©2011 Galesburg Broadcasting Co.
| Galesburg Legend Jack Larson Passes Away |
FIRST REPORTED 3:01pm, UPDATED 3:52pm 4/13/10 It's hard not to be on the air in Galesburg -- or, involved in any of a number of community activities -- and not have the name Jack Larson come up. The longtime local radio legend passed away Tuesday at the age of 87, and after fighting cancer for several years.
The announcement came from the radio station Larson has called home for the last 25 years of his 60-plus year career -- WAIK. He hosted a big band program there called "Music with Memories" for the last 25 years. But before that, the man who could unarguably be called "The Voice of Galesburg" was on WGIL. He hosted a radio program on behalf of Linstrom's TV and Appliance starting in 1947, often with owner Dean Lindstrom and later with others.
He later went on to be the general manager of the former WDRL Radio in Monmouth for several years, went to WAIK, then returned to WGIL for several more years in the 1980's, before going back to WAIK for "Music with Memories."
But more than having a voice on the air, Jack was a voice in the community. The Knox College alum volunteered for the Fish Food Pantry, was a part of the Knox-Galesburg Symphony, and others. He also organized fundraisers that provided shoes for underprivileged Galesburg school students, and band instruments for those that couldn't afford them.
And that's just a small list.
Larson has received a key to the City of Galesburg, and was honored by the Illinois Broadcasters Association a year ago with their Pioneer Award. Just Monday, the state of Illinois honored him with a volunteer service award.
Jack Larson is survived by three sons and was preceded in death by his wife Martha and one son.
Funeral arrangements have not been announced.
(Jack Larson, while doing a program on WGIL in the early 1980's, specific date unknown. WGIL Archive Photo.) |
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| 04 13 10 by Newsroom |
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