Hear college radio DJ "Dave" Letterman in action in this clip from 1969
As David Letterman announces his retirement and the accolades start pouring in, the world is looking back on his impressive 32-year late night run. For residents of Letterman’s beloved home state of Indiana, however, his legacy goes back much further. Letterman got his start in broadcasting on Muncie, Indiana’s local NPR affiliate WBST—and then on Ball State University’s fledgling WAGO-AM after being fired from WBST for treating classical music with irreverence. Irreverence being one of Letterman’s trademarks (and the fact that the station, re-named WWHI, now operates out of the David Letterman Communication And Media Building), the move was certainly for the best.