Jim Ramsburg

Inducted 2006

Jim Ramsburg’s fifty-year career in radio and broadcast advertising is marked by many innovations in programming and promotion. As a student, he managed – and commercialized - the University of Minnesota station WMMR, and during summers he worked at KLIL in Estherville, Iowa, KNUJ in New Ulm and WLOL in Minneapolis. Moving to WDGY Radio, he became the Twin Cities’ youngest radio personality, with a daily afternoon music show as well as Nightbeat, an innovative late-night telephone talk show. He served as WDGY’s promotions director as well, creating the country’s first disc jockey basketball team that played exhibition games to benefit local charities. He also created and hosted National Guard Time, a weekly recruitment radio program broadcast in every Minnesota radio market. In the 1960s, he became operations manager of WPTR in Albany, New York, making it one America’s premier Top 40 stations and among the first to play imported Beatles records. After programming positions at KMBC Kansas City and KLAC Los Angeles, he returned to the Twin Cities in 1971 as program director at KSTP AM. In 1976 he and his wife Patty founded Ramsburg Media Services, recognized for its innovative and cost-effective use of radio and television advertising throughout mid-America.

Jim's GOld Time Radio site is celebrating five years of operation in February 2017. It's grown to over 2,500 visitors and 7,200 page hits a month.

It is with much sadness that we say goodbye to our friend and Minnesota Broadcasting Hall of Fame member, Jim Ramsburg. Jim's career in radio broadcasting covers an impressive 50 years. He spent his time and talent all over the map, including stations in Minnesota; WMMR / KNUJ / WLOL / WDGY / KSTP-AM. RIP, friend.