Roger Dale Pederson, who for more than 20 years was simply known as “Roger Dale” on the KITI morning radio show, died Thursday due to complications from cancer.
He was 63.
Pederson leaves behind his wife Ann, his son, Bryson, who is currently serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, his daughter Randi and a granddaughter, and his stepson Ryan Stockdale.
Until his death, Pederson worked in real estate.
“On Tuesday, he was joking with us still,” said Scott Horner, a broker at RE/MAX Key Land Company, who worked with Pederson for several years. “He steadfastly came in every day.”
On Tuesday, Pederson became ill with what has been referred to as a possible seizure. He succumbed to respiratory failure, according to friends.
“He was such a great communicator, he was so personable and honest on the air,” said Jim Valley, director of the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce.
After first meeting Pederson at Centralia College in 1988, where the longtime radio personality taught the craft he knew so well, Valley eventually worked for him part time at KITI.
“He really was my mentor,” Valley said.
Pederson worked at KITI from 1977 until the late 1990s. His career began in Seattle, where he worked at two radio stations with Michael O’Connor, a morning host on KITI.
“Roger had a whole cast of fun characters,” O’Connor said, recalling the Donald Duck voice Pederson used to imitate, among other personalities.
Valley last saw Pederson at the Yard Birds Mall on Sunday. He said Pederson looked skinny and was without his trademark mustache.
While doing a radio interview with KITI for a garden show Valley was hosting, Pederson stood behind him in silent approval before grading his performance.
“‘Yeah, not an ‘ah’ or an ‘uh’ in the whole bunch,’” Valley remembers his mentor telling him just a few days ago.
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Adam Pearson: (360) 807-8208
