E. Douglas Brown

Posthumously

Doug Brown, WOI radio’s beloved voice for 36 years, could spin off classical tunes, read books, and provide wrestling commentary with equal panache. Brown died Aug. 14, 2002, at the age of 66.

Brown was cherished for his ability to tell a story. His accents - from Norwegian to Indian - and characterizations - from simpering young girl to doddering old man - were legend, and he received the Governor’s Award for his book club, which was dubbed the “Best Arts Radio Program in Iowa.” He read more than 250 books, and his rendition of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol became a seasonal Iowa tradition. Every morning, Iowans knew they could count on the homey voice of Doug Brown to wake them up with a rousing march on the “Music Shop,” which became the oldest continuous radio program in the nation. He was equally cherished in the sports world: His was the voice behind TV’s college and high school wrestling coverage. He was chair of Iowa State’s Professional and Scientific Council from 1977-1979. He retired in 1999 after 36 years at WOI.