Radio Host Rick Burgess of "Rick and Bubba" Loses Son to Drowning

The 2-year-old son of a popular Birmingham radio personality has drowned in a residential swimming pool in Shelby County.

In a statement, Sheriff Chris Curry says the child, William Bronner Burgess, the youngest son of "Rick and Bubba Show" co-host Rick Burgess, was pronounced dead Saturday night at Children's Hospital.

Shelby County 911 received a report at 7:24 p.m. Saturday of a possible drowning, according to the sheriff. Deputies and North Shelby Fire and Emergency Medical personnel responded to a house on Indian Crest Drive in Indian Springs Village.

The sheriff says a preliminary investigation indicates that this is a tragic accident and he extended "deepest sympathy" to the Burgess family.

Employees with the radio program said family members are leaning on their Christian faith to get them through this trying time.

Monday's edition of the popular radio show was noticebly void of funny skits, jokes and laughter to which listeners are acustomed.

Bill Bussey opened the show by announcing the loss.

Bussey said Bronner, commonly called "Cornbread" on the show, and several other children had been outside playing in the snow earlier that evening.

After bringing their children in from playing, Sherri Burgess locked the doors and turned on a movie for them to watch.

According to Bussey when Mrs. Burgess came back from taking a shower she noticed the door was open and her son was not watching tv.

She found the boy in the family swimming pool.

Rick Burgess was not at home according to Bussey's on-air account.

He was at a conference in Tennessee when he recieved the news.

He immediately came home to be with his family.

"The Rick and Bubba Show" is syndicated on radio stations throughout the south. It airs in Montgomery on Y-102 FM.