Leeland C. Pete [1] (November 14, 1924 – March 25, 2010 [2]) was an American sports-talk radio broadcaster. After serving as an Army Air Force pilot in World War II, he played college football as a quarterback at the University of Toledo. Pete also played baseball for the Rockets as an outfielder, and was inducted into the school's Varsity T Hall of Fame in 1986. [3] [4] He tried out unsuccessfully with the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). [2]
In 1954, Pete began his sports radio career at a small station in his hometown of Toledo, Ohio. After moving to Las Vegas in 1970, [2] he established a sports talk radio show on KDWN in 1981. [2] [5] [6] The 50,000-watt station had a night signal that was heard as far north as British Columbia, south to Mexico, east to the Plains, and west to some islands in the Pacific Ocean. [3] [7] Pete's Stardust Line show became the longest-running sports betting show in the history of radio. [3] He also hosted a televised sports handicapping show, Proline, on cable television that was viewed in over 30 million homes. [3] [8]
Pete was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a.k.a. Lou Gehrig's disease, in 2005. [3] He died in Toledo on March 25, 2010. He was 85. [2]
Leeland C. Pete [1] (November 14, 1924 – March 25, 2010 [2]) was an American sports-talk radio broadcaster. After serving as an Army Air Force pilot in World War II, he played college football as a quarterback at the University of Toledo. Pete also played baseball for the Rockets as an outfielder, and was inducted into the school's Varsity T Hall of Fame in 1986. [3] [4] He tried out unsuccessfully with the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). [2]
In 1954, Pete began his sports radio career at a small station in his hometown of Toledo, Ohio. After moving to Las Vegas in 1970, [2] he established a sports talk radio show on KDWN in 1981. [2] [5] [6] The 50,000-watt station had a night signal that was heard as far north as British Columbia, south to Mexico, east to the Plains, and west to some islands in the Pacific Ocean. [3] [7] Pete's Stardust Line show became the longest-running sports betting show in the history of radio. [3] He also hosted a televised sports handicapping show, Proline, on cable television that was viewed in over 30 million homes. [3] [8]
Pete was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a.k.a. Lou Gehrig's disease, in 2005. [3] He died in Toledo on March 25, 2010. He was 85. [2]