Tri-Cities, Tenn./Va., radio pro Richard Quillen has passed away at his home on Monday after a brief illness, according to TriCities.com. He was 50 years old. Quillen, who worked at WXBQ in Bristol, Va. for more than two decades, left his morning co-host position there for a job hosting mornings at WAXM in Big Stone Gap, Va., in February 2011.

According to TriCities.com, "Quillen got his start in local country music radio in the mid '80s as a part-timer at WXBQ, at times even working as the station's rabbit mascot." As a full-timer he stared on the night shift and then in the early '90s he switched to mornings. He was teamed with Bill Blake, who died in 2009, and then Steve Stroud. Quillen also handled WXBQ's popular Saturday night request show.