Radio broadcast pioneer Elmer Donze of Ste. Genevieve, MO passed away Sunday, January 24, 2010 at his home

He is survived by his wife Betty, son Elmo (Anne) Donze; a daughter: Dorcas (Carl) Grass; and five grandchildren.

Elmer was the eldest son of nine children and rose from very modest beginnings.

As a young boy he worked for his father shoveling coal, and in high school he bottled and delivered milk hours before school started each day.

Music was probably his first love. His sister organized a band of young boys in Ste. Genevieve and they played for all the picnics in the surrounding area. They even played for John Philip Sousa when he appeared at Southeast Missouri State University.

Donze was involved in many businesses with his brothers including Donze Jewelry and Appliance; an insurance company; the Hilltop Dance Club and Hilltop Drive-In Theatre at Brewer; and the Donze Cut Rate Drug Store, where he initiated the only bus stop on the bus line between Cape Girardeau and St. Louis.

He continued his music interests while in college, playing trumpet with the Jack Stalcup Band. He organized a small band that played on the "Ile de France" cruise ships sailing from New York to France. (Years later he went on a cruise with his wife Betty and was stunned to discover he was back on board the Ile de France, now refurbished and renamed.)

He answered the call to serve his country and became a pilot with the U.S. Air Force during World War II.

After the war, he picked up where he left off musically forming his own very successful band, the "Elmo Donze Orchestra."

In 1947 he founded Radio Station KSGM-AM and added a sister station, KSGM FM in 1967.

He not only managed the stations, but he did most of the engineer work on them as well, developing many innovations that were picked up by the industry. His media interests also included the print media, operating the Monitor Newspaper in Perryville.

Constantly on top of technology, in 1967 he began installing Multiplex Background Music in banks, stores, restaurants, and business places in both Missouri and Illinois.

Always one to have several irons in the fire at once, he installed the first cable television service in Ste. Genevieve preceding even St. Louis, all while managing the radio stations and background music business.

He served as an Honorary Colonel for Governor Blair and Governor Warren Hearnes.

He was a member of the Foundation for Restoration; K of C Fourth Degree; and member of the American Legion.

Elmer and Betty have two children, Elmo Donze, who is now at the helm of Donze Communications, and Dorcas Grass. They also have five grandchildren.