Summer Job Turns Into Life’s Work for WIP Production Director

610 WIP SportsRadio Production Director Harry Bickhardt celebrated his 50th anniversary at the station this week. The milestone was marked on the air and in the studio on June 24, featuring surprise guests from his days at WIP.
When Bickhardt joined WIP in June of 1954, Dwight D. Eisenhower was president, the New York Giants swept the Cleveland Indians in the World Series, Joe DiMaggio wed Marilyn Monroe and the Tonight Show with Steve Allen made its debut. WIP was playing standards and owned by the Gimbel Brothers department store. Since then, the station has been owned by Metromedia, Metropolitan, Spectator and Infinity Broadcasting.
“Harry’s loyalty to WIP is representative of a bygone era when employee and employer had a bond that lasted a lifetime,” said WIP VP/GM Marc Rayfield. “His long tenure is unheard of today.”
Station Manager Tom Bigby said, “Harry’s calm demeanor in the eye of the storm is a big reason for the station’s success.”
“I was originally hired as a summer replacement right after graduating Temple Tech (University),” said Bickhardt, “and then full-time a few months later. I had no idea I’d spend my entire career here.”