Remembering Eric McGuire
On February 7, 2011, West Virginia morning radio icon Eric McGuire hosted his final episode of The Eric & Kevin Show.
Forced to retire due to health concerns, rumors soon began to swirl that McGuire was dead. Whether that was true or not, to the thousands of people who listened to his voice every morning, he certainly seemed to vanish.
For decades, McGuire was the best–known morning radio host in West Virginia. From his early work in Elkins, McGuire wove himself into the fabric of West Virginia media and culture, building a nine-station network throughout the state. McGuire was especially known for his sharp–witted sarcasm, and for the way he integrated a large cast of invented characters into his shows.
On this episode of Almost Heaven, we learn how he discovered many real–life West Virginia characters along the way, turning a simple radio program into a family gathering that extended to every corner of the state.
Using archival radio clips of McGuire’s sketches and interviews with those who knew him best, we set out to discover how McGuire became the funniest – and possibly the meanest – man on West Virginia radio. Long-time coworkers/friends Hoppy Kercheval (MetroNews Talkline), Tony Caridi (Sportsline), co-host Kevin Connoley (The Eric & Kevin Show) and others help us understand the man and the legend, along with other members of his real-life and radio families.
Join us on our quest to discover who Eric McGuire really is — and whether the reports of his death have been greatly exaggerated.