Austin Rhodes

 No one has ever accused Austin Rhodes of shying away from controversy, a trait his fans applaud and his detractors deplore. Through it all, the longtime opinionator of WGAC’s weekday afternoon talk show has won Best Local Talk Radio Personality enough times to create a wall of fame in a bathroom at his house. Now what do you suppose the location of such a shrine means?

Give us your best Best of Augusta award acceptance speech.
Thank you one and all for honoring me yet again and for giving Harley Drew one more reason to leave thumbtacks in the studio chair.

Whom would you especially like to thank for helping you achieve this?
My wife, daughter and son. They remind me every day that chasing corruption and political incompetence is not just something fun to do on the radio, it helps make Augusta a better place to call home, and we all have to protect it!

Whom would you most likely forget to thank in your speech?
Bill Evans.  He was the general manager who fired me at Channel 12 about 20 years ago. Sending me straight to talk radio!

Why do you think you’ve won this honor year after year?
My mother, grandmother, and aunts have 782 Augusta Magazine subscriptions among them. They LOVE Sconyers barbecue and Austin...in that order.

What is the perfect way to celebrate your big win?
Running between the food tables at the Best of Augusta party (October 18), reminding the vendors that as a multi-year winner I get a free “all you can eat” card at their establishments.  (It hasn’t worked yet, but I keep trying.)