Open Letter to Casper: Thank You and Why I Must Now Say Goodbye

Words have been my business for nearly 4 decades. I say them and sometimes write them and hopefully you enjoy them. I'm also not the sentimental type. That's why this will be one of the most difficult things I've had to do. I must use words to explain why I must now begin to say goodbye to Casper and not get all misty-eyed doing it.

I'll begin with the facts. Thursday, April 29 will be my last day as a part of the Townsquare Media team in Casper. For the past nearly 3 years, this town has embraced me like no other. We've had some great laughs together, endured a pandemic and together have done some good things for this community.

It is very important that you know why this is happening and why it isn't. No, I did not find a better radio job. No, I did not decide this was not a great place to live. It most certainly is. The one and only reason I have decided to leave is this.

Family. 100% family. 

I don't share a lot of details about my family, but it's important that I do so in this case. I am the father of 7 children. 4 of them live with me and my wife here and the other 3 are now adults. Here's a pic of them the last time I was able to see them.

This picture was taken over 4 years ago. Because of my radio travels, I have not been able to spend meaningful time with 3 of the most important people in my life: my kids. Yes, they're grown up, but they'll always be kids to me.

The pandemic has been devastating to my family. I won't go into all the details here, but suffice it to say that it's help reinforce the importance of doing what's best for your family all the time. About a month ago, my wife and I began talking about those priorities. Her mother (a wonderful soul that I love like she were my own) lives in Iowa. My 3 adult kids are now returning to the Midwest also. All of this led me to this decision and now this letter to you.

I have to go home. I have to reunite my family. ALL of my family. And, I have to do it now. 

You have no idea how much your friendship has meant to me during my time in Casper. That might seem weird coming from a guy who is just a disembodied voice on the radio, but it's true. So many of you have either stopped by to say hello, sent a message through our app and/or shared part of your life with us to share on the radio. That makes you a friend in my book.

I also need to say a humongous thank you to Cathy Holman and her family (aka Prairie Wife in Heels). Her friendship and professional collaboration have been a career highlight. If I'm as manly as her husband a few years from now, I will have achieved greatness. Hey, I can dream.

In all seriousness, Prairie Wife isn't going anywhere and (spoiler alert) the best is yet to come. Really. The next step for the radio show here will be a great one. You'll see. 

This is only sort of a goodbye. You might still see some weird thing a bear has done with my name attached to it from time to time. I won't completely disappear.

I will leave you with one final thought and sentiment. From the bottom of my big redneck heart, please know the kindness and hospitality you have shown me and my family over the past several years here in Wyoming will never leave me. The world does need more cowboys and this one needs to saddle up now and ride off into the sunset.

Happy trails.