Don McNeely

Don McNeely is a Cape Girardeau native who began his broadcasting career at the age of 16 as an announcer for KFVS Radio. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army, training as a Japanese interpreter, and was an announcer with Armed Forces Radio Network in Japan. In 1948 Don earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Speech and English from Southeast Missouri State University. He was active in college theatre and music, with lead roles in “Heaven Can Wait,” “All My Sons” and “Dark Lady of the Sonnets.” Don earned his Master’s Degree in Broadcasting from Northwestern University in 1949. Following college, he pursued a career in radio, played with and led dance orchestra, learned to fly as a hobby and served as president of Cape Community Theatre. Don was news anchor, program director and weather anchor for KFVS-TV from 1954 to 1982 and an AMS certified Meteorologist from 1983 to 1993. He produced and emceed numerous telethons for MDA, UCP and the Salvation Army. He is past president of the Cape Public Library board, a past member of the Southeast Missouri Hospital board and an elder at First Presbyterian Church. In 1974 Don portrayed Ben Franklin in the University theatre production of “1776,” a role for which he received the Black Mask award for best performance by an actor. At the age of 65, he went sky-diving. Don married Sue Harbison in 1953 and they have two daughters, Donna and Laura, and two grandchildren. Since his retirement in 1993, Don and Sue have enjoyed skiing and hosting travel groups on trips to many parts of the world.