Our Town With Host Andy Ockershausen - Homegrown History

John Bowis on the future of the auto industry ~ "Our industry is under assault, it's going to change, but my job is not to fight that change, my job is to figure out a path forward-and embrace it." John Bowis, President/Owner Chevy Chase Acura in studio interview with Andy Ockershausen Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen, and this is Our Town. As a special guest on Our Town, the man whose family epitomizes Our Town. In 1939, the Bowis family started Chevy Chase Cars. I don't know what it was called then, but- John Bowis: Chevy Chase Motor Company. Andy Ockershausen: ... John Bowis is now the surviving member of the Bowis family. He's a father of five, and they're all gonna be running the business someday. John Bowis: Maybe. Andy Ockershausen: John, welcome to Our Town. John Bowis: Thank you, Andy. Andy Ockershausen: You know, we have such a relationship with your family before you were born of course, with your grandfather, Art, and Jim Gibbons, who was my guru- John Bowis: Right, good friends. A

George Pelecanos on his characters and finding the humanity in others ~ "I'm frequently down at the DC jail doing reading programs, but also, to be honest again, I get a lot of material when I'm down at the jail. . . I'm down there quite often and when I travel even, when I'm doing book tours, I will visit the local prisons, even in London . . .you just try to locate the humanity in everybody because it's there." George Pelecanos, Author, TV Writer and Film and TV Producer, and Andy Ockershausen in studio interview Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This Our Town. This is special for us to have a world-renowned author, a man who is so well known in the whole country, maybe better known than he is in the greater Washington area. He's an Emmy-nominated television producer and he's a writer. He's written 20 books, and his novels are set in and around Our Town. But instead of plot centered on Washington politics, he depicts the raw side of what goes on in the streets. We're delighted to welcome the

Nancy Taylor Bubes on the building trust in relationships as a real estate agent ~ "Well, it's a relationship business. . . When you really take the time to find the right house for the right family, they're grateful. They love it, and you've got to be able to say, "I'm not sure that's the right house for you." You've got to be able to step in and ... turn it down." Nancy Taylor Bubes - Super-Agent - Washington Fine Properties and Andy Ockershausen in studio interview Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen, and this is Our Town. Our third year, our third series of shows. We have done over 100. We have had so much response, and we've had the pleasure of having GEICO helping us underwrite this plan, and they've been just great. Now that we have great ideas, we are having royalty in our studio. I consider it royalty. This is royalty for Our Town. Nancy Taylor Bubes, the most important high-end real estate person and salesperson in Our Town, and as I say, Our Town covers a lot of area. We're so happy to

Rick Hindin on meeting Ralph Lauren in 1967 when he was selling ties made by a company called Beau Brummell ~ "He had one table, about a 200-square-foot room, and we walked in and we looked at his ties and they were incredible but they were expensive. So, I told Ralph, "Your ties are too expensive." He said, "Well then you're not the customer for my ties. . . we bought his ties and the rest is history. At one point in time, Britches was the third largest user of Ralph Lauren products in the country." Rick Hindin - Entrepreneur | Britches of Georgetowne, Adworks and Chicken Out with Andy Ockershausen in studio interview Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen and this is Our Town. I am so really personally delighted to have the opportunity to spend at least the next half hour with one of my dearest, oldest friends. The man is absolutely a legend in Washington and Our Town, and, he started in Our Town. He's born in Baltimore but he's Our Town guy. He's done so much for Our Town, but most of all what h

Herbert Miller on building opportunity for people in Our Town ~ "This is a remarkable city, but it only works if we all work together. The racial divide, which Marion chopped at needs to be chopped more, and the economic divide, which is, I think, a bigger issue is something DC should, is, will represent as the proper way to deal with housing, to deal with jobs, to deal with opportunity. DC needs to be the land of opportunity. . . You've got to look at the synergy of not real estate as a place to live, or a place to work, or a place to shop, but a place where you build opportunity for people." Herbert Miller, Activist and Real Estate Developer and Andy Ockershausen in studio interview Andy Ockershausen: And this man made Washington DC what it is. Our special guest on Our Town, a very dear friend, Herbert Miller. This man made our Washington what it is, one of the great cities of the world. He is the person behind major developments, like Georgetown Park, Washington Harbour, Market Square, Gallery Place. No

Doreen Gentzler on breaking in Jim Vance and George Michael during one of her first days on the job ~ "I think of one of the first broadcasts I did with those guys, brand new, they're all 15 years older than me, they've all been working together for many years. They've got all these inside jokes and everything. I can remember George and Vance would kind of get into it. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah about alimony payments and this and that. . . One of the first broadcasts, they start going off about something, probably sports related or something like that. I think I interrupted them and said 'Well, let's ...' Something to change the subject. I didn't think anything of it, I just did it. . . that's how I roll. I remember after that broadcast, the two of them looking at each other and looking at me and saying, 'This is going to be okay. This is going to work.' Doreen Gentzler - News4 and WRC-TV News Anchor and Award Winning Journalist and Andy Ockershausen in studio interview Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy

Shawn Springs on his business philosophy! ". . .the way a football team is structured is very similar to how I structure my business. You've got the admin side, and the people who take care of the game experience from the sales, and marketing, and all the different things, the stadium. And then you've got the players. . .Who actually perform on the field. And that's like my engineers, and industrial designers, and people. . . I have one rule I live by. If I'm the smartest person in the room, then I leave." Shawn Springs - Entrepreneur, Innovator and Former Pro Football Player, and Andy Ockershausen in studio interview Andy Ockershausen: This is Our Town. This is Andy Ockershausen in a wonderful moment with a very dear friend, a man who used to work at this very radio station where we're doing our recording, who did a sports show. And this is not about sports. I want to tell everybody that this is about a human being and his great accomplishments, and a very dear friend, Shawn Springs, a local boy that grew

Mark Moseley on how he connected with the Murrell family and Five Guys~ "We loaded up in his car, went over to his dad's house, the rest is history. His dad jumped out of his chair about two hours later, grabbed my hand, and said, "Hey, let's make this happen. Let's have fun doing it." I'm still today, 16 years later, working on a handshake. That's how honest these people are. Jerry and Janie, they are some of the best people." Mark Moseley, NFL Most Valuable Player Placekicker - Washington Redskins - and Andy Ockershausen in studio interview Andy Ockershausen: This is Our Town. This is Andy Ockershausen with a very special, very dear friend, very successful ex kicker in the National Football League. There's not many of those that are still alive that were successful, but Mark Moseley then became a, and still has become a very successful business man. I think he's a role model for so many football players now. Mark played ... NFL Placekicker Mark Moseley: A kicker being a role model? Andy Ockershausen: He

Gordon Peterson on conversation with colleague Glenn Brenner after they began to work together at Channel 9 ~ "He says to me one day, 'I need to talk to you. This is serious.' He says, 'I’ve been fired from every job I’ve ever had for the stuff I’m doing here and you keep throwing gasoline on the fire. I’m trying to figure out if you’re with me or against me.' I said, 'I’m with you, baby, just trust me.'" Gordon Peterson, Retired Journalist and Legendary News Anchor and Andy Ockershausen in studio interview Andy Ockershausen: This is Our Town with Andy Ockershausen. Like all the rest of us, so much of our guests have grown up in the news business here in Washington. We just decided we wanted people on that everybody knew about, so we've been trying to get this man for the last year, and we finally got it. Gordon Peterson was at one time the dean. I hate to say that, the dean of anchors, but you were. You were older than anybody except Bryson Rash, who died. But the names and people we have on the show ta

Charles Mann on how his passion for learning paid off on the football field ~ ". . .that [play] book was thick and I memorized, I mean, I took in all that information and had it down and those last few years of my football career were effortless " Charles Mann, Business Man and Washington Redskins 70 Greatest Honoree and Andy Ockershausen in studio interview Andy Ockershausen: This is Our Town, this is Andy Ockershausen and delightful guest today is, one of our favorites from the glory days of the Washington Redskins, but we're not here to talk about the Redskins. We're talking about a man names Charles Mann, number 71, who'll always be remembered as a co-End with Dexter Manley. Charles Mann: That's true. That's a good way to be remembered. Andy Ockershausen: Those were the glory years. Charles Mann: Two extremes. One extreme to the other extreme. Andy Ockershausen: But Charles, you've had such a wonderful career beyond football, I mean, all the things that you've done and your accomplishments are, I t

David Wilmot on an unexpected meeting at the home of his future inlaws that influenced his decision to go to law school~ "When I went downstairs, I was blown away. Playing poker were the following: Thurgood Marshall, Wiley Branton, a young Vernon Jordan, Floyd McKissick. . . We only read about these folks in Jet Magazine or in Ebony. . .That influenced, inched me towards me thinking about law school." David Wilmot, Attorney | Businessman | Lobbyist | Activist and Andy Ockershausen, in studio interview Andy Ockershausen:This is Andy Ockershausen, and this is Our Town. I have a great opportunity for me and my knowledge, which then it makes our audience more knowledge, but to find out about a name that's been around Washington for years that's very famous but unknown, that's David Wilmot. David is an attorney, not a lawyer, an attorney. He's from a law firm Harmon & Wilmot. He's an expert in local government, corporate and commercial real estate development, promotion of minority and small business. David, y

Tom McMillen on his former University of Maryland Coach Lefty Driesell ~ ". . .Lefty, I still keep in touch with him. He's indomitable. He's really a special person. He should be in the Naismith Hall of Fame. It's such an injustice. I mean when he retired as an active coach, there were only three other coaches who had more wins than he did. I think it was Dean Smith. . ." Tom McMillen, Retired Basketball Pro, Rhodes Scholar, Public Servant, Businessman, and Philanthropist in studio interview Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town. We have such a special man to talk to today. He's done so much in his lifetime, it's tough for me to keep up with him. But not only is he six feet 11, but he's got a track record that's unbelievable what he's done in the community. From playing professional basketball in the NBA to serving as US Congressman from the fourth congressional district of Maryland. He was a Rhodes Scholar. He's written a book about ethics and sports. He's been on a board of

Bob Ryan on being part of the Channel 4 Dream Team ~ "People would say, "Oh, what was it like?" I said, "Everybody loved what we did and didn't want to do anybody else's job." I didn't want to do sports! I didn't want to be an anchor, and sure as heck nobody wanted to have my job." Bob Ryan retired Meteorologist and Andy Ockershausen in studio Bob Ryan with Trumbull and Core from the Good Ole' Days Bob Ryan: ... cold tomorrow night, and the weekend's going to start off nice. Sunny and pleasant on Saturday, about 60. I think we'll see a fair amount of clouds in here on Sunday, and maybe some rain by late Sunday or Monday. Bill Trumbull When you were a kid, were you called Red Ryan? Bob Ryan: Oh, I was called all sorts of things. The one I remember most was ... sort of diabolical friend of my father's called me peckerhead. You know, for Woody Woodpecker and things like that. Bill Trumbull Yeah, well, n

Richard Dyer on the most important personal lesson he learned from his time away from Our Town~ ". . .how special it was growing up here in Washington DC. At a time where the country was going through tremendous amount of change with the Civil Rights Movement and my parents were able to get a little bit more opportunity as a result of that, which allowed us to have a slightly better opportunity because we had a better education. That . . .expanded my vision of what my life could be. . .I was gifted with as a result of growing up here in Washington, a diverse international city where people have contributed from all walks of life, all cultures, all races for decades, was confidence." Richard Dyer, President and General Manager WUSA-TV, and Andy Ockershausen in studio Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen and this Our Town, and we have a re-visitor to Our Town, a man who was born here, who appeared and left for a while. But he came back, and we're so happy that Richer Dyer who is the President and Ge

Father Ray Kemp on why he began teaching at Georgetown University ~ ". . .a guy named Big John Thompson . . . said, 'You gotta teach a class.'. . .'I want a class where these kids can bring their experiences to college and not just sit there and study about all the black adolescent males in trouble. How do you bring their experiences into the equation, into the classroom?' Andy Ockershausen and Our Town guest Father Ray Kemp in studio interview Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen, and this is Our Town. And I'm so happy to have one of my favorite men in the whole world. We call him the Priest for Life. He's a native Washingtonian. He just celebrated his fiftieth anniversary in the Archdiocese of Washington, he's my good friend, Father Raymond Kemp. Ray, welcome to Our Town. Father Ray Kemp: Hi Andy. It's good to be with you. Andy Ockershausen: It's incredible that you're here in civilian clothes, which obviously you're not retired, but you gave it up for a while. You won't remember but I do, it's o

Elliot Denniberg on his first time pitching to Giant Food's Izzy Cohen, a classic ! ". . .here comes the big moment and we’re showing the spots to Izzy . . . the head man, and to Alvin, and Izzy looks down. He’s looking down … with his head and listening to the music and . . . nodding . . . Whole thing is over with and I’ve already chewed through my upper lip and he gets up and heads for the door. And I’m going, “Oh, that’s it.” He says, “Alvin, those commercials were obviously shot in a studio. I never want to show the interior of our Giant Food stores to Mrs. Consumer in any other way but the real thing. You tell this young man to get back in our stores and set up the cameras there and do those spots over again and send me the bill.” Elliot Denniberg, Advertising Wizard in studio with host Andy Ockershausen Andy Ockershausen: This is Our Town. This is Andy Ockershausen. And it's just incredible that this man is still active, and he's a terrific, terrific friend. His name is Elliot Denniberg, and one

Barbara Lang on the need for more women in Congress ~ "Women tend to try to solve problems, and not as much as the politics . . . I’ve talked to a number of women that are in Congress and say, “Why are you there?” They’re not there to be on a power trip. They’re there to solve something." Barbara Lang, Former President and CEO of DC Chamber of Commerce in studio with Our Town host Andy Ockershausen Andy Ockershausen: Hi. This is Andy Ockershausen and this is Our Town. I have the absolute total pleasure to talk to a wonderful, wonderful woman who's been a very dear friend for many years. Unfortunately, she's out of the spotlight right now, but she ran our Chamber of Commerce better than anybody ever did before or since. Welcome Barbara Lang to Our Town. Barbara Lang: Andy, thank you so much. Delighted to be here. Andy Ockershausen: Well, you are a big part of Our Town and we try to ... Started this program to talk about all the good things that are going on in Our Town. A lot of them don't know about them

Coach Bob Milloy on Coach Morgan Wootten's coaching style ~ "He could have coached ping pong if you asked him to, but he was just a people guy. I just watched how he dealt with people and he very seldom raised his voice and he never cursed, but he would say to Adrian Dantley, 'Come on Mary Alice, you’ve got to try a little harder.' Those guys would go through the wall. He was the master of it." Coach Bob Milloy, Our Town Guest, and Host Andy Ockershausen in studio Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen and I cannot tell you, you listeners, I hope you all are paying attention, how important it is to me and how it important it is to Our Town to have this gentleman on our program. "The Coach of All Time," I call him. He's the most winningest coach in history for the state of Maryland, high school. He's won over 400 games. He's recently retired, although he'll never retire, and he'd still be winning games. Bob Milloy, the coach of all time. He's in the Sports Hall of Fame, the Maryland Hall of Fame, the

Bruce Allen recalls an instance when his dad coached the Washington Redskins that demonstrates football's impact on Our Town~ ". . .the one thing my dad was real proud of, and Mayor Washington was proud of, when we beat Dallas on that New Year's Eve game, in the NFC Championship game, it was the only day, New Year's Day, New Year's Eve, that had not one crime registered in Washington D.C., not one crime." Bruce Allen, President, Washington Redskins and Andy Ockershausen, host of Our TownAndy Ockershausen: Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town. And we're a special broadcast today and a special opportunity for me to talk to the people that are important in our life. Particularly with the most sterling franchise in national football, the Washington Redskins. The president of the Washington Redskins, Bruce Allen. And Bruce, I go back so far with you, but fortunately, it was your life, not mine. Because I was there when you started more or less. But, the Redskins are important to Our Town, obviously. It's the mo

John Holaday on a new product that will make it possible to dispose of unused prescription drugs in a safe, convenient and effective way, that prevents their misuse for addiction, and that also prevents their pollution of the environment ~ "So. . .when you get a prescription for an opioid, it comes with a little packet. Same size as the one for the flowers. So, when you're through with the drug, instead of flushing them, which contaminates the environment, or instead of getting in your car and taking them to a pharmacy take back program, most pharmacies don't want them anyway, it's inconvenient, pour a little water into that prescription vial, halfway fill, add this powder, and then shake it up. Within 30 seconds it dissolves the pills and encased them in a polymer, . . . a gel, from which they cannot be extracted for abuse and they won't leech into landfills. It's biodegradable." John Holaday, Chairman and CEO DisposeRX - Our Town Guest Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town. Of a