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)
Missing the Iman always❤️
Still a heartbreaking loss!!! Regards to the entire Imus family.
An imperfect man who lived during an imperfect time but brought so many together perfectly in what really matters. I still miss hearing you.
I was lucky to have Fred as a close friend for several years, and Don was a talented radio personality his entire, decades-long career. Each of them left their mark and I miss both Imus brothers.
The I-man made me, and so much of NY, laugh every morning for decades. He is sorely missed, especially since our country has lost its sense of humor. We were fortunate to have him in our lives.
Imus has been dead since December of 2019, and no one has produced any public memorial or event, as far as I know. I was expecting his colleagues and friends to at least do a roast at the Friar’s Club, or a memorial someplace, like the one held for Joan Rivers. You can see Joan Rivers’ funeral on You Tube.
I also haven’t heard about Imus’ radio archives being donated anyplace, either. Imus’ archives should be housed in a library, or someplace, and I imagine any institution that has media archives would want them. I might be over-estimating, but what else would the family do with them? They should be in a public institution, like the Smithsonian, or New York Public Library, or Rice University, where the kid went to school, or the media school at the University of Arizona, where Don hails from.
I feel bad for Imus, knowing that no one is doing anything to try to keep his legacy alive. I haven’t heard a damned word since he passed away and I’m not optimistic that there is anything in the works. If anyone knows anything, post it here.
Going to miss you don! say hi to God for me.
Don Imus was the best part of a morning drive to work.
I sure miss Imus, what a funny dude. I watched him every morning. He said what he thought. I didn't personally know him but he had a good heart. I still watch the old clips .
God Bless Imus Family
My earliest memory of Don came in late November 1971, just before he started his first turn at WNBC. Don came on to promote his debut with another radio legend; Long John Nebel. I had no idea who he was and but don’t know if I ever laughed harder. l sat in my car for at least a half hour after arriving home just to continue listening.
Years later, I moved back to the east coast and on one of the first mornings I was in the car with my then teenage son. He and I both laughed out loud at a bit Don did with Bernard McGuirk. I don’t know if I ever heard my son laugh harder.
All I could think of is how hard I laughed 20 years earlier and how hard my son laughed that’ day. It was a very special moment.
Thanks Don. You always left us laughing.
Did Charles write this piece? It sure sounds like him.
I take my previous question back. I'm certain it was Charles. It was the dust clots behind the laundromat dryers phrase that gave it away.
Rest In Peace Bernard McGuirk. He always made me laugh on Imus in the Morning.
WABC’s Bernie McGuirk Dies From Prostate Cancer - Radio Ink
Well, once again I’m disappointed in all your fans who failed to show up on December 29th. I don’t see any posts from the family either. At least one of us is remembering you this time of year on the anniversary of your moving on to new frontiers. Hope you are not causing too much havoc at that big transmitter in the sky, Imus. The best is yet to come -- you’ll see. Rest not, Cowboy. You’ll want to stay awake for the New Year. What is it like on the other side? Send us a sign if you can. It's hard to believe, but I miss the unpredictability of you and the possibilities. Oh, well. Maybe in another life, Cowboy!
I pop onto the tube of you just to hear him and his laugh.
Merry Christmas I-man....Hope the Baby Jesus has taken a liken to ya
Sitting here today, February 7, 2023, remembering Mr. Imus. I have been listening to segments of his show on Youtube laughing but feeling sad at the same time. Maybe it Maybe it is because of the COVID-19 outbreak, but for some reason I am really missing Don and his show lately. RIP JDI Jr,
The world is a better place without you, Don.
Good morning friends.. Miss you Don and Bernie... Sam Katz at it again? ^^^ (A.K.A Nappy headed ho)..
No. I would never leave a comment like that. I had many reasons to want Don to stay alive. Plus, I have much better places to post than a website that even Don's family never visits. His daughter Elizabeth passed away, and no one left any comments about that, either. None of his family members noted any anniverary of his passing. I don't know where those "millions of listeners" went. Wherever they went, it wasn't here.
I listened to Don Imus from 1974 until the day he retired. I didn't always agree with him or some of his routines but what I miss the most was his common sense especially when it came to politics. I cannot imagine what his radio shows would be like today with all this nonsense going on but I expect that he would be as he always was... a voice in the storm that had no pretense or loyalties except for the truth. There is a huge void today for that very objective . I cannot tell you how many times I have said to people in the last few years that I wish Imus could be around to comment on the various issues of the day. To me the comedy was almost secondary except that he used it to show many guests and national figures how downright stupid they sound about many of their contentions. Whether it was Bill Clinton, Donald trump, Al Sharpton, it didn't matter. He called it as he saw it and most times he was right -on by piercing that stupid facade many of these luminaries wore .
There is nobody today that doesn't have an agenda so Don Imus is sorely missed for what he brought to his listeners ; a sense of reality at a time when that is a scarce commodity..
RIP
Right on, Paul from Connecticut!
I listened to Don Imus final farewell today on the fifth anniversary that he has been off of the air. I have it saved and I have it marked in my calendar to listen to it every year.
I sure do miss the Imus in the morning show. I am very appreciative of the fact that I was blessed to listen and watch his show. I hope his family is doing well. He is missed along with the rest of the Imus gang.
I should have known that I’d be the first, and perhaps the only, one here today: Happy Birthday, Cowboy.
Happy Belated Birthday to the best thing that ever happened to radio, Don Imus. I miss you I-Man, you made so many countless mornings better through your intelligence, wit, and acerbic take on the day to day. I hope that you are celebrating the day in heavenly glory with Fred & Bernie.
Thank you again for making this insignificant person's mornings a whole lot happier for nearly 40 years.
Peace and love to you and yours.
Marc
Wow – don’t call yourself “insignificant.” Just because you do not feel rich and aren’t “famous,” doesn’t mean you are insignificant. If you’ve ever influenced anyone or meant anything to anyone (family, friends, colleagues, whomever) in any way, you are significant.