BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – For over 50 years, Bill Davis has lived his life as a radio broadcaster.

Originally from Texas, Davis began his radio career just after graduating college with a degree in historical geology. According to Davis, one dig with a team of geologists was enough for him to leave that career path behind.

His love for radio started as a child, and his first on-air shift in a Texas radio station hooked him for life.

“10 seconds into playing that first record, I said ‘This looks like a really good way to make a living,'” Davis said. “I’m talking into this piece of metal and people are responding. How cool is that?”

From the early 1970s until 2005, Davis made his mark in the Texas radio industry. Like any personality in the entertainment business, that much time on-air can lead to some unique and story-worthy experiences.

Davis has done just about everything when it comes to radio. He spent multiple days broadcasting live from a billboard to raise money, played “Donkey Basketball” as an on-air skit, has spent time with dozens of musicians to the likes of Brian May (Queen) and has even broadcasted live while skydiving.

“I jumped out of an airplane with a remote unit and broadcast, you know, as I was parachuting down,” Davis said.

Just a few years ago, Davis was inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame, making him a hall of fame broadcaster.

In 2005, Davis and his wife relocated to Bellingham and immediately fell in love with the area. He soon walked into the radio station on Yew Street Road (formerly the Cascade Radio Group) to see if any work could be found in the building.

Since then, he has worked in almost every radio production-based job in the building and for each of the five stations.

“Basically, I’ve done everything for everybody in this station,” Davis said with a grin on his face.

You can hear Bill Davis every weekday on KAFE 104.1 during his midday show, every weekend during his “Community Connection” and “The Aging Hour” show on KGMI, and sometimes filling in for Joe Teehan on “KGMI Connects” from 4-5 p.m.

We are Whatcom is a weekly column featuring Whatcom County residents making a positive impact on the community. To submit a Whatcom County resident to be featured, click here.