Ron Swanson, a former vice president and general manager of Hastings radio station KICS, has died.
Swanson, 56, suffered a stroke and died Sunday at his home in Waverly, Pa., said Les Seiler, a longtime friend.
Swanson was remembered for his generous contributions to Hastings, including the Pied Piper summer program for children's theater. He also helped establish Hastings' Scottish Rite Clinic for Childhood Language Disorders of Nebraska, a clinic that has treated more than 300 children.
Swanson was born in Holdrege, Neb. He attended Kearney High School and Hastings College. He was a radio instructor at Central Nebraska Technical College, now called Central Community College.
Swanson worked in radio and television for about 10 years. He became president and general manager of Hastings' radio station in 1973. The station received an honorable mention Ak-Sar-Ben award from the Nebraska State Broadcasters Association in 1975.
In 1977, Swanson left the station for a position with the Minneapolis-based Apache Programs Inc., where worked as a sales and marketing representative for the firm's oil and gas investment program.
In Pennsylvania, Swanson served as president of Satterfield and Perry Inc.
Information from: Hastings Tribune
