WMJI 105.7 FM in Cleveland bid farewell Monday to longtime morning personality John Lannigan. After some 51+years in the business, 40 of them at WMJI, Lanigan's departure drew a considerable amount of media attention.
Making good on retirement plans announced in January, he signed off shortly after 10 a.m. Monday on a hall of fame broadcasting career, according to cleveland.com.
"It's been a great time," he said. He told his on-air colleagues he loved them back, and ended with "Thank you."
Characteristically for him, and probably fitting for someone ending a half-century of rising for work at 4 a.m., he wrapped the show much as usual, without tears or sentimental sign-off.
The final show capped a send-off week -- a rarity in radio -- that featured a who's who of guests from entertainment, politics, sports and Lanigan's life.
Jimmy Malone, Chip Kullik and Tracey Carroll, who will continue on the show. Mark Nolan, Lanigan's frequent vacation fill-in the past two years, will move from middays to helm the morning show starting Tuesday.
Making Lanigan's retirement the lead story on the morning news, Kullik called him "Johnny Legend" and said, "This is your house."
Ceremoniously trashing his battered briefcase, Lanigan left the studio to loud applause from a bigger crowd mobbing the hallway, and -- completing another radio ritual -- made a beeline past a waiting cake for the men's room.