For more than 40 years, Nelle Reagan has been coming over the radio airways into peoples’ homes, cars and offices.

The popular broadcaster/talk show host and public affairs director for Rome Radio Partners keeps locals up to speed on what’s happening in and around the Seven Hills via the local airwaves.

What her listeners and even some who know her well might be surprised to know about Nelle is that she loves to hunt quail, watch golf and “ I play a pretty mean rhythm guitar.”

Something else she’d really like to do is “take piano lessons from Lee Shealy and play in his band.”

Her love of music started early in life and actually was the reason for her first radio appearance. Her dad played in a “popcorn band” on WRGA radio and when she was about 5 she sang with them on a show. That fueled her love of music and radio.

She has other interests too, of course. “I love to grow vegetables and flowers and I love to sing and bake cakes ... in that order.”

Her big love though is her hubby Lebron, whom everyone calls Junior. “He is the wind beneath my wings ... He has supported me in my career as a radio personality and even put up with being called “Mr. Nelle Reagan.”

She says she loves the Greater Rome community because of the “people, the beauty of the area and the progressive attitude we have taken in the last few years.”

As the grand dame of local radio, Nelle takes pride in being a role model to her younger peers.

“They are so smart and so enthusiastic, and they make me proud to be associated with them. I’m always hoping some of their energy will rub off and give me the pleasure of having been a positive element in their lives.” Her advice to young women on a leadership path is to “always be understanding of others, but being staunch in your morals. Code today is so treacherous and unforgiving. In the bigger picture you need to be strong and always have a backup plan.”

Of course, Nelle’s plan has always been built around radio, always will be. In fact, if she could do any job in the world it would “be the GM of my own radio station.”

“Radio has been the fire in my belly for a long time and continues to burn. The Lord has been good to me in letting me have good health and I plan to continue this thing called radio that I love so much.”