Rick McNeal, a longtime presence on Northeast Wisconsin radio and co-host of the popular Rick and Len morning show on 105.7 WAPL, has died, according to the station. He retired in 2024 after battling health issues, closing out a run that made him one of the most recognizable voices in the Appleton and Green Bay markets.
WAPL-FM shared news of McNeal’s passing with listeners over the weekend, prompting an outpouring of tributes across social media from fans who started their mornings with his brand of humor and rock-focused commentary.
For decades, McNeal helped set the tone for the station’s identity, blending music knowledge with a conversational style that resonated with a loyal audience.
McNeal formed one half of the Rick and Len pairing with Len Nelson. The duo became synonymous with mornings on WAPL. Their chemistry blended sharp humor with a deep love of rock music. That dynamic helped the show stay competitive in a crowded regional market. The program endured despite shifting listening habits and expanding platform choices over the past decade.
McNeal had been in a coma for a week in an intensive care unit after an infection led to sepsis, according to a Facebook post from Len Nelson, his close friend and former on-air partner who spent 35 years in the studio with him on The Rick & Len Show.
“Suffice to say, it’s devastating,” Nelson said. “However, because I try to apply pragmatism even in tragic moments, I am grateful that he no longer has to struggle with the health issues that forced his retirement a couple of years ago and which have made his life since a very difficult one.
In a statement, WAPL General Manager BJ DeGroot reflected on McNeal’s impact both on and off the air.
“It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Rick McNeal. Longtime host of the WAPL Morning Show, colleague, and friend,” DeGroot said. “While Rick’s public persona was loved by many in Northeast Wisconsin, he remained a very private person. We honor his wishes and those closest to him and ask for privacy through this difficult time. Legacy is found in the laughter he shared with every listener.”
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