Stay Tuned with Kirk Baird: Rick Woodell

Position: Morning show cohost with Mary Beth Smith.<br> Station: WRVF-FM, 101.5., the River.<br> Age: Still young enough to do this!<br> Hometown: Macon, Ga. College: University of Georgia (Go DAWGS!)<br> Family: Wife, Carla, and son, Alex.<br>

First job: I worked on a construction crew building a Waffle House in my hometown. It was summer in middle Georgia. At 15 years old, I realized that I did not want to do manual labor for a living.

First salary: My first full-time job with a real paycheck was at age 16 working for Davies Lumber Co., making doors and windows. As well as memory serves, I made $44 a week.

My idol is: My dad. He died when I was 18, but I think he is with me, in some way, every day.

Most embarrassing TV moment: Before coming to Toledo, I did a TV show for two years called Talk of the Town. We were a travel show that went around the Southeast and discovered all the wonderful things about the region. The show was then sold to cable systems throughout the seven southern states. Each show aired twice daily, for seven days straight. We were filming at a college and I was interviewing a doctor. A beautiful set was created using a 3-D rendering of the Vitruvian Man behind us. It looked great while filming, but seeing it later on TV we were all very embarrassed to see that a certain part of the Vitruvian Man's anatomy was directly between the doctor and me. Every time the camera zoomed in close … well, there it was!

Highlight of my career: I've been a great many places in America and each stop has been a wonderful experience. Perhaps the highlight of anyone's career is best described as where he/she is happy. Toledo was a very good decision for us.

My favorite thing to do outside of work: Goofing off with my wife. We are best friends and our journeys around northwest Ohio are always … interesting.

I think Toledo's best-kept secret is: Itself. There is so much diversity here. Look around. It's not just a world-class zoo, library, symphony, the Mud Hens, the new arena, or a spectacular museum. It's people, kids, neighborhoods rich with heritage, and a sense of small-town America. Having moved around a fair amount over the past 30-plus years, I have lived in larger and smaller towns across America but have rarely seen the potential anywhere that we have here in Toledo in 2010.

People may be surprised to know that I: have been here for four years this May.

In five years, I see myself: Here, at the River, in Toledo. We are very comfortable and enjoy the community very much.

My dream job is: going on right now! How could I not love this? Have you listened lately? Mary Beth is a hoot, and we really do have a great time every morning. What a perfect job!

Contact Kirk Baird atkbaird@theblade.com or 419-724-6734.