Tampabay: Radio host dies on way to work

Radio host dies on way to work

By NEGAR TEKEEI

SEMINOLE -- Two weeks after his surgery, Carl Metcalf's doctor said it was okay for him to bike the 6 miles to work on Monday morning.

The 56-year-old radio announcer for WKES-FM 91.1 had ridden his standard, three-speed bicycle from his Largo home to the station at 5800 100th Way N nearly every day at 4:00 a.m. since he began working there in 1992. Sometimes he would take the Pinellas Trail all the way to the station. Other times he would ride the streets, taking the major thoroughfares 102nd Avenue N and 113th Street.

Metcalf took the streets Monday, and was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver.

Metcalf's body was found at 4:45 a.m. in the southbound lane of 113th Street, just south of 102nd Avenue N, said Pinellas County Sheriff's Office spokesman Cal Dennie.

A motorist called sheriff's officials to report a body by the street. Metcalf was dead when emergency workers arrived, Dennie said. There are no leads on the driver of the vehicle that killed him.

Metcalf, a Detroit native, moved to Largo from Chicago in 1992 to host Tampa Bay Today, WKES' 6-to-8:30 morning show. A Moody Broadcasting Network Station, WKES is affiliated with the Moody Bible Institute and specializes in Christian programming.

Before his 25-year career with Moody Broadcasting, Metcalf worked as a reporter for a Detroit station.

"Carl was a typical morning man type of personality," said the station's interim manager Mike Gleichman. "He encouraged people to find their courage in the Lord and had just a very positive outlook on life."

Metcalf was born with a birth defect that left his right arm shorter than his left and with a thumb and only one finger on his right hand. Although Metcalf could only ride a bicycle with pedal brakes -- not the hand brakes found on most bicycles -- he had never had a serious incident riding his bike to work, Gleichman said.

Metcalf had recently started giving a new name to his morning show, Carl With Your Coffee, and had gotten into the habit of naming the days of the week. But for the hundreds of listeners who tuned into dead air, "Marvelous Monday" never happened.

Gleichman, who was alerted to the dead air, went to the station and played some previously recorded tapes. Listeners were informed of Metcalf's death later Monday morning.

"He filled a big hole here," Gleichman said. "He had a great deal of responsibility interacting with our listeners and developing the image of WKES as one where we reach out to the listeners in a very significant way."

Metcalf is survived by his wife, Shirley, and a daughter, Christina, who lives in Dixon, Ill. Funeral services will be held Thursday in Detroit, followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m. Nov. 17 at First Baptist Church of Indian Rocks, 12685 Ulmerton Road in Largo.