FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO) WOWO honors the life and legacy of broadcasting legend Don Chevillet, who passed away yesterday at the age of 98. Chevillet was one of the pioneering personalities who helped shape WOWO into the legendary station it remains today—and his influence on Fort Wayne radio and television continues to resonate decades later.
Chevillet arrived in Fort Wayne from South Bend in 1957, and from the moment he hit the airwaves, he made it clear he was something different. His introduction to the city was as bold as the career that followed: Don broadcast his first WOWO show from a scaffold four stories above Washington Boulevard, positioned in front of the Gaskins Building downtown. The spectacle stopped Fort Wayne in its tracks, jamming both pedestrian and vehicle traffic as crowds gathered below to watch and listen. It was radio at its most daring—and it perfectly captured the energy Chevillet brought to the medium.
At WOWO, Don Chevillet emerged as one of radio’s earliest true DJs, bringing a new sound and style that expanded the station’s already powerful presence. His delivery was fast, energetic, and precise, blending intensity with an unmistakable warmth and authenticity. Chevillet’s approach complemented the legendary announcer styles of Bob Sievers and Jack Underwood, while helping blaze the trail for future WOWO standouts such as Chris Roberts and Ron Gregory. His work helped establish a gold standard for radio performance that would influence broadcasters for years to come…