In memory of

Roy Dittman

Sep 4, 1941
Feb 26, 2019

Obituary

A lifelong dedicated fan of his beloved Green Bay Packers, LeRoy William Dittman was born on September 4th, 1941 in Green Valley, Wisconsin and died at home of complications from cancer and heart disease on February 26th, 2019. He grew up in Shawano (SHAW-no), Wisconsin, graduated from high school in 1959 and attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison for two years before transferring to Brown Institute of Broadcasting in Minneapolis, Minnesota. On receiving his broadcasting certificate in 1962, he accepted a position as a night time disc jockey at KKJO AM Radio in St. Joseph, Missouri, staying in Missouri just long enough to acquire a wife in 1963 before leaving in May of 1964 to become a newsman at WING AM Radio in Dayton, Ohio. He was named news director shortly after arriving there and remained in Dayton for twelve years, long enough that most people considered him a “lifer”, something unusual in the field of radio broadcasting. In 1976, he surprised everyone by moving his family to nearby Columbus, Ohio to become news director at WBNS AM Radio and then a short three years after that, moved them again, this time to Boise, Idaho to become general manager of KIDO AM and its new sister station, Q104 FM. He worked as GM in Boise for Sundance Broadcasting until 1985 when he decided that it was finally time to run his own station. With a little luck and very little money, he was able to buy into a partnership that owned KBZY in Salem. In pursuit of more lucrative careers, the partners disappeared over the years and Roy eventually became sole owner of KBZY. The station was the great love of his life and he did everything possible to ensure that it remained a strong presence in Salem and a valuable asset to the community.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Gloria, their two sons, Greg (Crystal) and Jon (Mary), ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. We, his family, wish to express our deepest gratitude to his many kind and caring physicians and nurses, to Willamette Valley Hospice, and to all of you who knew and loved Roy. If you were a part of his life, then you will always be part of ours as well. A memorial service date is not yet scheduled. If you would like to honor Roy with a remembrance, please consider a donation to either the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society or to the American Heart Association.

Service Information

Date/Time/Location TBD

Messages of Sympathy

  1. Kathy O’Connor-Bow. — Northern California says:

    To his family my deepest sympathy. I would simply like to let you know that Roy Dittman was s pioneer in Radio. He brought me into the news Department at WING—at a time women were not in the business. He was a great teacher—writer and had a great voice but more than that he was such a kind man and I will never forget the years I worked for him at WING — such fond memories of Roy and the Great News team at WING.

  2. Art Gregory says:

    Hello Dittman family and friends of Roy. We are sad to here of Roy's passing. I am Art Gregory, the President & Founder of the History of Idaho Broadcasting Foundation. We are doing a luncheon to honor Roy on Friday March 29, 2019 in Boise. You are welcome to join us, there is no charge to attend other than lunch, and if you travel from Salem, we'd buy lunch for anyone who attends. We need copies of any photos or documents etc. you may have from the KIDO days, and we have two recordings of Roy's morning newscasts from December of 1980 the day after John Lennon was killed, and another from early 1981. We will play excerpts and people who worked with Roy at KIDO will be there to honor him. Our email address is HIBF@Q.com our website is historyofidahobroadcasting.org We are a 501 c 3 and are starting a museum and Roy will be part of it. KIDO was started as KFAU in 1922 at Boise High School and changed call letters to KIDO 90 years ago in 1928! So Roy was part of something BIG in Boise. KIDO is still on the air btw and doing great! So sorry to lose Roy, but we are so pleased to honor him. You can leave a message for me at 208 761-1396. I will call you back! Thank you Roy. I can hear your deep voice saying "This is Roy Dittman on the Radio Station...KAY-I-Dee-Oh, sounds just like Idaho!" (jingle: "I'd rather be in Idaho...with Kay-I-Dee-Oh!"

  3. David Reese says:

    Roy Dittman was, in truth, one of the nicest and most competent people I have ever met. He was a true professional. I was fortunate to have met Roy in Columbus, OH, and, then, more significantly, in Boise, where Roy was a colleague. He had such a wonderful sense of humor and countenance about him. Gloria and he were the consummate great parents. A spectacular team in every respect. His grace and kindness will be so sorely missed. I will never forget that indelible chuckle of his.

  4. Greg Tantum says:

    Other than my parents Roy was the most positive influence in my life. To this day his character, sense of fairness, integrity, loyalty and love (along with a great sense of humor) have acted as a daily becon for attempts to be as good a human. Truly a great man.

  5. mark&lana Dittmann says:

    Our sympathy goes out to his family an radio staff rbzy cousin MARK & LANA DITTMANN shawano wi.

  6. Betty Hart says:

    I am so sorry to hear about Roy's passing. He was a wonderful person. I especially appreciate all he did for Mike. My best to you, Gloria and your entire family.

  7. Mjw says:

    I am so sorry for your loss, but please keep in mind that the bible says there will be a resurrection. Acts 24 : 15. Do you long to experience the joy of having a dead love one come to life again? God's word the bible gives us that wonderful hope namely, the prospect of living in a paradise on earth and seeing the resurrection of our dead loved ones. Luke 23 : 43. The bible calls Jehovah God the creator of life and the source of life. Acts 17 : 24, 25. Therefore, the One who gave life to all living creatures is certainly capable of restoring life to someone who has died. And in the future death will be no more. Revelations 21 : 3, 4. I hope this spiritual message will give you some comfort in your time of sadness. Please visit jw.org .

  8. Jay Solomon says:

    The day I met Roy, at WING radio in Dayton, Ohio, he hired me. I liked him for that of course, but I had no idea it would be the beginning of a life-long friendship as well as continuing commentary on the Green Bay Packers. Roy was a natural leader and a solid, ethical newsman. He was a role model for me when I went on to be a news director. Later we became competitors at radio stations just down the street from each other in Columbus, but we and our families remained close throughout the years. I have no idea how many times I picked up a ringing phones and hear that iconic voice saying "Solomon!" indicating that I was in big trouble now, only to be punished by his drole rendering of the latest bad joke.

    Roy cannot be replaced, but he will be long remembered for all the right reasons, including kindness, wisdom, talent, modesty and loyalty. What a great guy.

    My love and condolences to Gloria and their family, his radio station family, and all their friends.

  9. Ken and Kathy Graves says:

    We will dearly miss Roy. He was a great friend and breakfast companion! Someone earlier refered him as "the voice of Salem." I agree with them when he was on the air there was no mistaking that rich, full voice. Kathy and I will certainly miss our times together. Roy, you hurt no more, and I'm sure you are preparing the way for the rest of us.

  10. Lloyd Tolle says:

    My experiences with Roy were some of my best moments while working at the Boys & Girls Club. He served in major leadership roles on the Board of Directors as well as Ezecutive Committee. I can still remember the wonderful PR video he did with John Cary at the Elsinore Theatre promoting the Boys & Girls Club using the ‘thumbs up’ review style made popular by several national movie reviewers.

    He was a joy to work with and his passion to make the Salem-Keizer community will be missed.

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