Media icon is also community hero

6/1/2022

In 1999, a dog named Louie was severely hacked by a machete.

How did radio host Lou Sipolt respond? He locked himself in a casket, entombed for three days.

“We went and had a radio promotion, and we buried ourself in concrete,” Sipolt said. He may have used the plural terms, but he was buried alone.

“I say ‘we’ a lot,” he confessed. “I don’t like taking singular credit for anything.”

Animal rights advocates needed 5,000 signatures to alert lawmakers to the issue of animal abuse. With Sipolt’s help, they secured 20,000.

Most Iowans will recognize Sipolt from his high-profile career on radio and TV. But beyond that — although he’d never admit it — Sipolt is an unsung hero in the Des Moines area, having leveraged his talents, platform and infectious compassion to benefit his community for nearly four decades.

“He’s humble in all he does, never wanting acknowledgement or thanks for his many efforts,” said Jeff Witzke, community/media relations specialist for St. Vincent de Paul and Disabled American Veterans. “He is loved everywhere he goes. I really think he has quietly become one of Des Moines’ favorite superheroes in all that he does to positively impact so many.”

“I love doing it, but I don’t like to showcase it — as long as the organization does well, and I can help them,” Sipolt said. “If I can’t help them, I don’t want to be in their way.”

And help them he does. His past and present involvement is overwhelming: facilitating free pet bed giveaways, emceeing fundraisers for the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, serving as a board member with Blank Park Zoo, and being devotedly involved with AHeinz57 Pet Rescue & Transport, Iowa Wildlife Center, Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul, Food Bank of Iowa — and the list goes on.

The subtlety of Sipolt’s volunteer work contrasts with the legendary volume of his career. It began at birth.

Sipolt’s father was the crew chief for Holman-Moody, Ford’s stock car division. The day Sipolt entered the world, one of the drivers built him a go-kart. When Sipolt’s younger brother was born, he received a go-kart, too.

“We were driving by the time we were 3 years old,” Sipolt said. “When most people were playing baseball, we were driving go-karts.”

In time, he and his two brothers were stunt car drivers known as the “World’s Youngest Professional Daredevils Stunt Driving Team.” In high school, Sipolt set a world record when he drove a car on two wheels for 7.5 consecutive miles at Pocono International Raceway.

Hop on Youtube and search “Lou Sipolt two wheel record,” and you’ll see a young Sipolt, nonchalantly cruising around the track at a perplexing angle. As he completes his record-breaking run, he spins his car and climbs out, waving victoriously to the cheering crowd packing the stands.

Sipolt would have pursued racing further if his media career hadn’t taken off. Although he never did abandon the sport — far from it. He is currently the president of the Dirt Truck Racing Association, heads a team with two dirt trucks, and frequents the PA booth at the Iowa Speedway.

How indeed did Sipolt end up in media? His fans can thank veterinary school for sending the Chicago native to Iowa.

Sipolt grew up wanting to help animals. But despite earning two degrees in pursuit of a veterinary career, radio always seemed to find him. He ended up as the general manager at the radio station at Cornell College, then at Iowa State University.

While at Iowa State, Sipolt wrote a computer program to manage the station’s rotations, in the days when everything was filed through index cards. A colleague at Iowa State asked him to do the same at Des Moines’ classic rock station, KGGO.

“I didn’t charge them. I just did it and said, ‘Here you go,’ hoping to get concert tickets or something,” Sipolt recalled. “And they talked me into becoming a part-time DJ for them. One thing led to another, and before you knew it, I was filling in for the morning show host.”

Filling in transformed into a full-time gig: a morning show with Larry Morgan that ran for 10 years and became a cultural icon in Des Moines — and the avenue through which he met his wife, Kathy. Later, “Lou and Larry” became “Lou, Round Guy, and Heather.” The trio left radio for television in 2012, and Sipolt and Heather Burnside starred on Channel 23’s “Great Day with Lou and Heather” which became simply “Great Day.” Today, Sipolt hosts “Iowa Live” on Local 5.

Through it all, Sipolt’s mission has been the same: help others, help animals and help his community.

“Someone pointed out to me a while ago — doing what I do in media has helped more animals overall than I ever could’ve done as a veterinarian by myself,” he said.

This summer, Sipolt will host the American Heart Association of Iowa’s “Greater Des Moines Heart Ball” on June 11, Easterseals Iowa’s “Sunnyside Regatta” on July 14, Food Bank of Iowa’s “Smoke Out Hunger” on July 31, and Iowa C.O.P.S. “Black and Blue Ball” on Oct. 15. He showcases local businesses and organizations to uplift the community on “Iowa Live” every weekday at 11:45 a.m.

“There is nothing that compares to doing things for the community that really make a difference,” Sipolt said. “It is especially gratifying when it happens within the communities you call ‘home’ — a true sense of accomplishment for the betterment of others.” ♦