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The Belize Times
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Richard Michael Nicholson, Belizean Radio Broadcaster and Journalist, Dies at 48
Mike Nicholson, a nationally known broadcaster whose career began at Radio Belize in its glor y days and ended at Positive Vibes Radio, died on Sunday in Belize City. He was 48. From 1980 until a few years ag o, Mike Nic was one of those special voices on the radio. In the 1990’s during the peak of his broadcast career, he was associated with FM 2000’s (now VIBES Radio) mor ning show then called “The Breakfast Show.” Prior to that, he spent many years on the staff at Radio Belize and then the Broadcasting Corporation of Belize (BCB). Among the longest-ser ving in the broadcast business in Belize, Mike was known for his many inter views with some of the big gest names in Belize. His knowledge of cur rent events and his always controlled style of asking questions made many of the people he inter viewed feel so comfor table, they were always willing to give Mike an inter view. On his ver y popular mor ning show he would routinely speak to regular folk, asking them to talk about their lives, always making them feel as if their contribution was impor tant to the better ment of the community. When it was needed he would politely raise a criticism or question the decision of a public official for something that was not in the best interest of the nation. His style was always polite, never confrontational and always respectful. His gentle nature was never a sign of cowardice or fear, in fact during the riots of 1981, when protesters stor med the Alber t Cattouse Building on Regent Street, where Radio Belize’s studios and office were located, it was Mike Nicholson who locked himself in the studios continuing to broadcast and making sure that the station remained on air. Mike Nicholson loved his Church and found g reat comfor t in attending early mor ning mass. As a journalist he was the first to volunteer to cover major religious events like the visit of the Pope or the ordination of a Bishop. Richard Michael was known to his friends and associates as Mike Nic. He g rew up in Orange Walk town and later
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moved to Belize City where he attended h i g h school. He graduated from Belize J u n i o r Secondary School #1 and later from the B e l i z e Technical College. M r . Mike Nicholson worked as a broadcaster at Radio Belize and
then later at BCB. He also worked at FM 2000 and ser ved as a protocol officer in the Ministr y of Foreign Affairs. M ike’s N i c ’ s mar riage to Bernadette Thurton, ended in d i vo r c e. He is sur vived by his mother Nor ma Smith two children
Andrea and Andre; sisters, Sandra Leslie, Lisa Nicholson, Nadia Latchman, Linda Neal, Juanita Nicholson and Melinda Rowland; brothers Earl Smith, Anthony Sutherland, Frank Rowland, Keith Nicholson, George Nicholson and John Nicholson. Richard Michael Nicholson was often heard refer ring to those who were deceased that they were called to “higher ser vice.” Always a g ood-natured optimist, Mike would invariably end his radio mor ning show with his signature statement “Have a happy hear t.”