It's the end of an era for WCCO Radio, a bittersweet day for colleagues and friends at the "Good Neighbor." WCCO's morning news editor Steve Simpson is calling it a career, at least as far as the radio business goes.
Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, noting the importance of waking up earlier than almost anyone else to deliver the important news of the day to Minnesota and the Upper Midwest, is recognizing Thursday as "Steve Simpson Day" in Minnesota.
"After a distinguished career spanning more than 40 years in broadcasting, including nearly a dozen years serving Minnesota listeners, Simpson will retire from WCCO Radio on July 2, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of journalistic excellence, trusted reporting, and meaningful connections with generations of listeners," the governor wrote in his proclamation.
It's hard to say it better. Simpson became a staple on the morning show, first with Dave Lee and then with Vineeta Sawkar. He joined the WCCO Radio staff in 2014, but his career in broadcasting goes much deeper.
Simpson is a graduate of Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, and a classmate of NBC Sports' Mike Tirico.
"You were a child prodigy, if you will, being a pro before you left college, then in Indianapolis, obviously here at one of the great radio stations in the country," said Tirico who joined Simpson and Vineeta Sawkar on WCCO Thursday. "And you grew up in the central PA, in the Pennsylvania area, I should say, the Philadelphia area, loving radio and wanting this to be a part of your life. And look now here 45 years later, you did all of that for many years, and I know you feel like me, feel like many of the people we were in school with, it doesn't feel like a job."
Simpson began his broadcasting career as a music disc jockey and later a talk show host. He spent more than 20 years at WIBC Radio in Indianapolis, serving as the station's primary news anchor and morning show host, reporting on some of the defining events of a generation, including the September 11 terrorist attacks, presidential elections, the Indiana State Fair stage collapse, and numerous severe weather emergencies.
Despite being from Philadelphia - yes, an Eagles fan - Simpson truly embraced being a Minnesotan in his time here, where both is sister and mother reside. He lives in downtown Minneapolis, and you can often spot Steve at local events, especially theater which is a huge passion.
Like a hand in glove, Simpson immediately fit into the WCCO family, replacing the legends in the newsroom that came before him.
"I knew these call letters before I could drive, even in Philadelphia. That's how big this station was," Simpson said Thursday.
Simpson said Thursday, for him, radio was "it" from the beginning.
"I remember being fascinated by it, not television, radio," he said in his sign-off from the 5:00 a.m. news hour. "I love the intimacy, the theater of the mind. I love the connection, the conversation. The camaraderie that radio provides. So, I wanted to be a DJ or a talk show host or a news anchor or a news reporter. The fact that I've checked all those boxes over the course of my career, let's just say that's pretty cool."
As the editor in the morning, Simpson handled much more than listeners heard on the air. Nobody was more instrumental in understanding the news of the day, setting the table for what needed to be covered by the staff that day, and most importantly, the veteran leadership news organizations depend on.
Beyond that, Steve is our friend. To literally everyone at the station, Steve is a brother to us, a person you can depend on, a person you can laugh with, and as we love here in Minnesota: one of us!
It's been quite a year for someone in a Minnesota newsroom. From the tragic shootings of Melissa Hortman, to the mass shooting at Annunciation, and the chaos of Operation Metro Surge. That, combined with a 2:30 a.m. wake-up call, forced Simpson to think about what else is out there.
He told WCCO management a couple of months ago he was going to hang up the headphones. Not because he didn't love his job, but more because he was tired, as he's been telling friends and colleagues.
“I’m just worn out and want to do something else."
As Dave Lee said speaking to Simpson on Wednesday, you don't retire from something, you retire TO something. Every day is Saturday now Stever. Enjoy sleeping in!
Gov. Walz has declared Thursday "Steve Simpson Day" in Minnesota
Gov. Walz has declared Thursday "Steve Simpson Day" in Minnesota
