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72 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, August 30, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend June 11, 2004 Les Forsyth talks about working with Ronald Reagan when he was 16 and �Ron� was a young sports announcer in Iowa. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Man recalls Reagan’s radio days By PAUL FATTIG Mail Tribune ROGUE RIVER — Les Forsyth recalls the lanky radio announcer was quick with a joke or witty comment. "He was real funny, a real wise-cracker," said Forsyth, 87, a retired electrician living in the town of Rogue River. "He was the friendliest guy you ever met. Everybody liked him." Forsyth met the fellow the world came to know as Ronald Reagan when he was 16 while a student at Roosevelt High School in Des Moines, Iowa. Reagan, in his early 20s at the time, was a radio announcer at WHO in Des Moines. Beginning in 1932, he had worked at WOC in Davenport, Iowa, then joined the WHO staff, working there until 1937. Reagan, who died Saturday at 93 after nearly a decade with Alzheimer’s disease, will be buried today in Simi Valley, Calif., home of the Reagan Presidential Library. Advertisement Back in Iowa, before Reagan became an actor or a politician, Forsyth was among four high school volunteers who worked as statisticians for basketball and baseball games. "We just knew him as ‘Dutch’ or ‘Ron,’ " Forsyth said. "He was just a real nice guy, full of life, real sharp." Most of the games occurred at Drake University’s athletic facilities, he said. "WHO was broadcasting about everything when it came to sports," he recalled. "The four of us were taking tickets and helping Ron keep score." The volunteers served as statisticians, known as "spotters" in those days. "Two of us sat on each side of Ron," Forsyth said. "Two of us would take the opposing team while the other two would take the numbers on the local team. "Ron would call the game as it went along as we provided the numbers for him," he added. Forsyth, who worked as a volunteer for about two years, recalled watching Reagan call a baseball game while reading the statistics coming over a ticker tape. "He made it sound like he was right there at the ball game, and you were there with him," he said. "We (volunteers) could go in there anytime and watch him work." One day Reagan, who wasn’t working, took the four volunteers to a baseball game to show his appreciation for their help, Forsyth said. "You just couldn’t help but like him," he said. An Army veteran of World War II, Forsyth served in the European Theater, arriving a few days after the initial D-Day invasion of Normandy. He and his wife, Dorothy, who have three grown sons, have been married 64 years. When Forsyth knew Reagan, both were Democrats. While Reagan switched parties in 1962, becoming a Republican, Forsyth remained a Democrat. "But I generally vote for whoever I want to," he said. Did he vote for Reagan for president? "Yeah, I think maybe I did," he said. Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at [email protected] Airman forever linked to Reagan history Sams Valley native and Senior Airman Bradley Ralph was part of an honor guard assigned to accompany and stand guard over the casket of former President Ronald Reagan at the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. The 23-year-old had recently completed a special, three-month assignment as part of a military honor guard, a special unit made up of service members from various military branches, but was recalled this week following the death of President Reagan on Saturday. Ralph, a crew chief captain on a KC-10 refueling airtanker, is currently halfway through a four-year tour of duty, stationed at McGuire Air Force Base in Burlington County, N.J. Ralph’s brother, Ben Ralph of Sams Valley, said his brother was not so much political but very patriotic. "He’s in the Air Force and he’s doing his duty for his country," said Ben Ralph. "He’s not very political but I’m sure it’s an honor for him. "He called me an hour before the ceremonies started and he told me he was going be on the steps of the Capitol building toward the top and to try to look for him. I didn’t catch him (on TV) personally. "There were a lot of heads and backs of heads, all shaved, so I couldn’t tell, but I think it’s kind of neat he got to be part of that piece of history like that," his brother said. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities