[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24492]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        IN TRIBUTE TO DIC YOUNGS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. LEONARD L. BOSWELL

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 17, 2007

  Mr. BOSWELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life works and 
career of a local Iowa luminary. Born in Grand Island, NE, Dic Youngs--
or ``Youngsy'' to his fans--has become a legend of regional radio in 
the Des Moines metro area, attracting loyal listeners from every Iowa 
demographic over his half century of commitment to the air waves. With 
the announcement of his retirement from 93.3 KIOA this July, it is 
proper that we should honor a man who has come to be so cherished in 
the hearts and homes of several generations of Iowans.
  Dic Youngs has always had panache, and he has basked in the community 
spotlight since his youth. As a young man attending East High School in 
Des Moines, his athletic prowess earned him many distinctions, and he 
gained substantial notoriety within the greater conference community 
throughout his athletic career. At the age of 16, Dic's radio career 
was kick-started as he championed a KSO amateur DJ contest, and was 
given a position at radio 1460 KSO, Des Moines. Soon after, he began 
broadcasting the sounds of the sixties from his ``KSO Fish Bowl'' 
studio, which was originally located in the display window of a 
downtown shop. He was a ``smash'' with Des Moines area teens, and by 
charming them with his skillful spins and witty words, he established a 
loyal fan base from the very beginning.
  Dic started his time at 93.3 KIOA in February of 1966, after a brief 
hiatus from Iowa radio, and remained there for nearly 42 years. During 
his time at KIOA, he was known for his afternoon broadcasts and the 
``Original Saturday Night Oldies Show.'' But Dic did more than DJ 
during his time at KIOA--he was also an exceptional philanthropist, and 
was passionately involved in the local community. As a member of the 
KIOA High Hoopers Basketball team, he helped raise nearly one million 
dollars for various charitable causes, and he is known in the region 
for his 50 hour radiothons to benefit the Variety Club of Iowa; the 
grand total of his personal fund-raising efforts climbing to nearly 
$500,000. He has orchestrated 26 ``Rock and Roll Reunions'' at the Iowa 
State Fair, and was responsible for the crowd-pleasing ``KIOA Good Guy 
Reunions.''
  Many Iowans will remember Dic as the man whose voice and musical 
repertoire filled lazy afternoons and memorable Saturday nights, as the 
man who first introduced them to the Beatles, and as the man whose 
steadfastly positive presence in the community has been an inspiration 
and a blessing to so many. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring 
the life and career of Dic Youngs. We congratulate you and wish you the 
best of luck in retirement.

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