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Dean Spratt
editDean Spratt (1953-2007) was one of 7 children born to Mary and Ray Spratt in Minneapolis, MN. Blind from birth Spratt attended St. Cloud State University where he studied communications. In November of 1981, Spratt became the first traffic reporter at WCCO-AM radio, as well as the first blind traffic reporter in the country. Spratt worked primarily out of an office in his home that he transformed into a sound booth and filled it with police scanners, telephones, radio equipment, and later computers.[1]
Spratt was married to Stephanie Borden and had his first son, Benjamin. They divorced in 1987. Spratt soon married Carolyn who brought three sons to the family and together they had two daughters, Elizabeth and Lisa.[2]
Spratt was a lover of electronics and amateur radio, also known as ham radio. He went under the call sign N0HSR from 1997 until his death in 2007. On satellite communication networks he was known as the SkyScanner.[3]
In 2004 Dean lost his position at WCCO due to consolidation and restructuring. His traffic position was outsourced to a company called Metro, who hired Spratt to continue to do the traffic.[4] But, that position was also phased out. Therefore took up his hobby of amateur radio propelled by the internet and joined the W0KIE Satellite Radio Network where he hosted a weekly music/tech/comedy show, Thursday Night Potpourri. It went out over W0KIE as well as streamed on the internet.[5]
In January of 2007 Spratt suffered a stroke. Shortly before entering physical therapy Spratt developed a complication and passed away on January 20, 2007 surrounded by family.
Shortly after Spratt's death, W0KIE disappeared from the airwaves, but reemerged under the new moniker SkyScanner Satellite Radio Network in Spratt's honor and remained on air until moving exclusively to the internet in 2011. The network replays Spratt's show, Thursday Night Potpourri, on Monday nights. [6] The radio serial, Powder River, produced by the Colonial Radio Theatre, and a favorite satellite program, dedicated its fourth season to Spratt, who guest starred in two episodes as Dr. Lyman before he died.[7] [8]
References
edit- ^ "Blind Man Helps Minneapolis, St. Paul Motorists Avoid Trouble". The Hour, Norwalk Ct. 12 February 1982. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
- ^ "Dean Spratt Obituary". Star Tribune Obituary. Legacy. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
- ^ "Dean Spratt-You Will Be Greatly Missed". BambisMusings. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
- ^ "Dean Spratt, N0SHR, A Silent Key". Retrieved 28 October 2011.
- ^ "Satellite Radio Pioneer Dean Spratt Has Passed Away". SatelliteGuys.us. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
- ^ "Radio Free Dishnuts". Retrieved 28 October 2011.
- ^ "Dean Spratt Electronic Guest Book". Entries: 07-Jan-08, 03-Oct-08. Legacy.com. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
- ^ Robbins, Jerry. "January 20, 2007". The Official Blog Of Jerry Robbins. Retrieved 26 October 2011.