Richard E. Landrum (born March 31, 1946) is best known as a radio and TV broadcaster. He started his broadcasting career at the age of 16.
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Landrum started his broadcasting career at the age of 16 while still in high school, working part-time as a news reporter for the original WLEE-AM (now WTOX) radio station under the mentorship of Vice-president & General Manager Harvey Hudson. At that time WLEE was the # 1 Top 40 station in Richmond. During interviews, Landrum has stated, “It was quite unusual for anyone to start at a number one station. If it hadn’t been for Harvey Hudson and his faith and me, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity” .
Landrum stayed with WLEE for 4 years and made a jump to WTVR-AM, another Richmond radio station. That stint lasted about a year and he returned to WLEE.
During his time with WLEE, Landrum worked with a number of well-known Richmond broadcasters, including Harvey Hudson, Lud Sterling, Jess Duboy, Jim Granger, George Prescott, and Bill Adams (former producer of the Dick Clark Radio Show).
While handling the Assistant Manager duties for a Little League Baseball team with Neil Kuvin, the Station Manager for WXEX-TV8 (now WRIC-TV), Kuvin convinced Landrum to make the jump to WXEX-TV. At first, Landrum wasn’t sure he wanted to move to TV, as he really enjoyed the anonymity of radio[1] . Kuvin finally convinced him and Landrum started his TV career as a field reporter and news photographer. Shortly thereafter, in addition to being a field reporter, he hosted the afternoon version of Dialing for Dollars and filled in as a sports anchor on the 6:00 & 11:00 news, when needed.
It was during this time, at the behest of one of his friends, that he attended a local professional wrestling match at the State Fair Grounds of Virginia at Strawberry Hill (now Richmond International Raceway). Shortly before the matches were to start, Joe Murnick, the local promoter, approached him. Murnick explained that the announcer from Channel 6, who usually did the ring announcing didn’t show up, and asked if Lundrum would be interested in filling in for a small payment.[2] Landrum agreed, and after the show was over he was hired as their regular weekly Richmond Ring Announcer.
In 1972, Landrum left WXEX-TV8, as he was uncertain that he wanted to continue his broadcast career.[3] He entered the automobile business, but still maintained his ties with wrestling as a Ring Announcer. It was in 1977, after local wrestling had moved permanently to the Richmond Coliseum, that he was approached by George Scott, who was then the booker for Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP) out of Charlotte, North Carolina. JCP promoted wrestling throughout the Mid-Atlantic States and produced two syndicated professional wrestling TV shows (Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling & World Wide Wrestling). Scott said that they wanted Landrum to audition as a promo announcer for their two TV shows and asked him to come to Raleigh, NC, the following week, when they taped the promos and shows at WRAL-TV. Landrum showed up and later said, "It was the longest and hardest afternoon" he had ever had in broadcasting.[4]. Nevertheless, he got the job and his broadcasting career in professional wrestling started in earnest.
In 1978, Landrum took over the commentary for the revamped World Wide Wrestling (formerly Wide World Wrestling). Johnny Weaver who provided the color commentary, later joined him. Weaver was a well-known wrestler in the JCP stable. Landrum dubbed him “The Dean of Professional Wrestling” on the opening of their show one night, and that moniker stuck for the rest of Weaver’s career.[5] Not to be outdone, Weaver started calling Landrum “The Voice”.
It has often been reported, that of all the announcer teams of that era, Weaver and Landrum are the most remembered for their smooth approach, their interaction with one another and their respect for their contemporaries.[6]
In 1982, after Crockett moved their TV taping operation to WPCQ in Charlotte, NC, Landrum was let go in a cost-cutting measure. In 1983 he was approached by George Scott, who was now booking for the WWF (World Wrestling Federation). Scott explained that they were looking for a third announcer. It didn't take much convincing, and Landrum headed to Baltimore, Maryland for an audition. Landrum stayed with the WWF for about a year. After the WWF there was a short stint with the ICW hosting their TV shows out of Boston.
In 1998, Landrum switched gears entirely and entered the retail hardware business working for a local True Value Hardware in the Tri-Cities area. It was here that he started the hearth business (gas logs, fireplaces, gas log stoves, etc.) for the owner. According to Landrum, the owner was reluctant to do it. But, after months of persistence, the owner agreed with one condition:
You take it, you run it and if it fails it’s on you
The first year the store set record winter sales and it grew each year, until the owner retired in 2000 and turned the hearth business over to Landrum.
In May 2000, Landrum founded American Hearth and Home and has been the owner ever since. However, he has never lost touch with professional wrestling, as he makes personal appearances at wrestling shows and fanfests throughout Virginia and the Carolinas. “I love meeting and seeing the fans. They call me a ‘legend’, but I’m not sure I qualify for that”, Landrum said.[7] He also maintains close ties with many of the wrestlers he worked with throughout his career and relishes in the opportunity to get together with them as often as possible . “It’s like turning back the clock to the most exciting and enjoyable career of my life. But, sadly, my partner Johnny Weaver is no longer with us”.[8]
Landrum has been married 3 times and has a grown son (Corey) and a grandson (Stone) from his first wife. He had no children with his second wife. He has currently been married to his third wife for eighteen years and has two stepchildren.
Landrum is a member of Colonial Heights Baptist Church, where he serves as the Assistant Coordinator for their Emergency Medical Response Team.