The late Rush Limbaugh would have turned 72 Thursday. Limbaugh died after a short battle with lung cancer on Feb. 17, 2021. “The Rush Limbaugh Show” host was arguably the most influential talk radio personality ever. At its peak, the show was broadcasted on nearly 700 affiliates nationwide.
In the months following the radio host’s passing, hundreds of radio stations scrambled to fill the 12 pm to 3 pm afternoon slot held down by Limbaugh. Some broadcast companies promoted local talent while Premiere Networks elevated Clay Travis and Buck Sexton to serve as Limbaugh’s official successors; meanwhile, Cumulus Media hired Dan Bongino.
On Thursday, news/talk personalities paid homage to Limbaugh. Houston-based radio host Michael Berry played Limbaugh’s 2020 Christmas message during his show on NewsRadio 740 KTRH.
“It was 72 years ago today; the greatest of all time was born. The man who is the reason for talk radio today,” Berry said.
WBT Radio host Brett Winterble worked with Rush from 1995 until 2006. He was one of the Snerdleys, a pseudonym Limbaugh assigned to various call screeners over the years.
“During that same time, I got married. I had a couple of kids and my life totally changed,” Winterble said in a tweet to Barrett News Media. “My daughter was born in 2002 and Rush was kind enough to send his well wishes to her on that day. My son just so happened to be born on the same day that Rush Limbaugh celebrated his birthday and so forever and ever we will be linked to both Rush and our beloved son. Happy birthday Rush Limbaugh, radio’s all-time greatest.”
Travis and Sexton discussed Limbaugh’s legacy with Sexton saying that Limbaugh received some much-deserved recognition on his birthday.
“We are always thinking about Rush when we talk about these issues because we are sitting here in the house that Rush built,” said Sexton. “Many of the greats in talk radio today are thinking about Rush on his birthday.”
“Rush was legendary, and he obviously saw around the corner very often in the direction that we were all headed,” added Travis.
