WPOP's Lou Morton

 

Clarence A. “Lou” Morton, 88, of Rocky Hill died peacefully on Tuesday, November 11, 2014. He was born June 24, 1926 in Hamilton, OH to Clarence and Mary (Hill) Morton. Lou enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps at seventeen and served during WWII seeing action in the Pacific on Saipan, Tinian, and Okinawa as well as participating in the occupation of Japan. Upon his discharge he attended Miami of Ohio University.

After college he began a thirty-five year career in radio and television spinning music, reporting news and providing sports coverage. He worked at stations in Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Miami, Atlanta and Detroit before settling in Connecticut. At WPOP in Hartford he was the morning DJ known as “Kilroy,” then became Sports Director and eventually Program Director. He would later move to WATR in Waterbury where he was host of the morning show for many years. During his career in Connecticut he worked at stations in Hartford, New Haven and Waterbury. When he was not on the airwaves he enjoyed playing golf as well as performing on stage, which he did with local theater companies in Miami, Atlanta, Hartford, Glastonbury and Rocky Hill.

Lou is survived by his sons Lance Morton of Vernon; Larry Morton and his wife Kelly of Sugar Land, TX; grandchildren Cara Morton and Connor Morton of Sugar Land, TX, and Eliana Morton of Naugatuck; his former wife Lois (Jirschele) Morton of Rocky Hill and sisters Katie Smith and Betsy Bechtel of Lima, OH. He was predeceased by his daughter Lori Ann, and his brothers Tom, Mark and Jerry.

A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated on Monday, November 17, 2014 at 10:00am at St. James Church, 767 Elm Street, Rocky Hill, CT. Burial with military honors followed at the State Veterans Cemetery, Middletown, CT.

Memorial donations in Lou’s name can be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, www.alzfdn.org. For online expressions of sympathy to the family, please visit www.desopo.com. The D’Esopo Funeral Chapel of Wethersfield was entrusted with the arrangements.

WPOP's Lou Morton
WPOP's Lovable Lou Morton
WKNR newsman Lou Morton with Minnesota Senator Hubert Humphrey in 1964.
Broadcasting Telecasting, January 29, 1951, p.58 Broadcasting Telecasting
January 29, 1951, p.58
Broadcasting Telecasting
December 3, 1951, p.64
Broadcasting Telecasting, December 3, 1951, p.64
Broadcasting Telecasting, August 31, 1959, p.105 Broadcasting Telecasting
August 31, 1959, p.105
Broadcasting
June 18, 1973, p.85
Broadcasting, June 18, 1973, p.85

While working at WKNR in Detroit in mid 1964, Lou snagged an interview with Senator Hubert Humphrey of Minnesota, the Democratic vide presidential nominee.

Lou worked at WSAI in Cincinnati from 1953-55 using the airname Paul Platter. In 1956, while working at WQXI in Atlanta, he was off the air for several weeks after suffering serious head injuries in a car crash.

Lou Morton's first stint at WPOP as Kilroy was in 1965-66. He returned using his real name in January 1969. Lou served as a newsman and sports sidekick with Alan King, Bill Winters, Bill Love, Scott St. James and Bill Coffey.

WPOP's Bob Paiva, country singer Lynn Anderson & WPOP's Lou Morton
(L-r:) WPOP Music Director Bob Paiva (aka Bob Marshall), country music star Lynn Anderson, and WPOP Program Director Lou Morton.
Location of photo unknown, time period early 70's around the release of Lynn's hit song "Rose Garden." The picture was signed by Ms. Anderson
to Lou, but the signature has faded away. The single was released in October 1970, peaking at #1 on the Billboard Hot Country
Singles where the song spent five weeks at the top of the charts. "Rose Garden" was Anderson's biggest hit and became her signature song.

WPOP Music Survey - November 6, 1970
WPOP Music Survey - November 6, 1970

WPOP Music Survey - December 22, 1971WPOP Music Survey - Decvember 22, 1971

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