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Richard Dyer on the most important personal lesson he learned from his time away from Our Town~\n\n". . .how special it was growing up here in Washington DC. At a time where the country was going through tremendous amount of change with the Civil Rights Movement and my parents were able to get a little bit more opportunity as a result of that, which allowed us to have a slightly better opportunity because we had a better education. That . . .expanded my vision of what my life could be. . .I was gifted with as a result of growing up here in Washington, a diverse international city where people have contributed from all walks of life, all cultures, all races for decades, was confidence."\n\nRichard Dyer, President and General Manager WUSA-TV, and Andy Ockershausen in studio\n\nAndy Ockershausen:\tThis is Andy Ockershausen and this Our Town, and we have a re-visitor to Our Town, a man who was born here, who appeared and left for a while. But he came back, and we're so happy that Richer Dyer who is the President and General Manager of WUSA TV. Unfortunately, Richard, I sometimes call it WTOP, but CBS and Channel 9, there's a reason they call it the Tiffany Network because it's such a class organization. And WUSA is a model ... what I grew up with, is the Washington Post, a class organization. Thank God you came back.\n Back to Our Town from WLWT, NBC affiliate, in Cincinnati, OH\nRichard Dyer\tWell, I'm really happy. I'm blessed because when I left 15 and a half years ago, I wasn't sure this would happen. The circle completing itself for me has been an amazing gift. I'm so happy about it. I went off and left and joined the Hearst Television Company for 15 and a half years as a General Manager, and I'm able to take that great experience and come back to my home town, where my parents are.\tMy dad just turned 82 on Saturday. So we celebrated with family and friends and that something that we weren't able to do when we lived in Cincinnati. \nAndy Ockershausen:\tHe's got to be extremely fond of you, I mean. \nRichard Dyer\tExtremely, yeah I really-\nAndy Ockershausen:\tIt's a fact. He wasted all that money sending you to college, I know that. And Richard, but you learned while you were away, and now I want to talk about that. What did you learn while you were away that you brought back with you, that you think is the most important lesson. \nLessons Learned While Away from Our Town\nRichard Dyer\tI think there are a couple of things. There's a lot of professional lessons. But the most important personal lesson for me is how special it was growing up here in Washington DC. At a time where the country was going through tremendous amount of change with the Civil Rights Movement and my parents were able to get a little bit more opportunity as a result of that, which allowed us to have a slightly better opportunity because we had a better education. That better education expanded my vision of what my life could be. So the one thing I really understand that I was gifted with as a result of growing up here in Washington, a diverse international city where people have contributed from all walks of life, all cultures, all races for decades, was confidence. That's the one thing that I saw models of people, for example, Walter Washington as a mayor in the seventies. \nAndy Ockershausen:\tOur Town. Walter. Absolutely. \nRichard Dyer\tWe saw-\nAndy Ockershausen:\tBennetta. I mean, they were Washingtonians. \nRichard Dyer\tEntertainment coming through in the 70's with WHUR as a new voice in the 70's. \nAndy Ockershausen:\tAbsolutely. Radio, I know it well.\nRichard Dyer\tMy parents are native Washingtonians, they grew up-\nAndy Ockershausen:\tRiggs Park you said?\nRichard Dyer\tNo. My dad grew up at 12th and U. \nAndy Ockershausen:\tOh, wow!\nRichard Dyer\tAnd my mom grew up at 4th and W. \nAndy Ockershausen:\tI know those neighborhoods. \nRichard Dyer's Early Years and Memories of Ben's Chili Bowl\nRichard Dyer\tAnd I was born at Freedmen's Hospital.