Local Radio Personality Diagnosed With Cancer
By: Michael C. Fehn
Updated: August 30, 2012
It's a strange sight at the WBKR and WOMI studios in Owensboro. Joe Lowe's studio sits empty, anxiosly awaiting his return.
"It devestates you."
The popular DJ was just diagnosed with Stage 4 Esophogial, Stomach and Liver Cancer. He started chemotherapy treatments this week.
"Somebody you've known for 40 years who's up and healthy and going strong as a bull, and then you get that phone call and they say 'I hate to tell you this, but...' and you're like oh no."
Good friend, musician and former DJ Danny Rich is organizing a benefit concert for Joe and his family.
"Joe had a heart about as big as one could get, and he'd do anything for anybody."
And Rich says it's time for the community to do something for Joe.
"If there's anything we can do for him in this time of need, we're going to do it for him."
And it's already happening.
"Joe means the world to them, and they mean the world to Joe."
WBKR and WOMI put together a scrapbook for Joe and on Monday, hundreds, if not thousands of people showed up to sign it.
"It's very heartwarming and very moving, but it's also very expected. I wasn't surprised to see the turnout at all."
WBKR DJ Dave Spencer has known Joe for years. He says he's a good man, offering time to places like the airport board, the BBQ Festival, and various fireworks shows in Owensboro and Daviess County. But above all that, Spencer says he's a good friend.
"Tell you what, he was the first professional radio person to listen to one of my airchecks. And it was awful. I think he's still got it. He teases me with it all the time. 'So do you want to hear it? No, I don't want to hear it. You keep it. You keep it.',"
His friends say things like that are why Joe means so much to this community, and say it's easy to see why this community is so quick to come together to support him.
"That's the kind of people we need a whole lot more of in this world."
Joe's scrap book is still available to sign. Just stop by the radio station's studios on Frederica Street. The date for the benefit concert has not yet been set.
"It devestates you."
The popular DJ was just diagnosed with Stage 4 Esophogial, Stomach and Liver Cancer. He started chemotherapy treatments this week.
"Somebody you've known for 40 years who's up and healthy and going strong as a bull, and then you get that phone call and they say 'I hate to tell you this, but...' and you're like oh no."
Good friend, musician and former DJ Danny Rich is organizing a benefit concert for Joe and his family.
"Joe had a heart about as big as one could get, and he'd do anything for anybody."
And Rich says it's time for the community to do something for Joe.
"If there's anything we can do for him in this time of need, we're going to do it for him."
And it's already happening.
"Joe means the world to them, and they mean the world to Joe."
WBKR and WOMI put together a scrapbook for Joe and on Monday, hundreds, if not thousands of people showed up to sign it.
"It's very heartwarming and very moving, but it's also very expected. I wasn't surprised to see the turnout at all."
WBKR DJ Dave Spencer has known Joe for years. He says he's a good man, offering time to places like the airport board, the BBQ Festival, and various fireworks shows in Owensboro and Daviess County. But above all that, Spencer says he's a good friend.
"Tell you what, he was the first professional radio person to listen to one of my airchecks. And it was awful. I think he's still got it. He teases me with it all the time. 'So do you want to hear it? No, I don't want to hear it. You keep it. You keep it.',"
His friends say things like that are why Joe means so much to this community, and say it's easy to see why this community is so quick to come together to support him.
"That's the kind of people we need a whole lot more of in this world."
Joe's scrap book is still available to sign. Just stop by the radio station's studios on Frederica Street. The date for the benefit concert has not yet been set.
