Career Full-Circle For Peter Bolger
• After a four-decade radio career that has taken him to Portland, Miami, San Antonio and for the past five years, Chicago, Peter Bolger announced his impending retirement as OM/PD of Cumulus News-Talk WLS-AM/Chicago, effective March 15.
In a staff memo obtained by RAMP, VP/Market Manager Marv Nyren broke the news of Bolger’s upcoming departure, commenting, “I cannot begin to tell you how appreciative I am for all the Peter has done for this station over the years and the recent rebuild of the on-air lineup. Peter will be moving back to Portland, OR to enjoy his family and friends and I can only thank him for all he’s done and wish him the best as he enjoys life.”
In a conversation with Chicago media columnist Robert Feder, Bolger said, “For a kid who grew up outside of Genesee Depot, Wisconsin, listening to The Big 89, then actually becoming a part of WLS, and the chance to work with some of Chicago’s greatest radio personalities, has been an honor and privilege,” Bolger told me. “And flag-shipping the White Sox was a huge bucket list item for me.”
Prior to joining WLS in November 2013, Bolger spent 6 1/2 years as Director of AM Programming for iHeartMedia News-Talk WOAI and Sports-Talk KTKR/San Antonio. It’s a well known fact that Bolger spent two decades of his career in Miami — a 15-year run with Paxson (later Clear Channel) as PD of WINZ-AM and WIOD-AM, preceded by five years as PD of the late, legendary WZTA (Zeta 4). Bolger’s radio career began in Portland in 1984 as OM of KGON and KSGO.
In closing, Nyren said, “With many years in radio, [Peter] has been a proponent of our medium and we will miss his calm personality and talent in the hallways. Please join me in wishing Peter the best as he starts a new chapter in his life. And yes, we will be having a ‘farewell’ prior to his last day. Thank you Peter, and we look forward to the next five weeks.”
