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From the Studio: The Iron Riders

Spokane Public Radio

Robert V. "Bobby" McDonald, a Buffalo Soldier Reenactor, visits the studio to talk about an event in Wallace, Idaho this weekend celebrating the contributions of the Iron Riders: a group of twenty African American soldiers who rode bicycles across the country, from Missoula to St. Louis, 118 years ago this June. 

Meet the Iron Rider Reenactors, themselves all Vietnam Vets, in Wallace this weekend and hear the riveting story of these American heroes. On Friday, June 7, the Reenactors will have a commemorative ride on the Hiawatha Rail Trail. On Saturday, June 8, from 2 - 5 PM, the Iron Riders will be at the Northern Pacific Railway Depot Museum in full period costume.

Verne Windham got his start at Spokane Public Radio 20 years ago. “I came in to complain and they hired me.” He’s now the Program Director, as well as the host of Morning Classical and Concert of the Week. When choosing music for Morning Classical, Verne likes to keep the agenda as broadly defined as possible. For Concert of the Week, he focuses on the best of recent local performances, mostly classical in nature. For many years, Verne was also the conductor of the Spokane Youth Orchestra. He enjoys gardening, his vintage car and playing French horn.