Ted Thorne
Encyclopedia
Ted Thorne was born October 16, 1929 in Detroit, Michigan
. Thorne at 17 became the youngest sports editor of a daily newspaper in the state of Indiana, the Michigan City News-Dispatch. He was a television newscaster at WGN
in Chicago
during the mid 1950s and early 1960s.
Despite being a resident of Michigan City, Indiana
, Thorne had a powerful influence on public opinion in Gary
where he served as News and Program Director of radio station WWCA
. Thorne hosted the noontime "Sound-Off" program which had a large following. He also delivered expanded newscasts at 12 and again at 5 PM. Additionally he served for a time as news director at station WLOI in LaPorte, Indiana
, a sister station to WWCA
. In the 1960s, Thorne served as the television host for Chicago's WTTW
, when that station aired the Northwest Indiana Regional Basketball Tournaments each winter.
From 1978 to 1983 he was general manager of WIMS
Radio in Michigan City, Indiana
. His career allowed him to travel worldwide and to meet notable politician
s and personalities including the following Presidents
: Kennedy
, Nixon
, Carter
, and Reagan
. Ted also established contacts with Ernie Banks
and Ted Williams
, both baseball players, and Paul Newman
, and Jimmy Stewart from the movie industry.
He emceed numerous events including the Miss Gary and Miss Indiana scholarship pageants. He graduated from Michigan City's
Elston High School in 1947 and attended Indiana University
. He was a past member of the Indiana Association of Broadcasters and the Michigan City Exchange Club.
Thorne married Nancy L. Schrader in 1951 and she preceded him in death in 1993. Ted and Nancy had two children Debrah(Brian Armstrong)who had two children Ian and Emily Armstrong, and Jeffrey (Joanne)who also had two children Jennelle and Julia Thorne. Ted died of natural causes in Michigan City, Indiana
on April 3, 2007.
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. Thorne at 17 became the youngest sports editor of a daily newspaper in the state of Indiana, the Michigan City News-Dispatch. He was a television newscaster at WGN
WGN-TV
WGN-TV, virtual channel 9 , is the CW-affiliated television station in Chicago, Illinois built, signed on, and owned by the Tribune Company. WGN-TV's studios and offices are located at 2501 W...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
during the mid 1950s and early 1960s.
Despite being a resident of Michigan City, Indiana
Michigan City, Indiana
Michigan City's origins date to 1830, when the land for the city was first purchased by Isaac C. Elston. Elston Middle School, formerly Elston High School, located at 317 Detroit St., is named after the founder....
, Thorne had a powerful influence on public opinion in Gary
Gary, Indiana
Gary is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The city is in the southeastern portion of the Chicago metropolitan area and is 25 miles from downtown Chicago. The population is 80,294 at the 2010 census, making it the seventh-largest city in the state. It borders Lake Michigan and is known...
where he served as News and Program Director of radio station WWCA
WWCA
WWCA is a radio station in Gary, Indiana. It is part of the Relevant Radio Christian network.-History:Radio station WWCA, an ABC Radio affiliate in Gary, experienced its peak in popularity during the 1960s and 1970s primarily because of its community commitment and the popularity of its on-air...
. Thorne hosted the noontime "Sound-Off" program which had a large following. He also delivered expanded newscasts at 12 and again at 5 PM. Additionally he served for a time as news director at station WLOI in LaPorte, Indiana
LaPorte, Indiana
La Porte is a city in La Porte County, Indiana, United States, of which it is the county seat. Its population was 22,053 at the 2010 census. It is one of the two principal cities of the Michigan City-La Porte, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the...
, a sister station to WWCA
WWCA
WWCA is a radio station in Gary, Indiana. It is part of the Relevant Radio Christian network.-History:Radio station WWCA, an ABC Radio affiliate in Gary, experienced its peak in popularity during the 1960s and 1970s primarily because of its community commitment and the popularity of its on-air...
. In the 1960s, Thorne served as the television host for Chicago's WTTW
WTTW
WTTW channel 11 is one of three Public Broadcasting Service member public television stations serving the Chicago, Illinois market; the others are WYCC and WYIN. WTTW began broadcasting on September 6, 1955 and it is owned and operated by Window to the World Communications, Inc., a not-for-profit...
, when that station aired the Northwest Indiana Regional Basketball Tournaments each winter.
From 1978 to 1983 he was general manager of WIMS
WIMS
WIMS is an AM Station broadcasting on 1420 kHz in Michigan City, Indiana, and serves the northwest Indiana listening area. Its format is primarily news, talk and sports...
Radio in Michigan City, Indiana
Michigan City, Indiana
Michigan City's origins date to 1830, when the land for the city was first purchased by Isaac C. Elston. Elston Middle School, formerly Elston High School, located at 317 Detroit St., is named after the founder....
. His career allowed him to travel worldwide and to meet notable politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
s and personalities including the following Presidents
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
: Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
, Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
, Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
, and Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
. Ted also established contacts with Ernie Banks
Ernie Banks
Ernest "Ernie" Banks , nicknamed "Mr. Cub", is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and first baseman. He played his entire 19-year baseball career with the Chicago Cubs . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977.-High school years:Banks was a letterman and standout in football,...
and Ted Williams
Ted Williams
Theodore Samuel "Ted" Williams was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 21-year Major League Baseball career as the left fielder for the Boston Red Sox...
, both baseball players, and Paul Newman
Paul Newman
Paul Leonard Newman was an American actor, film director, entrepreneur, humanitarian, professional racing driver and auto racing enthusiast...
, and Jimmy Stewart from the movie industry.
He emceed numerous events including the Miss Gary and Miss Indiana scholarship pageants. He graduated from Michigan City's
Michigan City, Indiana
Michigan City's origins date to 1830, when the land for the city was first purchased by Isaac C. Elston. Elston Middle School, formerly Elston High School, located at 317 Detroit St., is named after the founder....
Elston High School in 1947 and attended Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
. He was a past member of the Indiana Association of Broadcasters and the Michigan City Exchange Club.
Thorne married Nancy L. Schrader in 1951 and she preceded him in death in 1993. Ted and Nancy had two children Debrah(Brian Armstrong)who had two children Ian and Emily Armstrong, and Jeffrey (Joanne)who also had two children Jennelle and Julia Thorne. Ted died of natural causes in Michigan City, Indiana
Michigan City, Indiana
Michigan City's origins date to 1830, when the land for the city was first purchased by Isaac C. Elston. Elston Middle School, formerly Elston High School, located at 317 Detroit St., is named after the founder....
on April 3, 2007.