Howard D. “Tommy” Longsworth was a broadcaster and musician who played a significant role in the early days of radio. Hired as a staff musician at WOWO in Fort Wayne in 1936, he later became the station’s music librarian and a regular performer on The Hoosier Hop during the years it was nationally broadcasted. He transitioned into sales in the 1940s, rising to general sales manager, a position he held until his retirement in 1972.
Born in Ohio on March 3, 1909, Longsworth was first drawn to radio through his love of music. His musical career began in high school when his quartet won a competition that earned them a spot on WOWO. During the Great Depression, he traveled with big bands, playing with groups led by Miley Kaufman and Henry Lang. In 1936, after Westinghouse acquired WOWO, he was hired as a musician and became a key performer on The Hoosier Hop, a nationally broadcast country music program.
Longsworth recalled the early, makeshift days of radio, performing in a small studio above the Main Auto Supply Company, where noise from the street below would often interfere with broadcasts. In 1937, WOWO moved into new studios, and joined the NBC-Blue Network. Recognizing the changing industry, he transitioned to management in the 1940s and was promoted to general sales manager in 1946.
Beyond radio, Longsworth was active in the National Guard and involved in numerous organizations, including the Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite, Royal Order of Jesters, Elks Lodge, and Musicians Union.
Longsworth retired in 1972 after decades in broadcasting. He passed away on February 26, 2002, at the age of 93.
