A Racecalling Legend Passes

[migreen]

My own memories of Ross Morton start earlier - even earlier than Vic's.

I grew up in Syracuse, NY. In the late fifties and early sixties, Ross, who sometimes went on-air as "Mad Man Morton", was one of the lead disc jockeys on WNDR, Syracuse's biggest Top 40 station. His patter was engaging and energetic -- although I never heard him call a race until many, many years later, you can hear his early radio style reflected in his racecalls.

He also did record hops, sock hops, and the like -- the appearance of a WNDR DJ at such an event guaranteed a huge attendance. I remember one in particular where he was dancing -- a graceful ballroom sort of step in the middle of a bunch of flailing adolescents.

RIP