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Dan Dermody
5:30am to 12 noon Monday-Friday
Email:
DanDermody@1290WIRL.com
Dan Dermody was born on August 30,
1943 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Highland, Illinois. Dan was the
first son of the late Charles and Ruth Dermody of Trenton, Illinois.
He’s the oldest of seven children, has five brothers and one sister.
Dan attended St. Mary’s Grade School in Trenton, Illinois and Mater
Dei High School in Breese, Illinois, graduating in 1961. Dan joined
the United States Air Force in November 1963, and served on Okinawa
as well as North Carolina. He attained the rank of Sergeant, and was
Honorably Discharged in November 1967. On May 18, 1968, Dan married
the former Mary Ann Schmitt of Saint Jacob, Illinois at St. Paul’s
Catholic Church in Highland, Illinois. Dan and Mary Ann have one
son, Christopher, who, along with his wife, Aeron, lives in
Portland, Oregon. Dan began his broadcast career immediately upon
graduation from High School in 1961. His career has taken him to
stations in Illinois, Armed Forces Radio on Okinawa, as well as
stations in North Carolina, Florida, and back to Illinois, where he
joined central Illinois’ ‘heritage’ Country station, WXCL in Peoria,
in December of 1986. Dan spent 18 years at WXCL, holding positions
of Program Director, Music Director and, hosted the Morning Show. In
February 2005, Dan joined all new Classic Country 1290
WIRL.
Dan has been named "Illinois Country
Music Air Personality of the Year" SEVEN times by the
Illinois Country Music Association. He received this honor in 1994,
as well as for the years 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 and 2007.
In addition, WXCL was named Illinois "Country Music Station of the
Year" on three occasions by the Illinois Country Music Association,
and on June 24th of 2007, his current station , "Classic Country
1290, WIRL" was named "Station of the Year" by the Illinois Country
Music Association after having been on the air for only 2 1/2 years.
Dan, along with his wife, Mary Ann,
serves as an Ambassador for the St. Jude Children’s Research
Hospital, and its Midwest Affiliate in Peoria. For 13 years, Dan
hosted the "St. Jude Radiothon", and was instrumental in helping to
raise over one million dollars for the continuing research into
childhood cancer, and other pediatric diseases. He is involved in a
number of areas raising funds and awareness for the St. Jude cause.
Dan is active in his Church. While in
Florida, he was Vice President of the Parish Council, was a Church
lector, a Eucharistic Minister, and served on several committees. He
has continued that work in Peoria, where he is active in St. Vincent
DePaul parish, and serves as a lector.
Dan also has been involved with
several other charitable organizations, including The Arthritis
Foundation of Central Illinois, Easter Seals UCP, The Children’s
Home of Peoria, Cystic Fibrosis, and more.
In May of 2006, Dan was inducted into
his high school's "Hall of Honor". Mater Dei High School in Breese,
Illinois honored Dan for his long and distinguished broadcast
career, his broadcast awards, his charitable work, and his
dedication to his Church. A plaque honoring Dan is now hanging in a
place of honor at the school.
On October 1, 2007, Dan celebrated 46
years in the Broadcasting industry. On December, 10, 2006, he
celebrated his 20th year in Peoria. On March 27, 2007, Dan was
honored by the City of Peoria, with a Mayor's Proclamation,
presented at a ceremony prior to the City Council meeting of that
evening. The Proclamation recognized Dan's long and distinguished
broadcast career, his many charitable endeavors, specifically the
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and it's Midwest Affiliate in
Peoria, and his 20+ years of serving the listeners of Peoria and
Central Illinois.
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