LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Louisville radio legend Wayne Perkey has died.
WHAS' Terry Meiners announced on his personal Facebook page Sunday that Perkey died after a battle with COVID-19. He was 84.
Perkey was the longtime morning host on 840 WHAS. He started at the station in 1969 and worked there for more than 30 years. He was also a familiar face to generations of people in Louisville who watched the WHAS Crusade for Children. He hosted the telethon for 30 years and was one of only three people to have hosted it.
"Wayne Perkey was an icon of Louisville media whose voice was the soundtrack of morning trips to work and school for a generation," Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said in a tweet Sunday.
First and foremost, Wayne was an incredibly kind person whose compassion shined through his dedication to the Crusade for Children & many other causes. He will be missed. 2/2
— Mayor Greg Fischer (@louisvillemayor) March 6, 2022
On Tuesday, Perkey posted on his Facebook page that he had been in Baptist East Hospital for 13 days battling COVID. He thanked people for the good wishes and said how grateful he was for his friends and family.
"Wayne had a larger than life personality that permeated the whole building. His enthusiasm just sort of carried through the hall ways and you just felt it," Meiners said. "He could stand and talk to a vending machine for 30 minutes and have an engaging conversation. That is just the guy he was."
Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell released a statement saying, “I was saddened to learn of the passing of WHAS legend Wayne Perkey. Wayne’s upbeat voice was the sound of Louisville’s morning commute for thirty years, and his career quickly extended beyond radio to include television hosting, emceeing major events around our city – including the Crusade for Children telethon – and serving as WHAS’ voice at the Kentucky Derby. Wayne interviewed me numerous times over the years and he always made our conversations probing, honest, and thoughtful. Elaine and I send our deepest condolences to Wayne’s five children and the entire Perkey family.”
On Friday, Perkey's son Wayne posted an update that his father had been put on a ventilator.
In a January interview on the Terry Meiners Show on 840 WHAS, Perkey said, "Don't you feel really lucky to be the guy to be the face of the Crusade? You get to meet all those people, shake all those hands and meet all those children and their families."
Perkey was a big personality who worked with many legendary Louisville broadcasters on the radio show including Ken Schultz, Fred Wiche, Dick Gilbert, Brian Rublein and Paul Rogers. For many years, he hosted the morning radio show, which ranked in the top five nationally. He told Meiners, "I was so lucky, Terry, the right guy at the right place at the right time."
IMAGES | Wayne Perkey through his years in Louisville media
Wayne Perkey in front late 80s-early 90s promo photo from WHAS radio. Image courtesy 840 WHAS.
Wayne Perkey (2nd from right) with Bill Cody Liz Curtis, Milton Metz, Doug McElvein, and Denny Nugent 1984 outside WHAS studio Chestnut St. Image Image courtesy 840 WHAS.
Wayne Perkey at 1978 Kentucky Derby with Cawood Ledford on WHAS Radio. Image courtesy 840 WHAS.
Wayne Perkey in late 1980s-early 90s WHAS Radio promo photo for the morning team includes Paul Rogers, Ken Schulz, Fred Wiche, and Ron Robertson. Image courtesy 840 WHAS.
Longtime WHAS Crusade for Children host Wayne Perkey (on left) at th e1980 telethon. Image courtesy 840 WHAS.
Wayne Perkey (on right) with Terry Meiners (center) and Van Vance (on left) at WHAS TV studio. Image courtesy 840 WHAS.
Wayne Perkey on 84 WHAS radio billboard in mid-1980s He is on the left with his arm raised. Image courtesy 840 WHAS.
Wayne Perkey on a WHAS Radio souvenir card 1970s. He is on the upper left. Image courtesy 840 WHAS.
Wayne Perkey did a lot of public speaking after he left radio. Image courtesy 84 WHAS.
Wayne Perkey with Terry Meiner, Image courtesy 840 WHAS.
Wayne Perkey with Terry Meiners and Melissa Swan at 2013 WHAS Crusade for Children. Image courtesy 840 WHAS.
In the past two years, Perkey had been an almost constant caregiver for his wife Jane Ann, who had never truly recovered from an early COVID infection.
Very sad about the passing of Wayne Perkey. He was the Morning Mayor of Louisville. Wayne was a gentle soul who truly loved what he did. His passion @CrusadeChildren was endless. RIP dear friend. ❤️ from your fans and coworkers.
— Reed Yadon (@whas11reed) March 6, 2022
After leaving radio, Perkey worked as a public speaker and in real estate. He is survived by his wife, five children, as well as grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Funeral plans have not been announced. His family is requesting donations to be made to the Crusade for Children.
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