Remembering ‘Captain Bill’ Vogel

• Longtime popular Michigan radio fixture William “The Captain” Vogel, probably best known and loved for his two decades of service in mornings at MacDonald-Garber Top 40 WKHQ (106KHQ)/Charlevoix-Traverse City, died March 17, 2021 at his home in Carrollton, TX at the age of 68, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Vogel broke into radio in his hometown of Lansing, MI before landing at WDRQ/Detroit in the early ’70s. He later moved to beautiful Charlevoix, MI to work for WVOY-AM — until WKHQ launched in 1980. Vogel was hired to host the Q Morning Zoo, employing his new name and persona — “The Captain,” sporting a captain’s hat, leather jacket and sunglasses, but he was most recognized for his thick mustache and popular catchphrase, “Get the heck out of bed!!” in his thundering voice while slurping his trademark cup of coffee.

Vogel left WKHQ in 2001 after nearly 20 years and joined the Michigan Talk Radio Network while operating his voiceover business, “Vogelsound,” producing commercials on a national level. Bill and Barbara, his wife of 38 years, spent many winters in Islamorada, FL before settling in the Dallas area, but in the summer they always returned to their home on Lake Charlevoix.

In addition to Barbara, Vogel is survived by three children, Rochelle (Keir) Collins, of Dallas; Evan (Rachel) Vogel, of Williamston and Meghan (Austin) Holgerson, of Sanford, NC.; a brother, two sisters, five grandchildren, and many other relatives. [Special thanks to Dean Smith, longtime WKHQ “Sales Weasel” — a nickname lovingly bestowed upon him by Captain Bill in the late ’90s]

To pay proper tribute to Captain Bill’s legacy at WKHQ, current PD/morning host Robby Bridges (pictured here with his wife & co-host Rochelle), recently rechristened the KHQ control room in his honor. Bridges said, “It was our honor to rededicate the KHQ Traverse City control room the ‘Captain Bill Vogel Studio.’ Bill is a Michigan radio icon and his legacy will live forever in our halls.”