Wayne Eddy, age 83, of Northfield passed away with his wife by his side, Saturday morning, August 17, 2024, at his home.
Wayne was born May 22, 1941, at Miller Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota, to Paul W. Eddy and Lorraine (Coursolle, Eddy) Fortney. Wayne spent most of the first years of his life in a hospital with eczema. He attended various parochial and public schools, including 2 years at St. Thomas Military Academy and Harding High School, from which he was a part of the class of 1960. As a young man he worked in a drive-in, as a shoe store clerk, a soda jerk, trash hauler, and even a bill collector. In his 20’s Wayne was a “Limbo” dancer and dance instructor.
Wayne’s interest in broadcasting started while taking an English class at Central High School in St Paul which was being taught by Casey Jones (Roger Awsumb). Wayne graduated from Brown Institute— (American Institute of the Air) in 1964. His first radio job was at WTMB-AM in Tomah, WI--Wayne helped put on the first 100,000-watt FM station in that area of the country.
In April of 1966, he became a morning air personality and a rock and roll disc jockey, for KAUS-AM of Austin, Minnesota. When KAUS added FM, Wayne was involved in putting that 100,000-watt station on the air. Then he moved over to KAUS-TV, where he was the station’s weatherman, and the talent on the station’s first color weathercast. A TV Guide shows Wayne with his weather pointer and claims “Even if the weather isn’t sunny--Wayne is”. He also introduced the use of videotape for commercials.
During his time in Austin, he met VoAnne Wheeler and they married in 1968. Following their marriage, they moved to Northfield. In 1977 they adopted daughter, Angel. They later divorced in 1986. On April 15, 1989, Wayne married Julie Detlie at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. Angel has given them one granddaughter Sydnee, who has given them a great-grandson, Hudson. In 1991, Wayne and Julie hosted a Rotary Exchange student, Jesper Elming of Denmark, who has continued to be an important part of their family and who has gone on to become a popular broadcaster/director/journalist in Denmark.
In 1968, Wayne, along with Stan Stynicki, founded KYMN Radio. Together they operated KYMN until 1989, when Don McRae became Wayne’s business partner. Following Don’s death in 1996, Wayne became sole owner of KYMN. In 2002, Wayne sold KYMN to Ingstad Broadcasting Company. For 34 years he was KYMN’s sign on morning man.
Under Wayne’s direction, KYMN broadcast the first NCAA-sanctioned “metric football” game. St. Olaf and Carleton Colleges marked the field in metric, NCAA sanctioned it, and it was the first and only college football game to ever be played on a “metric field”. KYMN was the first station in Minnesota to have a Viking football player on each morning live from the player’s home, during football season. The programming was called “Visit with the Vikings.” The KYMN studio was located in Waterford Township, several miles north of Northfield. During severe weather—such as blizzards or threatening tornados, KYMN listeners could always hear Wayne’s calm, authoritative voice as he would stay at the station broadcasting emergency information for the duration of the storms.
Wayne has long been interested in Special Olympics. KYMN was named “Media of the Year” by Minnesota Special Olympics and Wayne served as an announcer and coordinator of announcers at the International Special Olympics where he was singled out for special recognition by actor and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Wayne served the Minnesota broadcast industry in many ways. He served on the Minnesota Broadcasters Association Board of Directors from 1984 to 1995, holding offices of president, chair and past chair of the board. The year he served as MBA Membership Chairman, the membership included every commercial radio and TV station in the state but one. In 1997 he was named MBA Radio Personality of the Year.
Through the years he has spoken before classes in elementary and secondary schools, colleges, universities and trade schools on broadcast training and issues in Minnesota, Wisconsin and South Dakota. He served on the Brown College Advisory Board for many years as well as the community college board in Austin MN. Wayne has been on the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting Board for over 30 years and was chairman of the board for seven years.
He also served nationally as Minnesota Legislative Liaison for the National Association of Broadcasters. He served on the NAB Day-Timer’s committee, chaired the NAB Small Market committee, served as a panelist on Sales and Small Market Issues at NAB conventions, testified before the FCC on various issues, and wrote numerous articles for NAB publications.
Throughout the years Wayne remained an active voice at KYMN. Even after selling the station, he returned to host the “Wayne Eddy Affair” for close to 15 years, visiting with countless people from all walks of life and varied social and economic backgrounds. Wayne said he interviewed “from prisoners to priests, and everything in between.” These visits were archived and Wayne’s work will live on for generations.
In 1998 Wayne was inducted into the Minnesota Softball Hall of Fame and has been the emcee for their annual banquet for the past 40 years. Last October, he insisted on getting out of the hospital in enough time to travel to Detroit Lakes to emcee the 2023 banquet.
He was the track announcer at Elko Speedway for many years and sponsored many race cars. He was inducted May 2007 in the NASCAR/ELKO Speedway Hall of Fame for his many contributions.
Wayne was a true proponent and supporter of the Northfield community. He has been the volunteer auctioneer for various non-profit fundraising events that have raised enormous amounts of money for their organizations. His civic engagement was nearly incalculable and included serving as president of the Northfield Jaycees, Northfield Lions Club, Northfield Park Board where he secured the baseball and softball fields of Sechler Park, and he was a board member of the Northfield Chamber of Commerce and Northfield Chamber Ambassadors. In Wayne Eddy style, he is remembered for serving as the emcee for the Chamber’s annual banquet just six days after losing his leg as a result of diabetes in 2005. His unique ability to cultivate talent and increase membership in any organization he was associated with, was undeniable. When Wayne Eddy called, most people said “What are you going to talk me into doing now?”
Wayne “robbed” the bank for 25 years as a member of the James/Younger Gang as it reenacted the Northfield raid during the Defeat of Jesse James Days. He has served on the Defeat of Jesse James Days Committee for 56 years- serving as chairman or co-chairman multiple times and as the official emcee of many events. He originated having the bank raiders and royalty visit the schools to educate the youngsters on the reason we celebrate DJJD and was responsible for starting the entertainment center which had been prohibited previously. He was a co-founder of the Drum & Bugle Corps. In 1990, he received Northfield’s most prestigious award -- the Joseph Lee Heywood Distinguished Service Award. 1974-1975 were Wayne’s busiest years as he was President of the Northfield Jaycees, President of the Northfield Lions, and his proudest achievement was co-founding the Northfield Historical Society. Wayne had the forethought to get the commitment from the former Scriver Building owner so that the Historical Society could purchase it.
Defining Wayne goes far beyond his accomplishments. Wayne & Julie enjoyed travelling on several trips to Europe, Canada, Mexico, Virgin Islands, and many parts of the U.S. They especially loved cruising on his ‘pimped out trike’ on many trips to Colorado as well as New Orleans, Albuquerque, and even the famous “Tail of the Dragon” that stretches from NC to TN and has 318 curves in 11 miles. Of course, the 1975 Oldsmobile Convertible was his trademark, which he bought off the showroom floor from Miller Motors. He loved fishing and was proud that he caught a 51-inch Northern Pike in Canada. Aside from his family, most of all he just loved people. His work ethic, personal drive, engaging personality, and his impact on the greater Minnesota community will long be remembered. He loved and was dearly loved by his wife and family and he will be greatly missed.
Survivors include his wife of 35 years Julie; his daughter Angel Eddy (Greg Seurer) of New Market; his granddaughter Sydnee; his great-grandson Hudson; his half-sister Polly Tyra of Florida; niece Tracey Giancola of Las Vegas, NV (children Tyler & Selena), “adopted” son, Jesper Elming of Denmark; many other relatives and a host of friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Donna Lynch, and nephew Kelly Lynch.
Services will be held at 11:00AM, Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Northfield. Visitation will be held from 2:00PM – 7:00pm, Tuesday, August 27, 2024, at the Bierman, Benson & Langehough Funeral Home. Visitation will continue on Wednesday at the church beginning at 10:00AM. Interment will be in Northfield Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Stu Voigt, Mike Czysz, Steve Aaker, Randy Christel, Jeff Johnson, and Don Pavek.
Memorials are preferred to Northfield Historical Society or Defeat of Jesse James Days Committee.
