Richard Dyer – President and General Manager WUSA – TV Washington DC

Our Town with host Andy Ockershausen - Homegrown History

Richard Dyer on the most important personal lesson he learned from his time away from Our Town~ ". . .how special it was growing up here in Washington DC. At a time where the country was going through tremendous amount of change with the Civil Rights Movement and my parents were able to get a little bit more opportunity as a result of that, which allowed us to have a slightly better opportunity because we had a better education. That . . .expanded my vision of what my life could be. . .I was gifted with as a result of growing up here in Washington, a diverse international city where people have contributed from all walks of life, all cultures, all races for decades, was confidence." Richard Dyer, President and General Manager WUSA-TV, and Andy Ockershausen in studio Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen and this Our Town, and we have a re-visitor to Our Town, a man who was born here, who appeared and left for a while. But he came back, and we're so happy that Richer Dyer who is the President and General Manager of WUSA TV. Unfortunately, Richard, I sometimes call it WTOP, but CBS and Channel 9, there's a reason they call it the Tiffany Network because it's such a class organization. And WUSA is a model ... what I grew up with, is the Washington Post, a class organization. Thank God you came back. Back to Our Town from WLWT, NBC affiliate, in Cincinnati, OH Richard Dyer Well, I'm really happy. I'm blessed because when I left 15 and a half years ago, I wasn't sure this would happen. The circle completing itself for me has been an amazing gift. I'm so happy about it. I went off and left and joined the Hearst Television Company for 15 and a half years as a General Manager, and I'm able to take that great experience and come back to my home town, where my parents are. My dad just turned 82 on Saturday. So we celebrated with family and friends and that something that we weren't able to do when we lived in Cincinnati. Andy Ockershausen: He's got to be extremely fond of you, I mean. Richard Dyer Extremely, yeah I really- Andy Ockershausen: It's a fact. He wasted all that money sending you to college, I know that. And Richard, but you learned while you were away, and now I want to talk about that. What did you learn while you were away that you brought back with you, that you think is the most important lesson. Lessons Learned While Away from Our Town Richard Dyer I think there are a couple of things. There's a lot of professional lessons. But the most important personal lesson for me is how special it was growing up here in Washington DC. At a time where the country was going through tremendous amount of change with the Civil Rights Movement and my parents were able to get a little bit more opportunity as a result of that, which allowed us to have a slightly better opportunity because we had a better education. That better education expanded my vision of what my life could be. So the one thing I really understand that I was gifted with as a result of growing up here in Washington, a diverse international city where people have contributed from all walks of life, all cultures, all races for decades, was confidence. That's the one thing that I saw models of people, for example, Walter Washington as a mayor in the seventies. Andy Ockershausen: Our Town. Walter. Absolutely. Richard Dyer We saw- Andy Ockershausen: Bennetta. I mean, they were Washingtonians. Richard Dyer Entertainment coming through in the 70's with WHUR as a new voice in the 70's. Andy Ockershausen: Absolutely. Radio, I know it well. Richard Dyer My parents are native Washingtonians, they grew up- Andy Ockershausen: Riggs Park you said? Richard Dyer No. My dad grew up at 12th and U. Andy Ockershausen: Oh, wow! Richard Dyer And my mom grew up at 4th and W. Andy Ockershausen: I know those neighborhoods. Richard Dyer's Early Years and Memories of Ben's Chili Bowl Richard Dyer And I was born at Freedmen's Hospital.