Posted by chicagomedia.org on October 22, 2009 at 15:36:06:
In Reply to: CLTV's Garrard McClendon's Parents Murdered posted by sad to report.. on October 22, 2009 at 15:18:53:
Victims' son outspoken TV talk-show host
October 22, 2009
BY KARA SPAK, Sun-Times News Group
Passionate, opinionated talk radio on your television - that's "Garrard McClendon Live."
High-energy host Garrard McClendon tackles violence, education and family issues on his nightly call-in show on CLTV.
His life was tragically touched by some of those topics when his parents were found Monday shot to death in a Cook County forest preserve outside Calumet City.
His producer, Jerry Riles, said McClendon's holding up but not speaking out as police continue to investigate the double homicide.
"He's doing OK considering everything," Riles said. "He's a well-grounded, well-rounded and spiritual man, and I know that prayer is helping out a lot."
McClendon, 43, of Hammond, is a former high school teacher who launched his broadcast career in the mid-1990s with his brother in a cable TV access show called "The McClendon Report," Riles said.
The brothers took their show to WJOB-AM (1230) radio in Hammond, then to Chicago talk radio station WVON-AM (1690). McClendon was hired about 15 months ago at CLTV because the station wanted to try a more interactive show, Riles said.
"His passion is education, and he would like to do something on a national scale helping to educate youth," he said. "His goal is to try to motivate and educate."
McClendon is studying for an advanced degree at Loyola University Chicago and wrote a book, "Ax or Ask? The African American Guide to Better English," according to his CLTV station bio.
On his blog, McClendon has written that he is a cancer survivor and "as for my dream ... I'd like to one day witness time travel."