Spokesman-Review Photo

In 1999, Dick Haugen, then with KVNI, asks 9-year-old Heather Hendry if she snuck into her brothers' rooms to collect loose change for Hayden Lake Elementary's donation of $515 in loose change to the 1999 Child Abuse Prevention Campaign Thursday morning.

D.F. Oliveria: How long have you been in radio?
Dick Haugen: 34 years

DFO: Why radio?
DH: I originally wanted to be a Washington State Patrol officer but I was too short. I was 5-10 and at that point in time you needed to be 6-0 (without college degree), 5-11 (with two years) and 5-10 (bachelor's degree). I had taken the civiol service tests in Tacoma. And I finished second in my class in the physical and the top 10 percent in the written. I used to hang out at a radio station in Tacoma when I was a junior in high school. And I liked what they did. As a senior, we built our own station at school.

DFO: What do you enjoy most about radio?
DH: I like talking to people. You have an opportunity to meet some interesting folks. It's not physically hard. You get to meet interesting folks.

DFO: How has radio changed since you started?
DH: My first radio job was in Longview, playing records. I lived in Tacoma and drove to Longview. I made $2 per hour and worked weekends. So I made $24. My car got 8 mph. I slept in a cot in the back of the station. I cleared about $5 per weekend.

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