[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 80 (Thursday, June 18, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6636-S6637]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            TRIBUTE IN HONOR OF ROGER WOOD, WOKQ NEWSCASTER

 Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I rise today to pay 
tribute to Roger Wood, an institution in the broadcast community of New 
Hampshire. After 18 years as a radio reporter in New Hampshire, and 30 
years in broadcasting, Roger will sign off at the end of this month to 
pursue other endeavors.
  Roger, 50, is the news and public affairs director at WOKQ radio in 
Dover, New Hampshire. WOKQ is one of the largest stations in New 
Hampshire and, with its country music format, is my unequaled favorite. 
I am a WOKQ listener not only for the playlist, but because of the 
outstanding commitment, dignity and character that Roger Wood has 
brought to the airwaves in my years as an avid listener.
  Roger's distinguished voice has broadcast the news to WOKQ's audience 
since 1979. Before that, Roger was a one-man news shop at WHEB AM/FM in 
nearby Portsmouth, and worked at a variety of Seacoast stations 
including WWNH in Rochester, WBBX in Portsmouth and New Hampshire 
Public Television. He also worked at a number of stations in his native 
Pennsylvania before he graced the Granite State with his presence in 
1970.
  Roger was never one to ``rip and read.'' He always researched stories 
thoroughly, went the extra mile to get an interview, and provided in-
depth coverage from both a human interest and hard news perspective. 
And he has the awards lining his walls that prove it.
  Roger Wood is committed to his profession. He has won recognition 
from UPI, AP, the New Hampshire Association of Broadcasters, and other 
organizations in the categories of outstanding reporting, best 
newscasts and individual achievement. He has said that one of the 
achievements that most touched him was his coverage in 1986 on the 
fatal launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger, with New Hampshire 
teacher Christa McAuliffe on board. Roger was at Cape Canaveral in 
person, and has said the implications of the explosion left him 
``deeply moved.''
  Although Roger Wood is a veteran newscaster, he is a trend setter for 
the new generation of broadcasters. He led WOKQ to an innovative 
partnership with Channel 7 in Boston, establishing the largest news 
exchange network in the region. He has also implemented the first 
cellular car phone reporting system in the region, for listeners to 
report accidents and news ``they see happening.''

[[Page S6637]]

  Roger is committed to his community, as exemplified by involvement in 
the Seacoast Housing Partnership, a nonprofit organization dedicated to 
affordable housing issues; the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Committee to improve 
the environment of Pierce Island; the Greater Seacoast Economic Summit; 
and his volunteer work to help many local citizens in poverty.
  Most importantly, Roger is committed to his family. He and his wife, 
Elaine, have been married for 27 years. They have three grown children, 
Roger, Jr., Emily, and Melissa. His family can be very proud of his 
achievements, and glad that they will finally have him around for 
breakfast!
  My interviews with Roger always left us sharing a laugh and, though 
he rarely took any of my suggestions for use in the ``Joke Du Jour,'' 
his resulting stories were always fair, thorough, and forthright as is 
always Roger's style. As he embraces future endeavors in the field of 
communications and public relations, I wish Roger Wood all the best. I 
am proud to represent him in the United States Senate, and proud to 
call him my friend.

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