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You may not be familiar with a certain area radio personality if he were referred to as David Malcom, but if a conversationalist were to say “Julio,” then more than likely, it would prompt a generous smile, deep and wide, bringing about a response befitting a person of good times and goodwill.  Everybody in a big swath of Northeast Georgia knew and appreciated this genial country music aficionado.

Julio was many things to many people.  He was a radio host, a farmer, a speaker, and a goodwill ambassador.  I had a special relationship with him and was downcast when I learned a week ago that he had passed away.

As the morning host at WMOQ in Bostwick, he and I talked football each Friday morning from Labor Day Saturday till Super Bowl Sunday.  He was always upbeat, happy and eager to serenade the Dawgs.   

He had a following that was far reaching.  WMOQ, 92.3, is a country music station.  Country fans loved Julio.  He was a farmer, and farmers loved Julio.  He was a gardener and all gardeners sought to share gardening tips with Julio.

As I began mourning, I flashed back to a scene in San Sebastian, Spain years ago when I was enjoying dinner with France’s most popular sportswriter, a man named Denis LaLanne who had crossed the border for dinner which featured Spanish ham.  Denis was an expert in Rugby, but also annually covered the four major golf tournaments after years of covering the Grand Slam tennis championships.

A fan, stranger to him, came up and with the greatest of exuberance began complimenting Denis for his extraordinary writing expertise and with heartfelt appreciation.  His gushing praise was genuine.

When the gentleman walked away, my longtime sports writing friend shrugged his shoulders, grinned and said, “What can I say.  I’m just a local star.”

Julio was indeed a local star.  All in his circle of friends, the many who knew him from the air waves, were proud to say they were his friend. His constituency sought to interact with him, everybody from those who called in to talk to him on the air to those who met up with him at remote broadcasts, farmers markets and shopping centers.

Local stars who connect with their audiences are genuinely appreciated because they make everybody feel that they are his best friend.

Any man who digs in the dirt as Julio did gets along with his friends and neighbors. There was nothing insincere about him, he had a kind word for one and all.

Whenever we met up to talk about fall plans, he would always hand over a small container of the best from his garden—squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, beans and peppers.

Julio made a star out of Jimmy Loggins who worked at UGA’s physical plant for over 30 years.  Jimmy picked up sausage and biscuits from Strickland’s restaurant and took them to WMOQ every Friday morning.  Jimmy, an eager hunter and fisherman through the years, enjoyed Julio’s clever personality.  Julio appreciated Jimmy’s penetrating, dry wit.    

Country music stars, such as Whiperin’ Bill Anderson, a University of Georgia graduate who made it big in Nashville, not only knew Julio, many of them also took state road 83 west out of Bostwick, turned onto Launius Road and then drove up the loose gravel driveway to the modular building where Julio hosted them.  This delighted the stars as much as it did Julio’s legion of “Real County” listeners.

Julio’s studio was as downhome as he was. Broadcast equipment dominated the scene, but vintage photographs, sticky notes here and there, calendars, posters, reminders pinned to a bulletin board were just as prominent.    At times, things could be quiet and laid back until Julio’s presence was felt. 

Then the atmosphere became enlivened, his cheerful and resonating voice filling the confines with down-home insights, friendly nonsensical chatter, love and laughter as his voice connected with a varied audience which preferred good news and real country music.  Just what you would expect from a “local star.”