Roger Erickson

2001 Charter Inductee

The man who made school closing announcements an art form, Roger Erickson may be best remembered as a member of one of the most successful partnerships in Minnesota radio. He grew up on a farm near Winthrop and studied speech and theater at the University of Minnesota, where he appeared in productions such as Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" and wrote and produced programs for in-school listening at the university station, KUOM. He joined WAVN Stillwater in 1951, served two years in the US Army, returned to WAVN, and moved to WCCO Minneapolis/Saint Paul in 1959, serving as an announcer, and also appearing as "Bozo the Clown" on WCCO TV. For many years listeners woke up with his 5:00 AM program. In 1961 he hosted an afternoon show airing just before Charlie Boone's program. The two began to chat and trade jokes on each other's shows, and a great radio team was born. "Boone and Erickson" was a perfect vehicle for his storytelling, acting, and writing talents, and for many years was one of the most popular programs in the region. After years of getting up before 4:00 AM, he retired in 1998, but remained active in numerous community activities and events.

Roger died of natural causes at his home in Plymouth on Monday, October 30, 2017, at the age of 89.