MINNEAPOLIS — For three decades, Minnesotans have been waking up to Dave Lee on WCCO Radio.
Friday, they awoke to learn their morning relationship will soon be ending.
“I'm retiring,” Lee told his audience, his normally smooth voice cracking. “May 1st the alarm clock will not be set. April 30th is my last day.”
At age 66, after 32 years at the good neighbor, Radio Dave says it's time.
A 2019 vacation to Italy with wife Julie lit a spark in the early-rising Lee. “I was sleeping late every day and I said, ‘You know what? This isn't too bad.’”
The Hatton, North Dakota native started his career at radio stations in East Grand Forks and Fargo.
Lee’s father did not initially approve of his son’s career choice. Lee didn’t blame him. “The hours are terrible, the money’s terrible, but it was so much fun.”
After initially turning down WCCO, Lee agreed to make the move from Fargo in 1989. In Lee's early years, he served a utility role at the station, reading station IDs and filling in for other hosts.
Lee found a home on the legendary Boone & Erickson morning show, then was handed the keys to morning drive when Charlie Boone and Roger Erickson retired.
The affable host excelled at interviewing, becoming fast friends with sports stars, entertainers and politicians.
But Lee loved his interactions with co-workers and listeners just as much.
“I wanted Minneapolis-Saint Paul to be a little bit like my hometown of Hatton, where I could walk down the street, hey, hey, hey,” Lee said, waving his hand.
Along the way, Lee joining the broadcast teams for the Minnesota Twins, Gophers football and basketball, and St. Thomas football.
While too soon to have specific retirement plans, Lee is looking forward to spending more time with his three kids and five grandchildren.
Julie Lee informed her husband on the radio Friday she’ll also have a list of household projects ready when he signs off for the last time.
“I’ve got a battery and I’m always charged up, so I’ll find something to do,” Lee said.
Humble to the end, Lee thanked the listeners who gave him the opportunity to remain in a job he loved.
“I appreciate people putting up with my flawed personality all these years,” he said. “I am very thankful.”