Today in Wheeling History: January 19--Lou Palmer, renowned motorsport broadcaster from Wheeling, passed away in Indianapolis, Indiana (2008).
Lou Palmer, born Louis A. Perunko Jr. on July 26, 1932, in Wheeling, West Virginia, was a prominent American broadcaster best known for his work at the Indianapolis 500 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network. Raised in Syracuse, New York, Palmer moved to Indianapolis in 1953. Shortly after joining the news department of WIBC in Indianapolis, he received an invitation from the "Voice of the 500," Sid Collins, to join the IMS Radio Network for the 1958 Indianapolis 500. As a rookie on the network, Palmer was assigned to the remote location of turn three of the track, where he reported on a massive 15-car pileup on the opening lap. Palmer moved from turn 3 to become a pit reporter for race day in 1963, a position he held through 1987. He traditionally covered the south pits and interviewed the winning driver in victory lane. In 1988, Palmer moved into the booth, replacing Paul Page as the chief announcer of the 500. His tenure as chief announcer lasted only two years (1988-1989). Palmer later anchored the CART radio network. He passed away on January 19, 2008, in Indianapolis at the age of 75.
To learn more: Find a Grave (https://shorturl.at/nsmhB), Wikipedia (https://shorturl.at/S2HYk), Autoblog (https://shorturl.at/WQMib)
Photo credits: Autoblog, Find a Grave
Lou Palmer, born Louis A. Perunko Jr. on July 26, 1932, in Wheeling, West Virginia, was a prominent American broadcaster best known for his work at the Indianapolis 500 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network. Raised in Syracuse, New York, Palmer moved to Indianapolis in 1953. Shortly after joining the news department of WIBC in Indianapolis, he received an invitation from the "Voice of the 500," Sid Collins, to join the IMS Radio Network for the 1958 Indianapolis 500. As a rookie on the network, Palmer was assigned to the remote location of turn three of the track, where he reported on a massive 15-car pileup on the opening lap. Palmer moved from turn 3 to become a pit reporter for race day in 1963, a position he held through 1987. He traditionally covered the south pits and interviewed the winning driver in victory lane. In 1988, Palmer moved into the booth, replacing Paul Page as the chief announcer of the 500. His tenure as chief announcer lasted only two years (1988-1989). Palmer later anchored the CART radio network. He passed away on January 19, 2008, in Indianapolis at the age of 75.
To learn more: Find a Grave (https://shorturl.at/nsmhB), Wikipedia (https://shorturl.at/S2HYk), Autoblog (https://shorturl.at/WQMib)
Photo credits: Autoblog, Find a Grave
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