LEWIS M. LATTO JR.

Lewis M. Latto Jr., 71, of Duluth, died suddenly in his home on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011.

Latto was a lifelong Duluth resident and civic supporter. He began a career in broadcasting at the age of 14 that lasted until his death. Beginning with WKLK in Cloquet, Latto was an on-air personality and newscaster for many area stations, including WEBC and WDSM. In 1958, he was named music director at WDSM when the station began to play Top 40 music. He bought his first radio station in 1964, a 1,000-watt AM station he renamed WAKX, and then launched one of the area's first FM stations in the 1970s, KPIR (later known as WAKX-FM). At one time, Latto had six Minnesota radio stations in his network.

Latto served as president of the Minnesota Broadcasters Association, who inducted him into its Pavek Museum Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2003. He also served as a director of the National Radio Broadcasters Association. At the time of his death, he continued to own and operate three radio stations on the Iron Range, WEVE-FM, KRBT-AM and KGPZ-FM.

Latto was a graduate of Denfeld High School (1958), and the University of Minnesota Duluth. In 1959, at age 19, while a student at UMD, Latto promoted and hosted the Winter Dance Party at the Duluth Armory, featuring performances by Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper. It was one of the last shows Holly played before he and others died in a plane crash. A young Bob Dylan attended the show, which he later cited as a major event in his musical development.

Latto was active in area politics as well, holding office and advising many candidates and elected officials. He was first elected to the Duluth City Council in 1969, at age 29, at that time the youngest member ever to be elected to the Council. He served multiple terms as an at-large city councilor in the 1970s, including a long stretch as council president. He managed former state senator Dick Palmer's campaign in 1970, when Palmer drew national attention after he was elected as the lone independent in an evenly-divided Minnesota legislature.

Latto's politically-oriented radio talk show – for years "Open Mike" and later "Lew Latto Live" – engaged and sometimes tormented loyal callers for decades. He earned a reputation for meticulous preparation and presentation whenever he discussed a civil issue. Virtually every area elected official appeared on the show, including sitting governors, senators and representatives, who respected his political intelligence even when they differed with him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lewis M. Latto Sr. and Ethel Sophia (Nelson) Latto.

He is survived by his children, Aaron (Beth) Latto of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Caroline Latto of Duluth; two granddaughters, Paige and Nina of Cincinnati; sister Marilew (Bob) Barnidge of Duluth; nephews Tom (Mary) Barnidge of Apple Valley, Minn., David (Phyllis) of Rochester, Minn., and Betsy (David) Podas of Los Angeles, Calif.; and former spouse, Susan Beasy Latto of Duluth.

VISITATION: 10 until the 11 a.m. funeral service Monday, Aug. 29, 2011, in First United Methodist Church (Coppertop), 230 East Skyline. A private family interment will be held at Oneota Cemetery.

To leave a memory of Lew or words of support for the family, please visit www.bellbrothersjarvidowd.com.

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