Alumnus Leon Kline was known for his Iowa Notebook radio series, which ran for more than 40 years.
Source: WHO Radio
Leon "Lee" Kline, from Conrad, Iowa,1 earned his bachelor of science in agricultural journalism at Iowa State University in 1951.2 As a student, Kline wrote for the Iowa State Daily, participated in "Stars Over Veishea," and sang in a YMCA quartet called the "Melody Men." After graduation Kline worked in Chicago at the Union Stockyards as a public relations associate until he entered the Army in 1951. Kline was discharged in 1953 and returned to his PR job in Chicago before joining WHO in 1954 as a farm broadcaster for its radio and television stations. He retired in 1995.3
For forty-one years, Kline traveled the state of Iowa for his Iowa Notebook radio series. In 2001, Kline released a recording of 36 of his favorite interviews from his Iowa Notebook series with proceeds benefitting Living History Farms,4 a working museum near Des Moines, Iowa.5 Currently there are 6 volumes of recordings now available from the Living History Farms Store.6 Kline continues to contribute Notebook pieces on WHO radio.7
Kline's awards include the Iowa State University Friend of Extension award in 1983, the National Association of Farm Broadcaster's Oscar in Agriculture award in 1985, the Gamma Sigma Delta Alumni Award of Merit in 1994, the ISU Meritorious Service Award in 1996, and the Iowa State University College of Agriculture Floyd Andre award in 2005. Additionally, Kline was listed as a Distinguished Alumni recognized for membership in 1993.8
Lee Kline resides in Des Moines, IA.9
Selected Sources
Lee Kline Collection; Wartburg College Archives, Waverly, Iowa.
Stein, Jeff. Making Waves The People and Places of Iowa Broadcasting. WDG Publishing. 35-36. 2004.
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