ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, April 11, 1996 TAG: 9604110045
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: NEWS OBIT
SOURCE: JEFF DEBELL STAFF WRITER
Andy Petersen, one of the pioneers of Roanoke television, died Wednesday at Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
He was 74 and had been under treatment for cancer.
Petersen was a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., and a graduate of the Frederick H. Speare School of Radio in Hollywood. He began his broadcasting career in the U.S. Marines and worked at WREL Radio in Lexington before coming to Roanoke in 1954 to join the staff of WSLS-TV (Channel 10), which had gone on the air just two years earlier as the city's first station.
Except for a brief business venture in the late 1960s, Petersen remained with WSLS until 1969. Off camera, he served at various times as a promotion executive, technical director, producer-director and staff announcer.
His on-camera duties over the years included reporting the weather and serving as host for such shows as "PM With Petersen," "Club 88" and "The Ebb and Andy Show."
The latter was a comedy hit during the late 1950s and early '60s. Petersen was the show's producer and writer in addition to playing the role of Andy, a city slicker who often was the victim of jokes at the hands of Ebb and the other Tides - Hi, Low, Rip and Ma and Pa.
Petersen's co-star was the late Gordon Reid, a film editor at Channel 10. Occasional members of their TV troupe included retired Channel 10 personality Lee Garrett, who served a term on the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors in the 1980s, and the late King Edward Smith, a musician and well-known country-western broadcaster for WSLC Radio in Roanoke.
After leaving Channel 10, Petersen briefly managed another Roanoke television station and worked in operations and sales at radio stations WTOY, WSLC and WSLQ. During the '80s, he was host of "This Is Jazz" on WSLQ. He was still working part time in advertising when he became ill about a month ago.
Petersen was a Marine technical sergeant with 19 years of active and reserve duty, including service during both World War II and the Korean War.
He is survived by two sons, Kent Petersen of Knoxville, Tenn., and Don Petersen, who is a photographer for The Roanoke Times; and two grandsons.
The funeral will be Saturday. Oakey Funeral Service is handling arrangements.
LENGTH: Short : 50 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: DON PETERSEN/Staff. Petersen began his career inby CNBbroadcasting in the Marines.