94WIP host Jon Marks has left the building. Marks hosted his final show at WIP with Ike Reese on Wednesday, and from the top he knew it was going to be an emotional day.
“I was crying on the drive in,” he said to open Marks & Reese. “I’m a crier as you know, Ike, it doesn’t take much to make me cry.”
“But text messages from people that I’ve worked with and former interns, and messages from listeners, and it’s been amazing,” Marks added. “But today is it.”
Marks and Reese have had the last couple of days to really reflect on their run together, launching the afternoon drive show in August 2019 and braving the pandemic six months later. Going through so much adversity like so many others did during that period but still finding a way to develop a successful program and chemistry stood out to Reese.
“For two people who had never really worked together before, for us to be able to put something together in the time that we did to become what it is right now, they say God don’t make no mistakes,” Reese said. “And things are done for a reason, and we were brought together obviously for a reason. And we did something beautiful. I hope you can appreciate it. I hope it’s something you can be proud of. I know it’s something I’m proud of. And I wish you nothing but the best moving forward.”
Marks was nothing but complimentary of his co-host, who he felt had really blossomed into a superstar talent.
“I’ve watched you grow from being what I thought was a very good radio host into the number one sports personality in Philadelphia,” Marks said. “You just are.”
Jon Marks continued by saying that he’s been very fortunate to live out his career dream. It’s been hard work, but Marks hoped the audience knew how much he respected them.
“When you’ve grown up and all you’ve ever wanted to do was radio, then you actually get to do it, it’s humbling,” he said. “But you take the responsibility very seriously. And any day that I came in to do this job I always wanted to respect the audience and the call letters and the frequency.”
After seven years, Marks signed off.
“WIP was here a long time before I came and they’re going to be here a long time after I’m gone,” he said. “For me to come in and for seven years to be a big part of this station is something that will always be one of the biggest parts, if not the biggest part, of my professional life. And I couldn’t have done it without my coworkers, without my co-host and without the listeners. Cause that’s really what it’s about.”
“It’s been my ultimate privilege to be on this show and on these airwaves for the last seven years,” Jon Marks concluded.
