Rick Cosner, age 73, passed away unexpectedly on August 20, 2022, at Ocala Regional Hospital. Rick was a resident of Ocala for his entire working career. He was born Eric James Cosner on March 23, 1949, in Canton, Ohio to Bill and Linda Cosner. He grew up in Crystal River, Florida and graduated from Crystal River High School in 1967. Rick touched the lives of so many people in Marion and Citrus Counties through his long and entertaining radio and music career.
Rick moved to Ocala in 1967 and his first job in Ocala was with WWKE, KEY Radio. He had several positions with WWKE including Disc Jockey, Sales Manager and eventually Program Director. During his time on air, he was known as Rick James and Rick E. Roberts. One of his favorite jobs was answering baseball trivia questions for his sports fan’s enjoyment. Rick was very instrumental in introducing many breakout top 40 artists in Central Florida including KC and the Sunshine Band, Roger Whittaker and Neil Diamond’s hit Sweet Caroline among many others. He stayed with WWKE through 1980.
During the last couple of years at WWKE, he and Skip Wincek started Marion Music. They have been in business as partners over 50 years. They started as a two man company and built Marion Music to a point where they had 16 employees. They did sound systems sales and installation, service and technical support, and equipment rental. They had customers from Jacksonville to Orlando and Tampa. In the Greater Ocala area they had over 900 customers including many government contracts, churches as well as The Villages, On Top of The World and Ocala Breeder Sales.
Rick and Skip met as musicians and played together in several different bands, including The People’s Will. Rick also played with the Royal Guardsman and Crossfire. For the last 30 years Rick was the drummer for the Sugar Bear Band and played all over the State of Florida.
Rick was very active in building the Ocala community. He was a member of the Ocala Jaycees for many years and served as President in the 1975-76 Bicentennial year. He was Jaycee of the year in 1974-75. He remained active with the Jaycees for many years until the growing time demands of Marion Music pulled him away.
Rick is survived by his loving wife Judy, sons Christopher Eric Bryant(Elaine) of Weston, Connecticut, Kyle Cosner (Jessica)of Phoenix, Arizona, Casey Cosner (Amberlyn) of Ballwin, Missouri, stepsons Christopher Neal (Loretta) of Ocala, Joseph Neal (Maureen)of Ocala, Joshua Neal of Ocala and stepdaughter Jennifer Chapin (Kelly) of Canton, Mississippi. Additionally, he is survived by his brothers Mike Cosner of Steinhatchee, Florida, Bill Cosner of St. Petersburg, Florida and 6 grandsons, 4 granddaughters and numerous nieces and nephews.
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