Joseph (Joe) Leamon, dear friend to so many, Indianapolis Television personality and devoted father, passed away age 93 April 26th, 2021.
His visitation is at Downey Avenue Christian Church, 111 S. Downey, Indianapolis, in the Lois Leamon Library on Sunday, May 16, 2-4 p.m., followed by a memorial service in the sanctuary.
Seven years ago (04/28/14)Steve Nicewanger did a front page feature on Joe, who he had worked with at the Marion County Library years before. Here are some of the highlights.
We of the Baby Boomer generation were the first generation to grow up with television in our lives. The black and white images on our television screens affected our lives more than anyone could have ever dreamed possible. The people who spoke to us from the television screen were somehow magical. We knew that they worked in the television studios in Indianapolis but they were still ON TELEVISION. That made them our own “stars” and they were celebrities to us, just like the ones on national television.
I came to notice and admire a handsome fellow with a rich, smooth, and mellow voice who was a staff announcer on Channel 8. Joe Leamon was a nice looking, clean cut guy who appeared at different times of day to do commercials and program lead-ins, but it was more often his voice that was heard. I learned to recognize his distinctive voice.
Joe was born in Dayton, Ohio but grew up in Cleveland and attended public school and high school — possessing a pleasing singing voice, he became attracted to music. The Leamon family had a strong connection to Hiram College not far from Cleveland. Joe’s parents both attended Hiram and met each other there. Joe enrolled there where he met the girl whom he would marry, Lois Wooddruff. After graduation Lois got a job at Western Reserve Library in Cleveland. Then after Lois’ grandmother died in Indianapolis, she came to help her grandfather and found a position at Disciples of Christ Missions Building in Irvington, which is now the Bona Thompson Center and Joe soon followed her. Joe and Lois married and Joe chose to continue his education in Indianapolis.
Joe attended Jordan School of Music at Butler University where he would go back to school and become a music teacher. He also worked as a milkman on a route for Polk’s Milk (remember them?). While at Jordan, he had a friend and fellow student who was singing for a religious program three days a week on Channel 6. The friend had to leave to go into the service and advised Joe to audition for his spot on the show. Joe got the job and handled the singing and program introduction duties, and in doing so he became comfortable with announcing and with TV cameras. After graduation, Joe tried his hand at teaching music but wasn’t comfortable in a classroom situation.
In 1954, Channel 8 was looking for staff announcers. Joe auditioned for one of the jobs and was hired along with Stan Wood and Gene Allison. Thus, he began a 14 year career at Channel 8. He did program intros, announcements, commercial, sign-offs, and occasionally filled in as the weatherman. One of his assignments was to be Santa Claus at L.S. Ayres. I was one of the kids that sat on his lap. (I can’t remember what I asked for.)
In the 1960s, Joe created the character of Uncle Buster for a Saturday morning children’s program that had a “Mr. Rogers” feel to it. Uncle Buster was not a silly or lightweight babysitting program. Uncle Buster owned a General Store and Curiosity Shop and had guests and fun learning experiences. Then Joe hosted a Sunday afternoon public service program called “Ask the Doctor.” A panel of local physicians would answer questions, sent by viewers about medical problems and maintaining good health — sort of a pre-Dr. Oz type show.
During those years Joe and Lois lived in Irvington on North Campbell. Lois was the Library Manager at the Irvington Library for many years. They raised their four children, and joined the Downey Avenue Christian Church, where Joe became a member of their choir.
In 1970, the FCC enacted national regulations to prevent cigarette manufacturers from advertising on television. This led to a tremendous loss of advertising revenue so after fourteen years, Joe, found himself laid off.
Joe found a position with the Indianapolis Public Library system as the shipping, receiving and supply clerk. The supply depot was relocated in the old Riddick Piano building on North Illinois, which meant that he was working about 100 yards away from his old digs at Channel 8. The building also housed the Library Films division and the Extension/Bookmobile office. That’s were I met Joe in 1982, while working on the Bookmobiles. Of course, I remembered him from his Channel 8 days and I found him to be exactly as I thought he would be — a warm, friendly, and soft spoken man and supportive and understanding friend.
Joe retired from the Library in 1990. Lois soon followed. The couple loved camping and had camped extensively in various National Parks across the country. They went one better in retirement and started working during the tourist season at some of the nation’s most beautiful national parks. Starting with Glacier National Park, then Grand Canyon National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and at Crater Lake in Oregon which was apparently their favorite spot.
In 2012, after 62 years of marriage Lois passed on. Joe moved to a retirement community on the south side with his dog Zachary.
Joe is a shinning example of a life well lived. RIP Joe.
