Rodger Kent Vogel

Inducted 2003

One of the first listener responses to a lineup change at a station he had worked at many years before was, “They should bring back ‘Old ‘N’ Bent’ Rodger Kent and make everything all right.”

His long career in radio and television began at ABC in 1948, followed by a radio job at WCYB Bristol, Tennessee. He moved to the Twin Cities in 1950 as an announcer at WDGY (now KFAN). He then spent five years at KSTP as morning show host, and also appeared on KSTP TV, hosting the first local television disc-jockey show in the midnight time slot following The Tonight Show. He worked at WCCO for three years before joining WTCN Radio and TV (now KARE TV) as an announcer, newscaster, and meteorologist. In 1964 he created and hosted Outdoor Funland, one of the first weekly outdoors shows, which aired on WTCN TV until 1969. He also called professional wrestling matches on WTCN TV and around the country for over 25 years, and emceed grandstand shows at the Minnesota State Fair. Later he returned to Twin Cities radio at WAYL, KTWN, and KLBB. The winner of a Peabody Award and a Clio Award, he also founded the KSTP Pioneers newsletter.

Rodger Kent passed away November 28, 2014, at the age of 90 in Cook, Minnesota.