Mike & Shari

Biography

Mike grew up in northern California and dreamed of playing professional baseball.   While attending American River College in 1965, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and assigned to the Army Special Services where he played baseball in Europe. Honorably discharged in 1968, Mike got the call he dreamed of ... the Kansas City Royals made him a shortstop during their first season -1969. Mike laughs when asked, “How long did you play?”  His response, “It was a very short-stop!"

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After baseball he used his G. I. Bill to attend flight school where he acquired his Commercial pilots license, Multi-engine, Instrument and Flight Instructor Certificates. He flew commercially for seven years. In 1981 he was offered the chance to break into sports television. He spent the next decade producing documentary films and hosting shows on ESPN, SportsChannel, PrimeTicket and broadcast networks.

He and his wife Shari, decided to “escape” Hollywood in 1993, moving to the midwest where Mike continued his speaking career. He’s shared the platform with notables from First Lady Nancy Reagan, General Chuck Yeager, Jack LaLanne and his personal hero, the late Mickey Mantle. On a speaking engagement in Wisconsin, Mike says he met a stranger on the highway who inspired him to write the hit show in Branson. For ten years, Mike & Shari entertained audiences in Branson, Missouri starring in their award winning hit comedy, "The Remember When Show." Everything changed in 2003 when he received The Bob Hope Patriot Award, now he travels the country speaking at churches, corporations, associations and conferences as well as producing television documentaries and corporate video presentations.

In 1999 Senator Bob Dole’s office asked Mike to spearhead Branson’s fundraising efforts to build The WWII Memorial in Washington, DC– Mike’s efforts helped Branson rank as the #1 city in the country.

In 2000 he was named Ambassador of Patriotism by the Missouri House of Representatives along with many generals and admirals at the pentagon, along with senators and congressmen in Washington, DC.

Mike's crusade to promote patriotic causes includes creating “Mike Radford’s Hall of Heroes” inside the Radisson Hotel in Branson. 

Special recognitions include:

The Presidents Council on Physical Fitness & Sports – D.E.A. & F.B.I. Anti-drug Education

National Fitness Fdn Special Advisor Award - True American Hero Award - and The Bob Hope Award.

Mike & Shari are the proud parents of Melissa, Andrew & Kristin - all successful & happy ‘‘kids" with 5 grandsons!