getting better w/ age. Congrats Mr. Boorttz
Mark
August 5th, 2009
8:35 pm
Neal Boortz but still no Howard Stern
the whole award is BS
The Mays Family
August 5th, 2009
8:36 pm
Bite me Boortz!
Tony
August 5th, 2009
8:37 pm
just reading the emails show why you are so popular..luv or hate, you da man…
Kelli
August 5th, 2009
8:39 pm
Congratulations Mr Boortz, you’re an
inspiration to those who wish to follow in your
footsteps
The Kimmer
August 5th, 2009
8:41 pm
Always despised you brother, but kudos for
the recognition.
Semper Fi
Randall B, Tom Parker, Ken Charles
August 5th, 2009
8:45 pm
And all the other former PD’s of WGST:
thanks for getting us fired.
jimbo
August 5th, 2009
8:49 pm
wonder if he would have gotten this if he stuck with WGST instead of bolting to “We’re Such Buttheads” (his words back then). Same host. Oh well, I guess butt-heads paying you a butt-load of money make them less of a butt-head, huh Neal?
Amy
August 5th, 2009
8:50 pm
Clark is going to be SO jealous when he finds
out. Congrats Mr Boortz
Brad Steel
August 5th, 2009
8:53 pm
looks like the inductees are a who’s who of racist a$$holes
this ranks up there with millie vanilli getting grammy
Gave Hobbs
August 5th, 2009
8:57 pm
Had a good thing going at the News Monster
till you bailed to the giant cox down the street.
Thanks for the battles early on, congrats grandpa.
Larry Wachs
August 5th, 2009
8:59 pm
GOOD THING THERE ARE A LOT OF DUMB REDNECKS W/O JOBS WHO HAVE TIME TO LISTEN TO DAYTIME AM RADIO,
RH
August 5th, 2009
9:17 pm
Tammy Lloyd must be one of those folks that lives off the government. 20 plus years later and she’s still pi$$ed at him. Way to go Boortz! Congratulations!!!
Clarke Harwood
August 5th, 2009
9:26 pm
Now that he “won,” I hope he’ll buy his own Viagra instead of always “borrowing” mine.
Ref
August 5th, 2009
9:29 pm
You’d have made it 15 years ago if you had been a true conservative on the key social issues. But congrats. And please notice that WGST has hired an Obama voter to host the morning show. This is akin to hiring Tom Houck to host an anti-smoking program.
Midtown john
August 5th, 2009
9:41 pm
Its called entertainment Brad, get over it pal.
Manny
August 5th, 2009
9:47 pm
His problem is does not believe in creationism!
nana
August 5th, 2009
9:47 pm
Congrats Boortz. I agree he is arrogant and sometimes gets on my last darn nerve. Having said that can the folks on her calling him a racist define the word and give examples???
Steamboat
August 5th, 2009
9:48 pm
If I hear Boortz on the radio in the morning that means I’m late for work.
Brian jones tech fan
August 5th, 2009
9:49 pm
Brad steel first off get the racial chip off your shoulder its not boortz fault you are flipping burgers at the age of 40. Next define racism. congrats boortz you are truely a blessing on thsi government eduacted mans life. I have learned more about government and the way this country is run by listening to you than i did in hs or college. I am a jock sniffer but also care deeply about the direction this country is headed which is down. and kim what ever your name is talking about karma you should just go take a long walk off a short pier. People are so jealous of boortz fame and success after all a self made success like boortz got there by cheating someone else right lol. So mr. Boortz i hope you read this and know as a 28 yr old after listening to you talk about you make you successful i am now a small business owner and will soon be one of the hated rich, and i cant wait till that day. peace out biotch
jen
August 5th, 2009
9:54 pm
Neal,
Congratulations! So happy for you,
Rose from Buckhead
Old Neighbors on Brandon Hall Dr.
August 5th, 2009
9:58 pm
BIG, BIG CONGRATULATIONS FROM ALL OF US.
Erin B
August 5th, 2009
10:01 pm
Luv ya Neal! Congrats ..be proud
BeeLinda
August 5th, 2009
10:04 pm
From your friends at Ackreman, congrats.
Becky
August 5th, 2009
10:09 pm
Gack. Can’t stand to listen to the spew. I just wonder if his parents are proud of him (or would have been if they have passed on).
Chris Wegman
August 5th, 2009
10:10 pm
Kudos from Radio 1
Bob Hogan
August 5th, 2009
10:14 pm
See you in Chicago, congrats
Steve & Vicky
August 5th, 2009
10:34 pm
Well done Neal, maybe someday for us-
Lisa Ann
August 5th, 2009
10:42 pm
Will the Sugarloaf Madame be there? Least she could do for her best customer.
tore
August 5th, 2009
10:56 pm
Boortz was entertaining before he went national. He had to live up to the right wing agenda and became a staunch supporter of the illegal war in Iraq. I find it hard to believe that a libertarian would have supported this. I guess Hannity and Bush were more important to him then the lives of the people that were lost. The smartest person on his show is Royal, but the right wing sponsors of WSB would not tolerate him having his own show at night. Thanks Neal for sticking up for your friend. Good luck Royal. When the economy gets better, maybe you can get out of that right wing nightmare you are in.
OedipusTax
August 5th, 2009
11:13 pm
More delightful hate mail. The lefties are literally slobbering all over themselves. Somebody like Tom Houck literally gets stercoraceous over a typo too. Not bad for an omphalopsychite, Tom! Neal will be loving all this hate tomorrow. I can hardly wait!
drsoul
August 5th, 2009
11:17 pm
You are the ‘man’…congratulations…
you have worked your tail off many years, stayed consistent to your values and principles and also never tried to be someone else..
your unselfish style that includes Belinda and Royal just add to the
quality of your entertainment…also taking stands on issues that truly
will benefit the American public without regard to your status..
Your are truly to be commended for your years of dedication…you make
it sound so easy, but intelligent people know that it is not a ’seat of
your pants’ job and you do it in the most honest way..
“Thanks” mostly for being you and staying you…
Congratulations to a well deserved honor…
media matters
August 5th, 2009
11:30 pm
We enjoy listening to your show, but if you want us to place you on our website you need to be more like Beck, Hannity, or Rush. Those guys keep us in business by being so stupid. I must admit you are more intelligent then they are, but I still think your views are self centered and twisted. I still voted for you.
Trigger_Puller
August 6th, 2009
1:45 am
Fresh from Vietnam and Fresh in College I thoroughly enjoyed You describing Hot Air Ballooning; now You fly ‘the Mooney’. Should You ever seriously contemplate leaving Cox but choose to remain ‘On Air’ I suggest 106.7 because You are the ‘Soundtrack of My Life’.
We met once at Peachtree Center when I was one of the ‘Men from Clifton’ and I shall never forget You volunteering a ‘Jackson’ so I could refill My pre-paid cell ‘upstairs’ and chow down on ‘Bourbon Chicken’ downstairs. That was 2001, Today I am Retired and a comfortable ‘half-millionaire’; I still enjoy listening [re-Boortz; 1am - 5am] and will probably admit I am ‘aging’ when You are no longer On Air.
Thanks for being a part of My ‘adult’ Life. Speaking strictly for Me; You’ve created more memories than even You remember.
Semper Fi to Your Father!
–
‘Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways – Chardonnay in one hand – chocolate in the other – body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming ‘WOO HOO, What a Ride’
The Toad
August 6th, 2009
1:49 am
I hope Michael Savage is already in the hall. Boortz cant touch him.
Just Nasty & Mean
August 6th, 2009
3:11 am
Neal–I may be fat—but I can lose it starting tomorrow. You’ll be ugly no matter what you do.
Brotha On Your Side
August 6th, 2009
4:09 am
Congrats Neal on a successful career. I want you to know it was my vote that took you over, so now consider coming out to the shop.www.regencybarberandsalon.com
Mike
August 6th, 2009
4:32 am
This racist is the biggest boob on the Atlanta air waves. His thinking represents exactly why the state of Georgia is so far behind the rest of this country.
Dustin
August 6th, 2009
6:27 am
To the person posting the fake “hate” comments here. It’s GABE Hobbs, not Gave. Clark Howard does not spell his name with an “e”. Mays DOES have an “e” however, and there’s only one “l” in Seidel. Other than your spelling errors, this stuff is pretty entertaining!
BitterEXdemocrackkk
August 6th, 2009
6:45 am
THANKS to Neal Boortz, my whole political sense of being changed from that of lifelong democrackkk to PROUD UNaffiliated! Now I promote the FAIRTAX and Ron Paul daily!
STRIVE to be SMARTER than the EVIL controlling ‘party’ of SLAVERY (democrackkks) WANT you to be!
bbv
August 6th, 2009
7:10 am
I like Boortz, but this Hall of a Fame is a joke. The fact you can flood the ballot box with listeners, makes it a self promoting popularity contest. Howard Stern tells his voters NOT to vote for him. Like Howard or not, what is a radio Hall of Fame without him.
EDDIE
August 6th, 2009
7:20 am
Boortz you and i played in a charity golf tournament yrs ago and you signed our score card boortz sux. will the value go up now if i put it on e-bay. congrats to you. E
CJ BLENCKE
August 6th, 2009
7:22 am
NEAL BORTZ IS A REAL JERK I WAS HIS NEIGHBOR AS A KID THE GUY HAS AN EGO THAT IS JUST SIMPLY A JOKE WHEN HE HAD HIS TV SHOW WITH THAT OTHER IDIOT MY DAD HAD A BEEPER COMPANY AND HE NEVER EVEN PAID HIS 6.00 A MONTH BILL HE ALMOST RAN ME OVER WITH HIS CAR WHEN I WAS ABOUT 8 YEARS OLD NEVER EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED IT . THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO MY OLD NEIGHBORHOOD WAS WHEN HE MOVED OUT. NEAL BORTZ IS A LOUD MOUTH ASS AND HE SHOULD NOT EVEN BE ON THE RADIO MUCH LESS IN THE HALL OF FAME I MEAN REALLY HOW IN THE WORLD DOES AN ASS LIKE BORTZ EVEN GET ANY AIR TIME!
Brotha On His Side
August 6th, 2009
7:26 am
bbv, what you said sounds great, however the point you missing is this:
The PEOPLE who took time out to vote(mind you the instructions to cast a vote drove folks crazy, but they still pressed on to cast that ballot. See Neal you are like Obama who have followers that still press on for you) showed they care for the quality of his show. Lets see how many votes you can get? How bout that
Buzz
August 6th, 2009
7:27 am
Ralph from Ben Hill – Ever seen the redneckpage on the Boortz web site? He’s an equal opportunity offender. The people ridiculed wrote their own ticket.
Paul A
August 6th, 2009
7:29 am
I haven’t listened to Boortz in many years. I moved to sat radio to avoid commercials.
Boortz is OK. Obviously he’s very popular. Love him or hate him. I must admit to both at times.
However, the folks who mentioned Howard Stern are right on the money. No matter what you think about him personally, it has to be noted that he changed modern radio more than any other voice.
The Radio Hall of Fame without Stern is a joke.
Bubba Army! Bubba Army!
PappyHappy
August 6th, 2009
7:41 am
You Old Bag of WInd!! PROUD OF YOU and CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Ian Punnett
August 6th, 2009
7:48 am
he got what ?? My Coast to Coast listeners did not see that coming on their Ouji Boards !
Marcie
August 6th, 2009
8:09 am
Way to go. I’m thrilled
Beau Bock
August 6th, 2009
8:44 am
I taught Neal Boortz all about the radio business
He owes me big time.
If anyone should be in the Radio Hall of Fame it should be me.
BB
The Painful Truth
August 6th, 2009
8:49 am
Hate monger, vote panderer, and pompous fool who thinks he answers to no one. These words are synonymous with Neal Boortz.
We should extend him pity, not congratulations.
A. Hitler
August 6th, 2009
8:55 am
My followers and I love Neal Boortz!!!
A. Hitler
August 6th, 2009
8:58 am
Neal Boortz is one real good fascist!
George American
August 6th, 2009
9:01 am
He’s a looser compared to Hannity and Limbaugh.
He doesn’t have one 10th of the listeners because he’s not near as good. He sux.
Tami
August 6th, 2009
9:22 am
Congrats to Neal! He’s quite a character, and I don’t always agree with him. But, he’s a mainstay of talk radio, a cornerstone. I can’t imagine talk radio without him!
Andrew
August 6th, 2009
9:33 am
I love the posters who resort to the old, angry liberal standards of “racist, fascist, and redneck” to describe someone they don’t like. Perhaps you could come up with some facts to dispute the opinions of Mr. Boortz that you disagree with. Wait, I forget, you’re not part of the fact-based culture.
Erin in SC
August 6th, 2009
9:56 am
So happy for you! Congratulations Neal!
Jim
August 6th, 2009
10:20 am
This just proves that arrogance, conceit, and an anti social personality will get you anywhere. Disgusted and disappointed that he won. My one consolation – gave up listening to this freak years ago.
Ken Hoagland
August 6th, 2009
11:04 am
Neal is loved by FairTaxers because he has done as much as anyone in the country to explain and promote the idea. He is a good and decent man personally and he deserved to win. His spot in the Hall of Fame is not about always agreeing with his point of view but about his ability to engage, entertain and inspire his audience. With plain language, humor and an eye for the issue of the day as well as future trends, that is exactly what he does. In other words, he earned it. Good for Neal!
Travlr55
August 6th, 2009
11:22 am
You are constantly entertaining. I hope you will influence the FAIR TAX to get more properly considered, if not actually on the agenda so we can choose! Keep telling it like it is!