Robert "Bob" Johnson

Inducted 2013

Bob Johnson started his radio career in 1953 in his hometown of Marshfield, Wisconsin.  WDLB was searching for a sportscaster and hired Bob while he was a junior in high school.  After high school Bob continued as an announcer and sports director at WDLB.  In 1957 he helped put WCCN, Neillsville, Wisconsin, on the air and served as a disc jockey.  In 1960 Bob and a cousin purchased KRBI-AM and -FM in St. Peter, Minnesota.  In 1966 Bob took sole ownership of KRBI, which he owned for 46 years.

KRBI truly was a family affair:  Daughter Dawn was a sales rep for about two years, daughter Tammy served as news director for 20 years, and son Rick was a sales rep and took over as station manager in 1993.  Bob exemplifies the dedicated broadcaster of Greater Minnesota.  During his 54 years in radio he did more than 2,300 live play-by-play high school and college sporting events.  He and his station, KRBI, served as a lifeline to St. Peter during the 1998 tornado.  He was involved in many community organizations, including chairman of Le Sueur's "Corn On The Curb" celebration, United Way drive, Muscular Dystrophy Radiothon, and the March of Dimes.