Fred Peterson

Fred Peterson, well-known local radio personality and news anchor, 86, passed away at his San Luis Obispo home Saturday, May 28, 2005.

A celebration of Peterson's life will be from 3 to 5 p.m. tomorrow, Thursday, June 2, at Mission Grill of San Luis Obispo on Chorro St. in San Luis Obispo. All who knew Peterson are invited to attend.

Peterson worked for several local radio stations from 1968 until 1995, beginning with KSLY AM and FM and retiring from KVEC in 1995. He continued to host a weekly interview show on KKJL radio until 2004.

Peterson's colorful career will be remembered best for his signature line delivered in stentorian tones and punctuated by lengthy pauses, "This is Peterson...and...the news."

Peterson was also widely recognized locally as a survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941, where he served as a telephone operator and missed a direct hit on the mess hall while oversleeping that Sunday morning. He also narrowly missed assignment to the Philippines and the Bataan Death March.

Peterson spoke locally before many area organizations, schools and community groups, sharing his experiences at Pearl Harbor and his colorful military and radio career, which began with the Armed Forces Radio Network, and took him to Japan, Okinawa and Panama. During his Army service, he also attended the Army Language School of Monterey and greeted dignitaries at Travis Air Force Base.

Before coming to San Luis Obispo, Peterson worked for other stations throughout the U.S., arriving here after after leaving a radio news job in Ukiah.

Radio Talk Show Host Dave Congalton, who worked with Peterson at KVEC, said last week that he had "great respect" for Peterson. Former employer Guy Hackman, owner of KKJL, called Peterson "a true original."

Peterson lived 34 years at the









same location across from Mission San Luis Obispo at the Sauer-Adams Adobe.

Peterson was born Oct. 31, 1918, in Youngstown, Ohio, and, before joining the U.S. Army in 1938, attended Bible School and traveled across the U.S. with a team selling magazine subscriptions during the 1930s.

Peterson leaves no surviving family members, his twin brother, Arthur Johnson, passed away two years ago. His mother passed away when he was six, his father more than 20 years ago. His closest and oldest ties were with Jeanne Lyons and her family in Youngstown.