Watch Lee's video introduction here.

Dave Lee

Inducted 2022

Dave Lee began his career in commercial radio as an 18-year-old college student at KRAD in Grand Forks, ND. Following his graduation from the University of North Dakota he moved to KFGO in Fargo, ND, and as a program director, his station was awarded the prestigious National Peabody Award. He was recruited by WCCO radio and began his career there in 1989. Dave spent 32 years at WCCO Radio, 29 of which were on the morning show. His alarm clock faithfully awakened him every morning at 3 a.m. for almost his entire WCCO radio career. He has been recognized with Murrow awards, numerous Associated Press and Northwest News Broadcast awards and has been named The National Association of Broadcasters Minnesota’s Sportscaster of the Year six times.

For his television work, Dave has won 3 Emmys. His voice has been heard on national and regional commercials, and he made daily appearances on TV morning news for 8 years. He was an award-winning play-by-play voice of the Minnesota Gophers for a decade, play-by-play voice of the KSTC-45 Television broadcasts of the Minnesota State High School Boys and Girls Basketball tournaments for 15 years, and later the radio voice of University of St. Thomas football, all while working the WCCO morning show. He also was the fill-in play-by-play voice of the Minnesota Twins Baseball team from 1991-1996

Dave’s charitable side is an important part of his legacy. He asked the University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital if he could start an awareness and fundraising program as it transitioned to a new location, which resulted in more than a million dollars. Later, he raised awareness and funds for the hospital patio, and it recently was named in his honor.

Dave was awarded the prestigious Alan and Diane Page award for his support of Bolder Options, a program for youth mentoring. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society also presented him with a national award. Dave was the single largest fundraiser for the permanent site of the military family tribute on the Minnesota State Capital Grounds, created by Popp Inc. Dave’s involvement with the Federated Challenge since its inception, for Big Brothers/Big Sisters has also been quite significant. He and his wife, Julie, started a scholarship at the University of Minnesota Journalism School, which continues to assist multiple students each academic year.

Dave and his wife, Julie, have three children and six grandchildren.