Bob Spilman, Detroit Lakes Radio Pioneer and Businessman Dies Unexpectedly

DETROIT LAKES (KDLM) – A Detroit Lakes businessman and radio pioneer has died.

Bob Spilman passed away unexpectedly, Friday, Aug. 12 at his home in Detroit Lakes. Spilman, 78, originally from Brainerd began working in Detroit Lakes as a radio broadcaster on 1340 AM – KDLM as a teenager in 1962. He eventually went into radio sales becoming the top sales person at KDLM. Spilman was soon promoted to Sales Manager of KDLM before leaving in 1988.

“He was one of the first to hire women into the sales force at KDLM,” said Andy Lia a coworker of Spilman at KDLM. “He ruled the roost for his sales department, made sure they showed up and did their job.”

Spilman was known as a hard-nosed manager, but Lia says behind his vociferous nature he could, at-times be fun, “Bob liked to play some practical jokes. When you were on the air he liked to make a face at you and disrupt what you were doing,” said Lia.

Ultimately, Spilman pursued an entrepreneurial career launching his own radio station in Detroit Lakes in 1994, 102.3 KRCQ, now owned by KDLM parent company, Leighton Broadcasting.

His entrepreneurial spirit extended beyond radio and Spilman was also instrumental in developing other businesses and properties in the Detroit Lakes area throughout his life.

A visitation for Spilman will be held Thursday, Aug. 18 at 1 p.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Detroit Lakes followed by a funeral at 2 p.m. and a reception at 3:30 p.m. at the American Legion in Detroit Lakes. Funeral arrangements are being handled by West-Kjos Funeral Home.

The entire Leighton Broadcasting family extends their condolences and sympathies to Joyce, Kim and Kara.