Tom Mailey Goin’ Fishin’… Literally
• After more than three decades in morning drive on Bonneville Country KNCI/Sacramento, Tom Mailey announced he was retiring as co-host of the Pat, Tom & Cody show alongside Pat Still and Cody Robinson— a life decision that will go effect following KNCI’s big Country In The Park event this weekend.
Mailey posted this photo to Instagram with the caption: “That look you wear just before announcing you’re retiring after 42 years in radio, 32 at the same station.”
Mailey shared his news in a lengthy Facebook post that reads, in part, “This wasn’t an easy decision — 32.5 years with Pat is longer than most marriages. And I snore! But he has been exceptional to work with. Honestly, he’s the quickest wit I’ve ever known, he cares more about our business than anyone I have ever met IN this business, and he has a sincerity that is as deep as his hair is majestic. He’s as close to me as my own actual brother. In fact, I literally cannot think of anyone else I could have ever worked with. I was truly blessed to be paired with him all those years ago.”
Mailey and partner Pat Still (left) — both 2024 inductees into the Country Radio Hall of Fame — first teamed up in 1992 on the former 105.1 KRAK-FM. Two years later, KRAK-FM and former rival 98.5 KNCI became clustermates, and the two Country brands were consolidated onto 105.1. Cody Robinson (center), who had been doing middays over on KZZO (Now 100.5) under former owner CBS Radio, joined the show in 2017.
Mailey’s post continued, “As I said on the air this morning, I made this decision while Pat was going through hell with his cancer treatment/stem cell transplant. It made real that cliché that ‘none of us are guaranteed tomorrow.’ Fishing’s always been a passion. I’ve decided I’m going to follow up with that passion and take my part-time guide service full time Get The Net Fishing.”
In closing, Mailey said, “It has been a privilege — and the joy of my life — to be a part of your life the past 32+ years. On behalf of MY family — Vickie, Emma, Joe and Sam, thank you for allowing us to build our lives here.”
RAMP reached out to Chad Rufer, Group Director of Programming for Bonneville Sacramento, who said, “Tom Mailey has been instrumental to the success of KNCI for the past 30 years. Along with his partner Pat Still, he’s helped raise millions of dollars to support local organizations in the Sacramento community and have shown the power of radio first hand. I’ve been fortunate enough to have worked with Tom for just over 10 years now, and I will certainly miss his witty humor and his passion for this brand, but I’m very excited that he gets to transition his time to his fishing business, which I know he loves.”
Rufer notes that while Mailey’s shoes “will be very difficult to fill,” the station will be posting an opening to join the KNCI Morning Show on Monday.
