NOTE: Please read this entire post and be sure to leave your comments below, which I will personally deliver to Bill’s wife and children.

As many of our listeners already know, Political Cesspool co-host Bill Rolen had been valiantly battling cancer for over two years. That fight came to an end this morning. Bill is now in heaven.

This loss is absolutely devastating to me. In addition to being one of my very best friends in life, Bill was largely responsible for the development and cultivation of The Political Cesspool from its very inception.

Everyone who follows the show knows that Bill co-hosted with me on a regular basis, but he was always my right hand behind the scenes. I talked to him at length every week, for nearly ten years, and rarely made a decision without seeking his wisdom.

Whatever value I may have as a leader is due in large part to Bill Rolen’s sage counsel. His impact on me personally, and the radio program, specifically, over the course of the past decade cannot be overstated.

In addition to his value as a compatriot and mentor, he was an incredible role model. Those of you who did not know him as well as I did were robbed of a tremendous blessing. Those who knew him well can understand that what I’m saying here barely scratches the surface of his true value as a man. He represented the very best of what anyone could aspire to be.

He cannot be replaced as a leader, or as a husband, or as a father. That he be taken from us at 54 years of age is a loss from which we cannot recover, but rather than lament his passing I must thank God for the time he allowed Bill Rolen to be part of my life. That being said, I will miss my friend more than I can possibly articulate.

Bill and I shared many mutual friendships, one of which was that of Sam Dickson, who had this to share:

Bill was one of the finest men I’ve ever known. Truly noble. Sound, intelligent, tactful, polite, brave. He is one of the rare few who had something to lose but were still willing to step up to the plate for our people…as well as one of the even rarer and fewer who have done so while being an all-American family man with a lovely wife and two wonderful children. Bill soldiered on despite the cancer working both at his job and on the radio with James Edwards. All of you might consider sending his family a note recognizing his brave devotion shown through decades of hard, dull, day-in-day-out work for the resurrection and triumph of our kin. “Lord lettest now Thy servant depart in peace according to Thy Word.”

I echo that which Sam has written and ask that everyone reading this share your favorite memories and thoughts about Bill in the comments section below. I will personally see that his family receives a copy.

Bill’s family commented to me this week about how much the radio show meant to him. It’s now time for us to show his family how much Bill meant to us.

We will keep you posted with regard to the funeral arrangements and are planning to celebrate Bill’s life during a special tribute presentation of The Political Cesspool Radio Program this coming Saturday night, March 2.

Rest in peace, dear friend. Thank you for the incredible impact you made on my life and the legacy that you’re leaving behind. I’ll never forget you and things will never again be as good without you here. May we meet again in better times.



A familiar scene: James and Bill in the studio