UPDATED WITH AUDIO OF REMEBRANCES FROM THURSDAY’S AFTERNOONS WITH AMOS. Thursday, on Afternoons with Amos,two former WTLC-AM colleagues, Lonnell “King Ro” Conley and Thomas Griffin, along with Rev. Mmoja Ajabu shared their memories and remembrances of Willie Frank Middlebook. Audio ©2009 WTLC/Radio One.
Willie Frank Middlebrook, who hosted the popular The Bottom Line talkshow on WTLC-AM from 1995 to 2004, has died. He was 65.
Willie Frank Middlebrook was born in Okolona, Mississippi on July 1, 1944, the first born son to the union of Frank Middlebrook, Jr. and Mary Lena Osborne Middlebrook who preceded him in death on October 28, 1977.
Willie was a graduate of Washington High School in South Bend where he was a three-sport athlete in football, basketball and track. Willie excelled in football where he played both offense and defense and was a member of three championship varsity football teams, the all conference team two years in a row and the all state team his senior year. Willie also excelled academically, graduating in the top 5% of his graduating class.
Following his graduation Willie was accepted to Indiana University/Bloomington where he studied Education and received both his Bachelors and Masters degrees.
Willie also served in the military and was a veteran of U.S. Army.
Willie went on professionally to experience success in the areas of Education where he developed or served in programs dealing with alternative education and mentoring of youth, including teaching at four colleges, serving as Dean of Men at one.
But in 1993, Middlebrook decided to move from education to broadcasting, entering that profession with the same perseverance, drive and determination to help and uplift Black people that was his hallmark in life.
After listening one time too many to Rush Limbaugh on an Oklahoma City Radio Station, Middlebrook approached that station with an offer to host a counterpoint to the rightwing talk host. The station put Middlebrook on and a new career was born.
In 1995, Willie Frank Middlebrook moved to Indianapolis where his success in Oklahoma had brought him to the attention of then WTLC-AM General Manager Paul Major and then WTLC-AM Program Director Lonnell “King Ro” Conley.
Willie Frank Middlebrook began The Bottom Line talkshow as a two hour Saturday afternoon talk show in 1995. Middlebrook’s brash, confrontational, engaging broadcast style quickly won plaudits and a large audience following.
By 1997, The Bottom Line had moved from Saturdays to weeknights, where its popularity increased.
In 1999, the program moved to afternoons from 4pm-6pm where Willie Frank Middlebrook made The Bottom Line a must stop for community leaders and politicians of all stripes. In a 2002 story in the Indianapolis Recorder, Willie Frank Middlebrook said his blatant honesty and realness is what made him a success.
Willie Frank Middlebook was called Home by Eternal God on Sunday, January 17, 2010.
Willie leaves to cherish his memory his parents, Frank Middlebrook, Jr. (Odesta) of South Bend, IN; his son Dane Lamar (Victoria Allen) Middlebrook; his beloved grandchildren, Deija Renae (Boo) and Dane, Jr. (D.J) all of Indianapolis; his sisters Mrs. Maryann Mukete of Cameroon, West Africa; Mrs. JoAnn Walker, Ms. Linda Hanan, Mrs. Joy Lewis all of Fort Wayne, IN. His brothers, Mr. Jesse Middlebrook, Norfolk, VA and Mr. Lloyd Middlebrook, South Bend and all of their respective families.
He also leaves his aunts, uncles and a host of cousins, including his cousin buddies, Kenneth Osborne, Daryl Osborne, Fred M. Osborne and William Neely all of South Bend. A host of friends including his best friends Mrs. Karon Izzard of Wichita, KS, Mr. Ed Dorhan of Dallas, TX and his goddaughter, Ms. Sandte Stanley of Atlanta, GA.
Services for Mr. Willie Frank Middlebrook will be held on Saturday, January 23, 2010 at the Pentecostal Cathedral COGIC, 1025 W. Western Ave., South Bend. Visitation at 12:00 pm and funeral services at 1:00 pm. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery, South Bend. Alford’s Mortuary in South Bend has been entrusted with handling the arrangements. Their address is 1222 Napier Street. Phone 574-282-2477.
Messages of bereavement may be e-mailed to Alfordsmortuary@comcast.net c/o: The Middlebrook family.
