Youngsy’s Biography
Richard “Dic” Youngs lived a storied life. He was born in Grand Island, Nebraska in 1941 and moved to Des Moines at age 12. He attended Amos Hiatt Junior High School and then East Des Moines High School. He is in the Hall of Fame for both Schools.
Dic played football for East, receiving honorable mention for "All City," and also played both basketball and baseball, earning "All City Catcher" for East High.
Dic also served the United States of America with a stint in the Iowa National Guard. Afterward he returned to his love of sports and played semi-pro football and baseball for three years.
The beginning of Youngsy’s radio career was as unique as he was. Dic joined KSO Radio when he was only 16 years old, after winning a KSO amateur DJ contest. Dic was an instant star at 1460 KSO and he rocked the teens of Des Moines from the "KSO Fish bowl" Studio in a window at 19th and Ingersoll.
Dic started at 940 KIOA in February 1966, where he remained for nearly 42 years. Working at KIOA even allowed Dic to continue to play sports, as he played for the KIOA High Hoopers Basketball team for 13 years and helped them raise nearly one million dollars.
Dic always had a big heart and raised over $500,000 through the years for the Variety Club by holding a number of 50 hour radiothons. He was also a frequent MC during the Variety Club’s annual telethon. Youngsy lent a hand to so many other charities, each giving him a smile and a sense of accomplishment.
Dic was also responsible for 26 Rock N' Roll Reunions at the Iowa State Fair. The Ole' Youngster personally knew more Rock N' Roll era artists than most people, including those in the radio/TV business, can name.
In 2006 Youngsy received the honor of being inducted into the Iowa Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame. He was given the Matousek Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is given to those who have spent their lifetime leaving a lasting legacy of dedication and professionalism. Also in 2006 he was inducted into the Iowa Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame.
In 2008 the Des Moines Radio Group worked with the City of Des Moines to have a street named after Dic. You can now drive down “Dic Youngs Way” as you leave his alma mater East High School.
Youngsy finished his radio career with a stint on KIOA sister station 1350 KRNT. When he “retired”, he simply took his 50’s and 60’s records down to continue his ‘Saturday Night Oldies’ show with the KRNT listeners.
Dic was bad at retirement as he took on other jobs like being a spokesman for a number of businesses, doing voice work and playing records on Thursday nights at Prairie Meadows.
He is survived by his wife Jan, his daughter Jennifer and a granddaughter. As well, his step-children and step-grandchildren, his brother Larry and extended family and his beloved dogs.
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