Ronald L. Wilson

Toledo City, Philippines

Ronald L. Wilson, an Eastern Iowa broadcaster, public television talk show host, and trade group representative for the emerging nuclear power industry of the early 1970s, passed away at his home in Toledo City, Philippines, on October 28 following a short illness. He was 76.

A native of Cedar Rapids, Ron graduated from Jefferson High School, where he was a member of the Honor Society, and later earned a degree in history from Coe College.

Showing an early interest in medicine, Ron took a part-time job at Ted’s Pharmacy in Czech Village. Working late shifts on school nights, he often rode his ten-speed bike the several miles to his family’s home after dark.

An outdoor enthusiast, Ron made multiple trips to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and was an active member of the Eastern Iowa cycling club The Itinerants—a group that inspired Des Moines Register columnist Donald Kaul to organize the statewide bike tour that was later known as RAGBRAI.

It was his college roommate at Iowa State University who first introduced Ron to broadcasting. Although enrolled as a pre-med student in his freshman year, Ron soon found himself spending more time at the student-run radio station KISU.