Former Marquette Broadcaster Lou Chappell Dies at 85

Lou W. Chappell

Former WLUC-TV (Marquette) General Manager and radio station owner Lou Chappell passed away Monday, February 14th at his home in Marquette.  Chappell worked at WDMJ-TV and WLUC-TV from 1956 through 1973. He was first hired when the station was launched. He eventually became general manager.

The Dollar Bay native’s obituary says he spent some of his most rewarding years doing everything from building sets to reporting the weather and then the news, eventually becoming “the youngest general manager of a CBS affiliate.”

“Lou Chappell was truly one of the TV6 pioneers who helped introduce television to Upper Michigan,” said current WLUC-TV General Manager & Vice President Rick Rhoades on the station’s website. “We’re sorry to learn of his passing.”

After leaving WLUC in 1973, he turned to the world of radio, starting WUUN-FM (now WFXD), the first FM full service stereo station in Marquette, and then turning buyer and turning WDMJ-AM into a community-oriented station.

No funeral services are scheduled at this time.