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Career Highlights

Spike O’Dell joined WGN in 1987.
He was the Morning Show Host from 2000 through 2008.

Biography

Spike was born and raised in East Moline, Illinois on the banks of the Mississippi River, a mere three hours west of Chicago. He is the son of Dottie and Merle O’Dell. Spike’s Dad was Chief of Police in East Moline for many years.

Spike attended York College in York, Nebraska and after earning his Liberal Arts Degree he returned home to East Moline. He took a position with International Harvester in the Plant Protection Department located in Rock Island, Illinois. While employed at Harvester Spike had the opportunity to listen to radio for extended periods of time. This prompted him to reevaluate his life’s goals deciding that broadcasting might be interesting. He attended a vocational school to receive his certificate in broadcasting.Spike’s first radio position was at WEMO in East Moline, Illinois. He subsequently moved on to KSTT in Davenport, Iowa. He left KSTT to accept a position at WBT in Charlotte, North Carolina. He then was lured back to his hometown and went to work for KIIK in Davenport, Iowa.

Spike listened to WGN for many years and when the opportunity presented itself to join the broadcasting team at WGN Radio he was so enthusiastic. On May 18, 1987, the Spike O’Dell Show premiered on WGN Radio, airing weekdays from 3:00 to 7:00pm. His enthusiasm and natural broadcasting skills were readily evident on Chicago’s number one rated station.

During the years 2000 through 2008, Spike could be heard each weekday morning from 5:00 to 9:00am on the Spike O’Dell Radio Program. Sharp, funny, folksy, and wide awake while you’re still stumbling out of bed, Spike asks all the right questions. As Spike says, “You don’t hear radio quite like this anywhere else on the dial.”The key to Spike’s success has been his dedication to the show, WGN, and his listening audience. Spike is known for being very personable to everyone he comes in contact with both on and off the air. He’s very genuine and in the day and age of automation he brought a real human element to all of us. Spike found it ironic that he made a living doing what he went to detention for in high school…talking.

Spike and his “first wife” Karen have two children, daughter Caroline and son Michael.

Spike has a variety of interests including painting, photography, cooking, golf, music, piloting his flight simulator plane and absolutely anything to do with space exploration!