March 31, Orion Samuelson’s birthday, was always a special day for Sun City resident Jo Geary, a family friend.
“I would bake cupcakes for his birthday every year,” Geary said. “One year, he wanted to surprise his wife Gloria on her birthday and asked if I would make centerpieces and I said, ‘yes.’”
Samuelson, who first became an agriculture reporter for WGN Radio in 1960, died at age 91 March 16 at his Sun City home. Funeral services were held April 9 and April 10, at DeFiore Funeral and Cremation April 9 for public visitation and the funeral service at Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran Church.
Samuelson grew up in Ontario, WI, and worked for local radio and the Green Bay radio and TV station, WBAY. In September, 1960, he was hired by WGN Radio and his programs reached 276 counties in a nine-state area. He was well-known for generations he informed about ag through “The Noon Show” until 2004; later on WGN-TV with “Top O’ The Morning”; and the syndicated “US Farm Report.”
Officials remember Samuelson
Huntley Village President Tim Hoeft praised Samuelson.
“I grew up listening to Samuelson on WGN-Radio,” Hoeft recalled.
“In 1996 I had a chance to meet him at a 4-H Foundation event, later in college at University of Wisconsin-Platteville.”
But another event topped both of those.
“I shared the stage at Huntley Town Square with Samuelson when he talked about when he was on the air when 9-11 happened, on its 20th anniversary in 2021. That was probably the coolest meeting. His passing is a great loss and he’ll be missed, and he left a legacy,” Hoeft said.
McHenry County Fair Board President Ken Bauman recalls meeting Samuelson.
“Growing up as a kid at Huntley High School, we went to a Future Farmers of America Farm Progress Show in Decatur,” Bauman said. “Meeting Samuelson was the highlight of my high school career. Some 20 years later, at an event for the Farm Bureau’s 100th anniversary, there was a meet-and-greet with him and he said he remembered me. Face to face, he was just like anyone else. I think a lot of respect has to go to his wife, Gloria, too.”
Bauman, like Samuelson, grew up on a dairy farm. He knew Samuelson through his work promoting the McHenry County Fair.
“He would always be glad to give us a plug on WGN,” Bauman said. “We would go to his house.”
Fair Building dedication
Samuelson came to the McHenry County Fair Aug. 2, 2023, when the meeting hall was designated as the Samuelson Meeting Hall. A plaque unveiled at the dedication ceremony highlights Samuelson’s love for county and state fairs.
“Born on a 200-acre dairy farm in Wisconsin, Samuelson attended a county fair for the first time, showing a pure-bred Guernsey Heifer calf. He didn’t win any blue ribbons, but he fell in love with county fairs,” the plaque reads. “He has been an avid supporter of not only county fairs but state fairs in rural America.”
Just some of Samuelson’s professional honors are: inducted into the Chicago Journalism Hall of Fame in 1996; National Radio Hall of Fame induction in 2003 and the Chicago Television Academy’s Silver Circle, 2000 and the Illinois Broadcasters Association’s Hall of Fame.
According to his obituary, from DiFiore Funeral and Cremation Services, Samuelson graduated from Ontario, WI High School and after attending University of Wisconsin, for a time, he graduated from broadcasting school in Minneapolis in 1952. He then worked at several radio stations in Wisconsin, before being hired in September, 1960 at WGN as the station’s farm services director. Samuelson and associate Max Armstrong delivered 13 daily agribusiness reports for WGN and 14 daily reports for the Chicago Tribune’s radio network, and WGN Radio’s, “The Noon Show.”
Fateful meeting
Jo Geary of Sun City first met Samuelson and his wife Gloria when he was an internal medicine patient.
“I would communicate a lot with Gloria and we struck up a friendship,” Geary said. “I’ve known the Samuelsons for more than 20 years. He was just the salt of the Earth type of person, very patriotic.”
Samuelson, through his work as an agriculture reporter, met nine U.S. Presidents, was a world traveler, and also met dictators.
“He had a lot of stories,” Geary said.
“I remember one time he was at a White House event and singer Glen Campbell was there and they had some drinks, I was so jealous.”
Jameson’s Restaurant in Sun City quickly became a favorite spot for “The Big O”, and he would often go over to say hello to folks after having his weekly Friday night dinner there.
Geary attended Samuelson’s 50-year anniversary bash at WGN Radio when he retired in 2020 (he retired as a full-time employee in 1996) and said all WGN Radio personalities were there.
Geary said, “He took a long time to let go, and he stayed active after retirement.”
