It has been a long, great ride for Capt. Willie Dykes. From his unique spot, high above Delmarva in Chopper 16, Capt. Willie has shown us so many interesting and important things that we might have missed otherwise. He has covered the big breaking news stories and personal tales all with his wonderfully home-spun style.
But, after all these years, Capt. Willie has decided he is retiring from Chopper 16. His last time on the air, in the air, is Friday, July 27.
That's the bad news. The good news is that Capt. Willie will continue to still be an integral member of the WBOC team, by continuing his presence in our weekly Outdoors Delmarva show! Furthermore, Chopper 16 will continue to fly high over Delmarva and be an integral part of WBOC!
Please join WBOC as we salute Capt. Willie this July. We invite you to email your tributes to Chopper16@wboc.com. We'll post them below as we receive them.
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Some how I feel like Captain Willie is much a part of our early settlers seeing he reported on the places and original names and the meaning of the names of those places, and what they were used for then and now. I watch WBOC every morning and never miss the segment with Willie. It wont be the same without him. However I wish him well, but wish he wasn't leaving.
Diane, Linkwood, Md.
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In my almost 30 years watching WBOC TV, I regard the hiring of Willie Dykes the best move the station ever made.
- Anonymous viewer
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Our household has enjoyed the aerial reports on the gems on Delmarva. You have not only enlightened us about our vast history and cultures, you have brought us up to date on the current vitality of our communities.I salute you Capt. Willie. You have been very modest about your service in Viet Vietnam. Every member of the military who served in that war suffered some level of trauma. Thank God. You came back and continued to serve. So glad you will still be with us on Outdoors Delmarva.
Carol Hughes
Rehoboth Beach, Del.
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I had the pleasure of working with Capt Willie for four years. and it was always a good day when the old Captain would come in the building. From Snow Hill to Saigon and then back again the story of Maryland's Eastern Shore and WBOC cannot be written without Willie Dykes. A good soldier, a great pilot, and an even better man. Congrats on the retirement my friend, you will certainly be missed.
Joshua Crompton, Philadelphia
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I have only lived in Delaware for four years but my favorite local personality is Captain Willie. Whenever I hear his distinctive voice come on the television I stop what I'm doing and watch his segment.
I was lucky enough to meet Captain Willie at the Step Out Lewes community activity. He was the surprise celebrity and the crowd was thrilled. He was patient and friendly answering all of our questions.
Thanks for the memories, Captain Willie, and enjoy your retirement.
Vicki Martin
Lewes, Del.
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Thank you for serving us on Delmarva with great shows and views! We are going to miss you!!!!
Chino Reza and family
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I'm sad that Capt. Willie has decided to come down from the skies of Delmarva, but I wish him well in the future.
Enid Kelley
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Had the honor of meeting Capt Willie several times over the years but the best one I think was taking my then 4-year-old grandson to Johnny Janosik to see Santa. The look on my grandson's face when Capt. Willie landed and out popped Mr Claus was truly priceless. He thought the Captain was the best man on the planet because he flew to the north pole and brought Santa for a visit. For my grandboy and myself, thanks for the memories Mr Dykes. God speed.
John Hughes
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Good luck Captain Willie. I met Captain Willie a couple months ago
while delivering mail on College Avenue. I was quite awestruck I made
my husband quite jealous by having Chopper Chuck take a picture of
me with Captain Willie. My husband is a big fan of flying and Captain
Willie. Enjoy your semi retirement and we'll keep watching.
Amy Williams
Berlin, Md.
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Almost farewell. Thank you for all the traveling around the area. I have enjoyed those trips amazingly. I did not have to drive, no bugs, mud, hay fever, sneezing, it was wonderful. Look forward to seeing you the Saturday show. You two guys are wonderful, and it is enjoyable until you all start eating strange things.
Best Wishes and enjoy this ole world
BJ Norris
Ocean City/Berlin, Md.
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When I heard that WBOC had hired Captain Willie I applauded them for their excellent selection of the right person for the job. I had had the pleasure of working for CPT. Willie when he flew for a contract company out of NASA Wallops Island. At that time his attention to detail was always spot on and he not only "just" took pride in doing a job well, he always took it one step further. It was an honor to work for him. It is an honor to know him. God Bless You Willie and Your Family. Good Luck on your new adventure!
Keri-Ann Byrd Foster
Pocomoke City, Md.
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Capt. Willie,
I wonder if Chopper 16 flew South along the beach this afternoon in Ocean City. I should have waved from nearby 130 th. St. !!!!
Suzanne
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Willie,I enjoyed flying with you at WFF and have enjoyed your reports from high above the eastern shore in Chopper 16. Best of luck in your retirement!
Ed Bohl
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The most engaging voice I've ever heard on TV. All you had to do was put the man in his chopper and then watch him go. Here's a short list for you: Scorchy Tawes, Capt Willie. Gibby Windsor
Cambridge, Md.
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We have been watching your news cast for a very long time, and enjoy Captain Willy so much. He has taught us more about Delmarva with his flying high over each little town, bays, rivers, farm land and every place he has gone. I feel that we get to see where we live from above the skys, which is a pretty amazing views, instead of driving there. I met him at The Apple Scrapple Festival once and was amazed at how he landed and took off again between wire and trees with no trouble at all at the school lawn. I love listening to him when ever he is talking and we will miss his reports and his history lessons, but wish him well. I do think he has taught us a lot. Will continue watching him on his Saturday show. Pat Peet
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Have always enjoyed all the places Capt. Willie has shown us from Chopper 16 and learning the history of the flyover. Have flown over the eastern shore myself for quite a few years, but always learned something new from him. Had the pleasure of talking one on one at the Cambridge airport when he had flown there for some mantainence work on the Chopper. Will miss the commentary and the view from the chopper.
Jim
Cambridge, Md.
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We have thoroughly enjoyed traveling with Capt Willie. He's taken us to places we weren't aware of on the Pennisula. He has been a great asset to WBOC in describing different areas and making us aware of all the beauty that surrounds us.....
George & Sharon Brittingham
East New Market, Md.
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Thank you Captain Willie for all your wonderful reporting of our beautiful Delmarva. I have especially enjoyed your introducing us to all the towns and how they got their names. I will miss you. Enjoy your retirement!
Patti Hannaway
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Dear WBOC,
I moved to Delmarva two years ago from New Jersey after my retirement. At that time I decided to watch WBOC in order to get the local news, find out what is happening in the area and become acclimated to my new surroundings. The one thing I enjoy the most about WBOC news are the reports Capt. Willie makes on the small towns on the peninsula. I find the brief history, how the towns got their names, location and demographics fascinating and makes me want to visit the towns and do some exploring.
Thank you Capt. Willie for making my move here more welcoming.
Corey
Smyrna, DE
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Captain Willie:
We moved to Lewes four years ago from St. Louis. Since we had only been to Delmarva twice on house hunting expeditions, we knew nothing about our new home. Both of our children now live on the east coast, and Lewes is half way between them. We started watching WBOC and couldn't wait for your stories. You taught us about our new home and all the wonderful places on Delmarva. I told my husband that we could spend the rest of our lives just checking out all these wonderful little towns. We absolutely love this place and feel like we live in paradise. Thank you so much. We will continue to watch you on "Outdoors Delmarva."
Sincerely,
Debbie Waters
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It'll be a bittersweet day when you give your last report from the
chopper on the 27th: sad for all your fans not seeing you as
frequently on the air and happy you will continue your friendships
and appearances at WBOC.
Sunny Skies, Bob Burnett-Kurie
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Willie,
This is a voice from your past.
I have followed you for years through the miracle of a computer.
May God bless you in your retirement years.
Loretta (Fitzsimmons) Hill
Westminster, MD
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For many years we have watched you on Channel 16, and we have always enjoyed your reports about towns and places on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Only once, and it was long ago, you did a "fly over" of our small Town of Trappe, Md. At that time you reported about 'White Marsh School' that serves the area. PLEASE consider doing a 'Fly Over" of the Rural Life Museum of Trappe, MD, Inc. which is located at 29241 Backtown Road. We have been in existance since 2007, and we are still growing. Our 'Village' boasts four buildings: The Defender House (circa 1815), The Carriage House, the Slaughter Smoke House, and the Scale House. We are located on a one acre parcel, about one half mile from Rt 50, at the corner of Bactown Road, and Old Trappe Road. We have plenty of Space for you to land your Chopper if you wanted to, and if we knew when you were flying over, we could have a good croud of 'Local Officials and Voulunteers' there to welcome you. A Saturday would be the best day of the week, but we would welcome you any day that you could come to visit us. Please contact us at the e-mail address above, or call me, at
410 253 9985.
With great hope, Charles B. Adams, Jr, (President of RLM of Trappe)
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It has been such a pleasure to watch and listen to Capt. Willie over the years.Not only has he done himself proud but also his family and friends and his home town of Snow Hill.
I would like to share a story on how good he can not only play a practical joke but take one to. After doing his story on crop circles where in that story he had his hat off and his head covered in tin foil like he was a outer space visitor. Well on that Friday I was at the American Legion in Snow Hill for dinner and his sister-in-law Belva was handing out these tin foil sheets that you wrap sandwiches in and said that her and her sister Rhonda { Willies wife } had come up with a plan that when they arrived there for dinner that everyone would be wearing this foil on their head. Well everyone there that night went along with the plan and when he opened the door and he say that sight he broke out in that familiar laugh of his.
Willie we will really miss you over the skies of Delmarva and all your stories wow what can I say. Good Luck my friend.
Snow Hill,Md----------------------------------------------------------------------I am so sorry to hear about Captain Willie retirement. I have enjoyed his commentary on areas around the Delmarva and have visited many of the towns. It was a great way to learn the history of the area when we first moved down here. I am glad he will still be a part of wboc. But will sadly miss his in the air reports. Thank you Captain Willie. Enjoy your retirement as it is well deserved. But you will be missed.Anonymous Viewer
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The man has a great voice and an a way to keep your interest. Its been a pleasure to watch him in action , hope to see him on the out doors show.
"Butch"
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Dear Captain Willie,
Many years ago you flew over Chipman Elementary School in Salisbury when the students were forming a human flag.
We did this in honor and in memory of our military forces for Memorial Day. I vividly remember the students getting so excited when you flew over and then hovered. All the students waved and waved like you could see each and every one of them!! I'm sure there are still young men and women who remember and still talk about your fly over.
Thank you, Captian Willie, for all you have done to inspire our youth and to put Salisbury and many little burrows on the map in a positive way. Enjoy the next phase of your life. You have very big "wings" to fill!
Sincerely,
Monta Kutchen
Teacher at Chipman Elementary
Capt. Willie Dykes
