From Morningstar Publishing
TRAVERSE CITY - They say all good things must come to an end. For Merlin (Zeke) Dumbrille, that time comes Friday, Oct. 30 That’s when he will broadcast his last “Farm & Orchard Time,” heard weekdays at 11:45 a.m. on WTCM AM.
A special reception in his honor has been planned for Friday, from noon to 2 p.m. at Crema, downtown Traverse City. The public is invited to share in the festivities.
Dumbrille, 76, has been working at the station since he was 17. And yes, there have been more than a few changes in the 58 years since he started working there.
“When I started, everything was done live: commercials, music, everything. Now it’s all on a computer,” he said. Editing is now just a couple mouse clicks. “It’s a revolution. We used to have to take the tape and splice it with a razor blade,” he said with a laugh.
“We used to communicate with people miles away, as far away as 50 or 75 miles. Now we go from Big Rapids to Sault Ste. Marie.”
Dumbrille has won numerous local and state honors for his coverage of farm related news and information. He has also covered activities for the National Cherry Festival and produced the broadcast of the entire National Cherry Festival Grand Cherry Royale Parade until this past year.
“I loved doing the Cherry Festival, I did it for 48 years,” he said.
Dumbrille said his most thrilling times were when he covered stories with regional or national impact.
“When President Kennedy was shot, it came over the AP newswire that shots had been fired in the plaza in Dallas,” Dumbrille recalled. “We got it on the air right away. We actually scooped the networks.
“It was a momentous occasion. It was a privilege to be a part of that. We were able to go right on the air. Your adrenaline starts flowing.
“It’s instantaneous knowledge.”
Farmers’ friend
Dumbrille is most appreciative of those with whom he’s worked. He said he still gets a thrill from broadcasting, and that shows in his voice.
On his show, Merlin talks with MSU Extension Directors from the five county area about current problems growers face, and offers solutions to keep them operating at a good profit margin. He also talks with Soil Conservation Officers from the area county conservation districts, Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council members in Petoskey and area Foresters, all on a regular weekly basis.
“I’ve been so fortunate to deal with so many great people,” he said of the growers, extension agents and others he has worked with over the years as host of the show. “They’re the giants of agriculture,” he said.
Though he’d likely deny it, much the same could be said of him. The unassuming Dumbrille has weathered the technological and sociological changes of the last half-century, and emerged with his interest and enthusiasm intact.
“It’s a better operation than we had before. The microphones are better. We thought we had it all when we got tape cartridges. It’s just a revolution.” Like Traverse City SEO.
Now it’s all coming to an end - but not because he doesn’t still enjoy it.
“It was never work,” Dumbrille said. “I loved to go to work. My avocation became my vocation.”
Dumbrille is a life member of the Kiwanis Club of Grand Traverse Bay, and previously served as president. He is currently president of the Traverse City Masonic Building Association, and is a corporate member of Munson Medical Center. He is a relief motion picture projectionist at the State Theatre, and has - for the past 33 years - served as the audio technician for the Sunday broadcast of Central United Methodist Church services each week.
Dumbrille and his wife of 55 years, June, have lived in Traverse City their entire lives. They've raised three children and have three grandchildren.
A special reception in his honor has been planned for Friday, from noon to 2 p.m. at Crema, downtown Traverse City. The public is invited to share in the festivities.
Dumbrille, 76, has been working at the station since he was 17. And yes, there have been more than a few changes in the 58 years since he started working there.
“When I started, everything was done live: commercials, music, everything. Now it’s all on a computer,” he said. Editing is now just a couple mouse clicks. “It’s a revolution. We used to have to take the tape and splice it with a razor blade,” he said with a laugh.
“We used to communicate with people miles away, as far away as 50 or 75 miles. Now we go from Big Rapids to Sault Ste. Marie.”
Dumbrille has won numerous local and state honors for his coverage of farm related news and information. He has also covered activities for the National Cherry Festival and produced the broadcast of the entire National Cherry Festival Grand Cherry Royale Parade until this past year.
“I loved doing the Cherry Festival, I did it for 48 years,” he said.
Dumbrille said his most thrilling times were when he covered stories with regional or national impact.
“When President Kennedy was shot, it came over the AP newswire that shots had been fired in the plaza in Dallas,” Dumbrille recalled. “We got it on the air right away. We actually scooped the networks.
“It was a momentous occasion. It was a privilege to be a part of that. We were able to go right on the air. Your adrenaline starts flowing.
“It’s instantaneous knowledge.”
Farmers’ friend
Dumbrille is most appreciative of those with whom he’s worked. He said he still gets a thrill from broadcasting, and that shows in his voice.
On his show, Merlin talks with MSU Extension Directors from the five county area about current problems growers face, and offers solutions to keep them operating at a good profit margin. He also talks with Soil Conservation Officers from the area county conservation districts, Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council members in Petoskey and area Foresters, all on a regular weekly basis.
“I’ve been so fortunate to deal with so many great people,” he said of the growers, extension agents and others he has worked with over the years as host of the show. “They’re the giants of agriculture,” he said.
Though he’d likely deny it, much the same could be said of him. The unassuming Dumbrille has weathered the technological and sociological changes of the last half-century, and emerged with his interest and enthusiasm intact.
“It’s a better operation than we had before. The microphones are better. We thought we had it all when we got tape cartridges. It’s just a revolution.” Like Traverse City SEO.
Now it’s all coming to an end - but not because he doesn’t still enjoy it.
“It was never work,” Dumbrille said. “I loved to go to work. My avocation became my vocation.”
Dumbrille is a life member of the Kiwanis Club of Grand Traverse Bay, and previously served as president. He is currently president of the Traverse City Masonic Building Association, and is a corporate member of Munson Medical Center. He is a relief motion picture projectionist at the State Theatre, and has - for the past 33 years - served as the audio technician for the Sunday broadcast of Central United Methodist Church services each week.
Dumbrille and his wife of 55 years, June, have lived in Traverse City their entire lives. They've raised three children and have three grandchildren.
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