Legendary KNOD Broadcaster Ron Novotny Passes Away at age 72

Legendary KNOD Broadcaster Ron Novotny Passes Away at age 72 -

(5-9-22) - The "Voice of the Harlan Community Cyclones" has gone silent.

KNOD Sports Director Ron Novotny, who covered Harlan Community and KNOD-area sports for decades, has passed away. Ron was 72 years old.

Ron became the voice of the Cyclones and other area community schools starting in the mid-80's. His unique style of broadcasting, excitement, and catch phrases entertained coaches, players, and listeners through generations in the KNOD-listening area. Ron did broadcasts current players, the parents, and their parent's-parents.

"He was also never afraid to speak his mind about an officials call," said KNOD News Director Michele Andersen. " I honestly believe that Ron lived and breathed Cyclone Sports and we will dearly miss him."

Ron was a Harlan Booster Club Hall of Fame Inductee.

A memorial service for Ron will be held on Wednesday, May 18th, at the Veteran's Memorial Auditorium in

In his final interview with KNOD, Ron talked about how getting a transistor radio for Christmas at a young age led him into broadcasting.

"Now you had the whole world in your hand," Novotny told KNOD. "I used to go around and I would listen to sporting events sometimes all night long on that little transistor radio and that's where I got interested."

Ron’s final interview in its entirety is on our KNOD Sports Podcast link.

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