[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 104 (Tuesday, July 24, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S8118]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING WYNN SPEECE

  Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today to publicly commend 
Wynn Speece of Yankton, South Dakota, who with her sixty years of 
broadcasting excellence at WNAX, 570 AM, has become the longest running 
radio personality in the nation.
  Wynn began her career at WNAX in 1939 as a writer in the continuity 
department earning $20 a week. She later was given 15 minutes of air 
time each Saturday to mention the special premiums offered by WNAX 
advertisers. Her career advanced rapidly after the station's female 
director left, and she was selected to fill the position. In addition 
to her other duties, Wynn was asked to host a 15 minute program 
targeted primarily at homemakers six days per week, and on July 14, 
1941, this show, known as the ``Neighbor Lady,'' hit the air. Wynn's 
most avid listeners were provided by farms, ranches and small towns 
across the upper Midwest.
  Six decades later, Wynn continues to conduct interviews for the local 
radio station and writes a long-running column for Yankton's Press & 
Dakotan where she has literally informed and entertained generations of 
listeners. Since her first show, Speece has interviewed hundreds of 
people, hosted 15,000 broadcasts, and received countless letters. With 
her outstanding talent, leadership and commitment to quality radio 
broadcasting, Wynn has enhanced the lives of countless South Dakotans.
  Wynn's honors include the Macaroni Award for the top small-market 
personality in the country, and earlier this year she received a 
distinguished alumni award from Drake University. She is a member of 
the South Dakota Hall of Fame, and was named one of Yankton's top 
Citizens of the Millennium by the Press & Dakotan in 1999.
  Wynn Speece richly deserves this distinguished recognition. 
Therefore, it is an honor for me to share her extraordinary 
professional accomplishments with my colleagues.

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