Ronald “Dutch” Reagan was the first sports director for WHO.
On December 7, 1941, mother heard the announcement about the attack on Pearl Harbor over WHO. Family members regularly tuned in for news about the war.
Herb Plambeck’s nasal voice is the first I remember from WHO Radio, from the 1950s and probably before. Dad always listened to the farm show at noon, which was Plambeck’s expertise. Plambeck was also the host of the 1948 National Plowing Match north of Dexter, highlighted with a major address by President Harry Truman. WHO was a sponsor of the plowing match.
We were there, among the estimated throng of 100,000 sweltering folks gathered in the field that day. Dad perched me on his shoulders so I could catch a glimpse of the man on the platform. I barely remember it.
When sis Gloria and I were grade schoolers, we listened to Jack Shelley when it snowed hard, hoping for a “snow day” from school. WHO voices from my childhood include Ev Hickman and Jim Zabel. Other favorite personalities from the past: Keith Kirkpatrick, Lee Kline, Mark Pearson, Captain Jack, Jan Michaelson, Van and Patti, Van and Connie, Van and Bonnie (yes, three co-hosts over the years).
The station includes news, sports, talk radio, entertainment, a farm show, plus national broadcasts. But the main draw for me is its local personalities: Jeff Angelo, Simon Conway, musician Dave Bohl, Bob Quinn (who has a house made from a grain bin), newswoman Sue Danielson, even two who run the boards–photographer Margaret Kisper and Drake student JD Snover.
During the most recent decade, I’ve enjoyed listing to Our American Stories With Lee Habeeb over WHO-Radio and recording a dozen or so stories for them.
As the Leora books have been published, WHO Radio hosts have been gracious to interview me about each one: Maxwell Schaeffer on the Saturday show, Van Harden, Emery Songer, Max & Amy in the Morning, and, most recently, Simon Conway!
Here’s a terrific overview of the radio station by Iowa History Journal publisher, Michael Swanger, in the March/April issue.
You might enjoy this slim history of the station, Iowa’s WHO Radio: The Voice of the Middle West by Jeff Stein.