Jeffrey Hedquist '67

I came to Union, planning to choose between an engineering and liberal arts major. However, after a first taste of airtime two years earlier led me to WRUC, I teamed up with another teenage “radio rat” named Dick Ferguson. The rest is history.

WRUC gave me the opportunity to try nearly every aspect of radio: DJing. news, sales, production, promotion, and management, except for engineering which was carried out by often unsung heroes: Dick Sweed, Toby Olsen, and Bob Douglas.

After [military service], I joined Dick in sales at WNHC in New Haven, Conn. We were part of a team of young upstarts who, in a year, turned a lackluster property into the number one rated station in the market.

In 1984, I moved to Fairfield, Iowa and launched Hedquist Productions, specializing in the creation of radio commercials and audio marketing. On this journey I’ve been fortunate enough to win more than 700 advertising awards for clients in 45 states.

You may have heard my voice on national commercials for Goodyear, Ford, McDonald's, Time-Life, Dutch Boy Paint [and many others]. I practiced my voice-over skills at WRUC doing commercials for Utica Club, Mike’s Submarines, Mama Ferro’s and Junior Bootery.

Much of what I do today I learned while having the time of my life at WRUC.

Hedquist’s multi-faceted career has included stints in radio sales and production, and as a singer/songwriter, author, educator and voiceover artist. In 1984, he launched Fairfield, Iowa-based Hedquist Productions, specializing in award-winning radio commercials and audio marketing. “I’ve always been a storyteller,” he said “Now I use story-based marketing to help businesses and organizations prosper. Much of what I do today I learned while having the time of my life at WRUC.”