[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 72 (Tuesday, April 27, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S2222]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TRIBUTE TO DAVE LEE

 Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Madam President, today I rise to honor and pay 
tribute to Dave Lee, a radio host and Minnesota legend who is retiring 
after 32 years at WCCO radio on April 30, 2021.
  Hailing from Hatton, ND, Dave did not always know he would be a radio 
personality. He spent his summers in high school throwing hay bales, 
picking potatoes, and hoeing beets. When a friend recommended he 
audition for KRAD, a local radio station in East Grand Forks, Dave was 
just hoping to earn a little extra money for college, but the station 
saw a spark in him and offered him 9-hour country music shift. From 
there, he volunteered to help out with sports coverage, and when he 
graduated college, he stayed at the station. As he puts it, ``When you 
are passionate about something, it never feels like you are going to 
work.''
  That is how Dave's voice was introduced to the airwaves, and after 
years at KRAD in East Grand Forks and KFGO in Fargo, he became a 
weekend host of News Talk 830 on WCCO. He didn't know at the time, but 
WCCO would be his home for the next 32 years. Dave went on to join the 
legendary Roger Erickson as cohost of the morning drive and then took 
on solo duties when Roger retired in 1997.


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  On page S2222, April 27, 2021, the following appears: KFYO in 
Fargo
  
  The online Record has been corrected to read: KFGO in Fargo


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 


  For many Minnesotans, Dave's voice was as much a part of their 
morning as their cup of coffee. Commuters counted on him for traffic 
updates, students looked to him for snow day announcements, and we all 
knew we could rely on him for honest news reporting and engaging 
interviews. Over the course of his career, he interviewed an impressive 
roster of personalities, from Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell, to 
baseball pitcher Nolan Ryan, to actress Julie Andrews. He also had 
countless incredible interviews with elected officials Democrats and 
Republicans alike.
  Some conversations were serious, talking about the policy fight or 
issue of the day, but sometimes his interviews were just plain fun. I 
still have great memories of joining him at the WCCO booth at the 
Minnesota State Fair and ``Minnesota Hospital'' soap opera spoof skit, 
where I was given the role of Nurse Helen and Sid Hartman played the 
infamous ``Dr. Kidney Hartman.''
  For years, we have also been treated to Dave's sports coverage. He 
did the play-by-play for the Minnesota Gophers for a decade and 
occasionally filled in as announcer for the Minnesota Twins. He brought 
his running commentary to the television broadcasts of the Minnesota 
State High School Boys and Girls Basketball Tournaments and covered 
University of St. Thomas football games on WCCO.
  His joyful and informative commentary made him a six-time winner of 
Minnesota's Sportscaster of the Year, and he earned three Emmy Awards 
for his reporting on television. He is also a recipient of the Edward 
R. Murrow Award, several awards from the Associated Press, and a 
nomination for the National Association of Broadcasters' Marconi Radio 
Award.
  To so many Minnesotans, Dave was a titan of Minnesota radio, 
providing information and entertainment with his signature warm 
demeanor. And it was with that same kind spirit that Dave did so much 
to give back, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for the 
University of Minnesota Children's Hospital. After all Dave has done 
for our community, I have to admit, he deserves the chance to start 
sleeping in.
  Dave, even though I will miss having you on the airwaves, I know that 
this is not goodbye, and I wish you all my best.

                          ____________________