Stanley ”Ric” Ricardo, 72, a retired disc jockey for two Chicago radio stations, was the first black local-sales manager of the original 24-hour WVON.
Services were private for Mr. Ricardo, a resident of the South Side. He died March 6 in Veterans Administration Westside Medical Center.
Mr. Ricardo, a veteran of World War II, was awarded the Purple Heart.
He began as a disc jockey in the early 1950s with radio station WGES. He was famous for his fast talk and clear pronunciation.
”He elevated broadcasting,” said Wesley South, general manager of station WVON. ”There were fast talkers on the radio who could speak rapidly, but none that could pronounce the words as he did. He had the knack.”
Mr. Ricardo left the microphone in the middle 1960s to become WVON`s local sales manager.
”He was a great salesman,” said Bernadine Washington, who worked with him. ”He left broadcasting because they wanted younger disc jockeys who could relate to the 18- to 34-year-old group. He became a great sales manager. He could be aggressive and he could push when he had to.”
Survivors include his wife, Neomi.
