The Passing of Rick E. Lewis Leaves a Big Void in Our Community

The unexpected passing of Rick E. Lewis of the Rome Capitol Arts Complex came as a big shock for all of us at WIBX. We had just recently had a conversation with Rick a few days earlier and plans were being made for future appearances on the program. Rick was on the air with us almost monthly, and sometimes when there was a lot to promote, he'd be on weekly.

I began working with Rick back in the early 2000s as he would often tag team with us on an event we were doing for either our radio or tv show. Rick was full of ideas, creating No Budget TV and mastering short films and programs that would air on WFXV FOX 33 TV. Rick was very connected to radio - years ago he had a Jazz show on WOUR. He was instrumental in the development of FOX 33, back when it seemed like it was a pirate television station, not matching the quality "regular" broadcast tv. Today, WFXV is a FOX affiliate and owned by NEXSTAR, the second largest broadcast tv group in the country.

Rick was always a part of our annual Christmas Eve Show, a six-hour program that's been running on or near Christmas Eve since the early 1990s. Every year Rick would come in with a large group of great talents, young and not so young, performing not just a song, but a musical skit that often amazed those in-studio, and those watching and listening from home and in the car. During COVID, the program was remote and Rick produced a bit that turned into a dream sequence that surprised everybody with the reuniting of legendary WOUR morning radio duo Hirsch and Nelson, who owned the airways from 1990 to 1997. I was the young up-and-coming radio show and if I recall, we weren't the best of friends back in those days. It was awesome to see them "busting chops" in a friendly setting that Rick knew would be an epic moment. It was.

There are plenty of tributes out there for Rick on Facebook, as he touched so many people. The Capitol Theatre posted a really nice tribute on Monday, and Photo Journalist Nancy L. Ford penned an amazing tribute to Rick on her Facebook page, reminiscing back into the 1980s when Rick was in a band called Roger Wilco and The Radio Waves. Nancy took the band's promo photo and that's Rick to the right.

It's interesting that I knew Rick and a friend of our radio and television shows, at times as a co-worker, and as a collaborator who I would speak with usually a few times a month; but, I never knew the private Rick. He was very private. He would often text in his political opinions and I'd refer to him as Rick in Rome, and of course he was on the radio often. He always insisted (and it took me a while to listen) that I refer to him as Rick E. Lewis, because he said there was a another Rick Lewis out there and he didn't want people to be confused. I also never knew his real name was Rickey E. Lewis. Additionally, and I know he wanted it this way, I never knew he was sick.

Another legend is gone who I will no longer be able to call when I have an industry question or if I needed a mic, a camera person, or a gadget - and that's very sad. I'll no longer be receiving his calls when he had a question or needed help - and that's sad.

Rest in Peace Rickey E. Lewis; I hope you knew you were one of the great ones, and that you'll be greatly missed by many.