Dean Spratt
Encyclopedia
Dean Spratt
(1953-2007) was one of 7 children born to Mary and Ray Spratt in Minneapolis, MN. Blind
from birth Spratt attended St. Cloud State University
where he studied communications. In November of 1981, Spratt became the first traffic reporter at WCCO-AM
radio, as well as the first blind traffic reporter in the country. Spratt worked primarily out of an office in his home that he transformed into a sound booth and filled it with police scanners, telephones, radio equipment, and later computers.
Spratt was a lover of electronics and amateur radio
, also known as ham radio. He went under the call sign N0HSR from 1997 until his death in 2007. On satellite communication networks he was known as the SkyScanner.
In 2004 Dean lost his position at WCCO due to consolidation and restructuring. His traffic position was outsourced to a company called Metro, who hired Spratt to continue to do the traffic. But, that position was also phased out. Therefore took up his hobby of amateur radio propelled by the internet and joined the W0KIE
Satellite Radio Network where he hosted a weekly music/tech/comedy show, Thursday Night Potpourri. It went out over W0KIE as well as streamed on the internet.
In January of 2007 Spratt suffered a stroke. Shortly before entering physical therapy Spratt developed a complication and passed away on January 20, 2007 surrounded by family.
Shortly after Spratt's death, W0KIE disappeared from the airwaves, but reemerged under the new moniker SkyScanner Satellite Radio Network in Spratt's honor and remained on air until moving exclusively to the internet in 2011. The network replays Spratt's show, Thursday Night Potpourri, on Monday nights. The radio serial, Powder River
, produced by the Colonial Radio Theatre
, and a favorite satellite program, dedicated its fourth season to Spratt, who guest starred in two episodes as Dr. Lyman before he died.
Dean Spratt
Dean Spratt was one of 7 children born to Mary and Ray Spratt in Minneapolis, MN. Blind from birth Spratt attended St. Cloud State University where he studied communications. In November of 1981, Spratt became the first traffic reporter at WCCO-AM radio, as well as the first blind traffic reporter...
(1953-2007) was one of 7 children born to Mary and Ray Spratt in Minneapolis, MN. Blind
Blind
Blind may refer to:* The state of blindness, being unable to see* A window blind, a covering for a windowBlind may also refer to:-Electronics, engineering, and science:...
from birth Spratt attended St. Cloud State University
St. Cloud State University
St. Cloud State University is a four-year public university founded in 1869 on the banks of the Mississippi River in St. Cloud, Minnesota, United States. The university is the largest member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system which is the largest single provider of higher...
where he studied communications. In November of 1981, Spratt became the first traffic reporter at WCCO-AM
WCCO-AM
WCCO is a radio station located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. The station broadcasts on a clear-channel frequency and is owned by CBS Radio. The station's studios are located in downtown Minneapolis, while its transmitter is located in Coon Rapids, Minnesota.With 50,000 watts of power, WCCO's...
radio, as well as the first blind traffic reporter in the country. Spratt worked primarily out of an office in his home that he transformed into a sound booth and filled it with police scanners, telephones, radio equipment, and later computers.
Life
Spratt was married to Stephanie Borden and had his first son, Benjamin. They divorced in 1987. Spratt soon married Carolyn who brought three sons to the family and together they had two daughters, Elizabeth and Lisa.Spratt was a lover of electronics and amateur radio
Amateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
, also known as ham radio. He went under the call sign N0HSR from 1997 until his death in 2007. On satellite communication networks he was known as the SkyScanner.
In 2004 Dean lost his position at WCCO due to consolidation and restructuring. His traffic position was outsourced to a company called Metro, who hired Spratt to continue to do the traffic. But, that position was also phased out. Therefore took up his hobby of amateur radio propelled by the internet and joined the W0KIE
W0KIE
The W0KIE Satellite Radio Network was a mostly talk radio network, listenable via C-band satellite. It operated, almost continuously, from 1996 to 2007....
Satellite Radio Network where he hosted a weekly music/tech/comedy show, Thursday Night Potpourri. It went out over W0KIE as well as streamed on the internet.
In January of 2007 Spratt suffered a stroke. Shortly before entering physical therapy Spratt developed a complication and passed away on January 20, 2007 surrounded by family.
Shortly after Spratt's death, W0KIE disappeared from the airwaves, but reemerged under the new moniker SkyScanner Satellite Radio Network in Spratt's honor and remained on air until moving exclusively to the internet in 2011. The network replays Spratt's show, Thursday Night Potpourri, on Monday nights. The radio serial, Powder River
Powder River
Powder River may refer to:* Powder River , in Wyoming and Montana in the United States* Powder River Country, the area around the above river.* Powder River , in Oregon in the United States...
, produced by the Colonial Radio Theatre
Colonial Radio Theatre
The Colonial Radio Theatre on the Air is an award winning radio drama production company based out of Boston, Massachusetts. Officially established in 1995 by Jerry Robbins and Mark Vander Berg, Colonial can be heard nationwide on XM/Sirius Satellite radio...
, and a favorite satellite program, dedicated its fourth season to Spratt, who guest starred in two episodes as Dr. Lyman before he died.