For decades, Springfield-area radio stations owned by Ken Meyer were the way listeners in the Ozarks heard about the St. Louis Cardinals, Missouri State Bears, Missouri Tigers and many other sports teams.
The Mount Vernon native graduated from Missouri State University in 1950. By the early ‘60s, he went on to start a radio and TV empire under the Meyer Communications banner.
A prosperous businessperson, Meyer and his wife Jane made major contributions to institutions like Missouri State University, Southwest Baptist University and CoxHealth.
Brent Dunn is executive director of Missouri State’s philanthropic foundation. He says Meyer cared a lot about many causes.
“He was a great philanthropist for the entire region,” Dunn told KSMU. ”He truly cared about the impact of all these institutions he made gifts towards. But obviously athletics was a big love.”
Industry types say Meyer had a massive influence. For many years, Don Louzader, who now manages news and operations at Zimmer Midwest Communications, worked for a radio station that competed with Meyer Communications. He said Meyer was a formidable rival.
"This is a guy who started in the business so young, ran successful radio stations — not just here in Springfield, but in other parts of the state,” Louzader said.
Meyer is credited with being first to broadcast Missouri State women’s basketball. In 2007, state lawmakers gave Meyer the Outstanding Missourian Award. He also brought the first UHF television station to town.