Courtesy The News-Gazette

(October 1, 2009) Former WDWS radio general manager and longtime "voice of the Illini" Larry Stewart is being remembered as a knowledgeable sports broadcaster, a crack tennis player, a sharp bridge player and a loving father.

The 87-year-old Stewart died early Monday at a hospital in Westlake Village, Calif., where he'd been for the last week following a fall at his home in Camarillo. He would have turned 88 on Oct. 15.

Stewart received his bachelor's in radio journalism from the University of Illinois, where future comedians Arte Johnson and Allan Sherman were among his fraternity brothers.

He worked at WDWS from 1941 until his retirement in late 1980 except for a stint in the Air Force from 1943 to 1946. He never saw combat, said his daughter, Debbie Stewart, a medical aesthetician who works in Champaign.

She said her father, who was on blood-thinning medication, fell Sept. 22 in his kitchen, hitting his head. He called for his wife, who summoned medical help.

Debbie Stewart said her dad was "pretty lucid" for about a day and a half after being admitted to the hospital, but bleeding in his brain increased to the point where there was little that could be done to save him. He died in hospice care at the hospital about 3 a.m. Monday, she said.

Debbie Stewart and her younger brother, Matt Stewart, a guitarist for the Champaign-based rock band Delta Kings, plan to hold a memorial service locally in the near future.

Stewart is also survived by his wife, Rosalyn "Ros" Simon, 77, whom he met in 1971 following the death of his first wife Barbara to cancer, and Simon's five children.

Debbie Stewart said an aunt in Rochester, N.Y., where Stewart grew up, had a friend who told her that her recently divorced cousin (Ros) lived in Champaign-Urbana. Aunt Zelda replied that her recently widowed brother (Larry) lived there, too. The two met and a spark turned into flame, Debbie Stewart said.

"They were very different, but he liked the fact that she was really spunky and independent. She won him over with her cooking. And she's a knock-out," said Debbie Stewart of her stepmother. "She was the love of his life."

The pair moved to Florida in 1981 following Stewart's retirement from WDWS, where he had an active on-air career in addition to being the station manager. Florida's hurricanes prompted their move to California around 2004 to be nearer to one of Ros' sons, said Matt Stewart.

The younger Stewart, an accomplished musician, said his father was proud of him and happy that he was doing what he wanted.

"I don't think he really understood what I was doing until he actually saw it," Matt Stewart said.

He recalled going to the radio station as a child with his dad on Sundays while Stewart produced a play-of-the-week show and once being hoisted onto the shoulders of former UI linebacker Dick Butkus. "That was pretty terrifying."

In retirement, Stewart continued to play tennis, golf and bridge and stayed in close contact with many of his friends in Champaign and Urbana.

Former Illini basketball coach Lou Henson, contacted in Oklahoma where he was attending his brother-in-law's funeral, was saddened to hear of his dear friend's death but laughed at the many great memories they made together.

"I got to know Larry 35 years ago when I came to Champaign in 1975," said Henson, who praised Stewart's acumen as a talk-show host and sports broadcaster.

"I think he's probably about as good as they come on broadcasting games. Sure, he pulled for Illinois, but he was a professional. Most people couldn't tell," he said, laughing that Stewart "couldn't stand to go to Iowa City."

Henson said he and Stewart spent countless hours playing bridge, including their last visit in August when Stewart came to Champaign.

It was a four-day bridge "marathon" featuring Henson, Stewart, former UI law school instructor Bob Corley, and former WCIA-TV sales manager Jerry Johnson.

"When these four got together, there were a few harsh words said. When somebody made a mistake, they were told they made a mistake," Henson laughed.

Veteran WCIA-TV newsman and now WDWS news anchor Dave Shaul said Stewart gave him his first on-air opportunity.

"When I was a senior in high school in 1959, he allowed me to host the high school show on Saturday mornings," Shaul said, adding Stewart provided him wire copy to read when Shaul won the state speech contest in 1959.

"Larry was the dominant radio personality in that era," Shaul said. "He was a familiar voice for anybody following Illinois sports in those days."

Longtime WDWS morning show host Jim Manley credited Stewart with contributing greatly to the development of talk radio locally.

"People couldn't get enough of Penny For Your Thoughts," Manley said.

"Larry was a man who was quick to react to developments, so some people thought he was curt and not very friendly. In reality, he was very friendly," said Manley, adding his boss was not a fan of country music.

"He never pulled any punches. One time he told me that if I played any country music, he would fire me," Manley said.

Debbie Stewart said her father was in great health until last week. He was still playing golf regularly but had given up tennis about a year ago. In Florida, he did coaching and line judging in junior tennis tournaments. And he was teaching bridge at the senior center in Camarillo, she said.

"He loved, loved the New York Times crossword puzzle and history and his beloved dog Lily," she said of the 7-year-old poodle.

A self-described "daddy's girl," Debbie Stewart said her father also loved her and Matt "a lot."

"He really went out at the top of his game, which is what he wanted to do," she said.

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