Because a dream has come true, Oakland City University has lost an assistant athletic director, basketball broadcaster, public address announcer and the coach of its inaugural men's and women's soccer teams.

"I'll miss the campus atmosphere, but I've always wanted to own a radio station," Randall "Skip" Spence said Monday night from Columbia, Tenn., where Sunday noon he took to WMRB, 910 on the FM dial.

"I'm leasing the station, but someday it'll be mine," said the 51-year-old Spence, who purchased the station from Ogilvie Family Ministries, people he has known for years.

"My parents (Rev. Glenn and Margaret Spence) and I started negotiations six or seven months ago. We'll retain the gospel format on Saturday and Sunday mornings. We'll do more classical and rock, and I want to do some sports, too."

Spence is one of two athletic department officials leaving Oakland City. Brick Briscoe has resigned as sports information director and will spend more time in his role as director of day-to-day operations at Prides Creek Golf Course near Petersburg.

Briscoe also coached OCU's men's and women's golf teams.

"We wish Skip and Brick the best" athletic director Mike Sandifar said.

"We know it's been Skip's dream to own a radio station."

Spence noted that his dad, who owns a doctor of divinity degree, worked at Oakland City University twice, the first time starting in 1955, in roles that included teaching biology. His mom attended OCU, where Skip Spence completed a Christian education degree (now religious studies) in 1983.

A brother, Rod Spence, graduated from OCU in 1973, and remains active as junior varsity football coach at Forest Park High under head coach Terry Wagner, whom he assisted at Perry Central.

"My youngest uncle, Larry Spence, is only nine years older than I am and we were close when I was a kid," Skip Spence said.

"We worked in radio together when I was 16 and in high school in Willow Springs, Mo. Uncle Larry earned a degree in radio at Arkansas State."

Spence earned an associate degree in radio at Wabash Valley College in Mount Carmel and a continuing education degree at Southern Illinois-Carbondale before returning to Oakland City.

"I attended Oakland City Elementary from second grade through eighth, and Wood Memorial High School as a freshman," he said. "Then we moved to Evansville, where I graduated from Reitz in 1976.

"I worked in radio at the University of Evansville campus station and for WROZ.

"The late Marv Bates was one of my heroes. Marv let me sit in the broadcasting booth when he was doing Evansville Triplets games at Bosse Field. I took scores off the ticker and passed the scores on to him."

Spence, who broadcast under the name "Skip Thomas" while a nighttime disc jockey at WCIL in Carbondale, spent time at WVJC in Mount Carmel, where his colleagues included Joe Klube.

"One night Joe and I went to an Oakland City basketball game. The Mighty Oaks were beating Northwoods by 20 when we heard about the University of Evansville plane crash," he said.

"Our friend said he couldn't confirm it, but he heard that the UE basketball team's plane had crashed and that duffel bags were all over the place.

"Joe and I left Oakland City and drove to Evansville to see for ourselves."

In seminary for a year after completing his Christian education degree, Spence began working in Christian radio in Fort Myers, Fla., in 1987 and also worked in Christian broadcasting in Nashville and Columbus, Ohio.

When OCU started men's soccer in 2000, Spence became the first coach. He switched roles in 2001, becoming the Lady Oaks' first soccer coach.

"It didn't take long to realize that I was better at coaching women," he said.

"Our first women's team came within one game of the National Christian College Athletic Association Championships. Bryan beat us 5-0 when we had three or four starters beaten up. Abby Loveless, who went on to marry T. Ray Fletcher, our baseball coach, played on that team. So did Emily Gries."

For several years he has broadcast Mighty Oaks basketball games.

"We're trying to get Columbia State, a junior college better known for its baseball and softball teams, on the air for basketball," he said.

"We'll also have a few Tennessee State games. One of our high schools is Spring Hills, and we want to get their boys' basketball on the air."

Spence noted that he remains a member of OCU's Athletic Hall of Fame Committee.

"I'll be back," he said. "Dr. Ora Johnson (OCU vice president) is like an uncle to me. Oakland City treated me first class.

"For the near-future, I'll concentrate on getting the bugs out down here in Maury County. I want it to sound right."